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natasha
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Posted: Mon Mar 30th, 2009 06:53 pm |
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My motto for this year is a favorite saying by a friend of ours:
"If you don't think too good, don't think too much." And that prettyyyyy much sums up 8 hour solo MTB races in my mind. Wellie-Bella said to me last year w/ that cute little smile of hers 'let's do Boggs'. Of course I said yes w/ nary a second thought...cuz if you don't think too good...anyway...
Finding Boggs Demonstration Forest is a feat in its own. Tucked above Napa you arrive at 7:45am, reg closes at 8am - and even though you are sure you read that the race starts at 9am...you are not dressed yet and hear your call up at 8:25am. Whooops! Two seconds to spare - and you're off.
Is there nothing better than hitting a FRESH new piece of single-track you've never ridden? Why pre-ride when you can scare the heck out of yourself screaming around new corners and snaking b/t trees that just clear your handle-bars. Guys kept telling me 'it's all about the last lap' for us solo'ers. I thought the hell w/ that advice - I'm gonna tear it up as much as I can on the downhill, cuz the spin-spin uphill - whatever.
The first couple laps are fun, rip-roaring good fun. By noon - I thought this is the dumbest thing ever. Ever. Ever. But I figured out why people do these solo races - you start to hallucinate! I swear - some sort of crazy adrenalin drug takes over. If you stop your bike you feel woozy and can't see straight. Start pedalin' and ripping downhill - life is good.
But what is a MTB race w/o your awesome Bella Crew!!!!!!!! Wellie's hubby Terry was there, along w/ Michael/Sabine, and my hubby Aaron. You could hear them screaming miles away. More than one person said 'you have quite the crew'!
So the actual race part - I played tag from about lap 5 on w/ the woman in second. The woman who won was about 20 minutes (!) ahead of us. I kept catching my second place rider on the downhill, then she'd pass me on the up. By lap 8 all I could think of was 'must get off bike', MUST get off bike - but punched down for the final climb and felt my legs cramp (again) and had to dial back. I came in 3rd about 20 seconds back.
Wellie rode an AWESOME race and came in second in her category. It was amazing to see her come off her bike fresh as a daisy! It's been so much fun to see her progression in cycling - from starting off as a cyclo-cross racer, to track, to MTB, to road - so inspiring. We're gonna miss ya Wellie!!!!!!!!
Finally the Boggs course itself is a superity-dupity fun place to race or ride. Plenty of tricky (but not too tricky) single-track on the race course - tough little uphills, but no nasty fire-road climbs (thank you course designers!). The Bella pit crew got to hit the trails too (8 hours gives you plenty of time ) - so fun was had by all. Of course we topped it all off a w/ stop at the local brew-pub in Middletown. Racing Bella-style - I love it!
Natasha
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marscat
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| Joined: | Fri Dec 29th, 2006 |
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Posted: Mon Mar 30th, 2009 06:58 pm |
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Congratulations Natasha and Beth! That sounds fun...insane, but fun!
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suenago
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Posted: Tue Mar 31st, 2009 12:55 am |
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great report and great riding!
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BethWellie
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Posted: Tue Mar 31st, 2009 06:22 am |
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I did a little race report here on the blog:
Boggs Race Report
I would like to say that this was totally Natasha's idea and I had no "cute little smile". But the race, despite its epicness, is actually not too bad. The course is fun (except for the death march climbing parts) and the awesome support crew we had really made it so much easier to get through. Thanks to the two hubbies plus Sabine and Michael for taking care of us!
Last edited on Tue Mar 31st, 2009 06:27 am by BethWellie
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rachelwolff
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Posted: Tue Mar 31st, 2009 03:38 pm |
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I loved reading both reports, sounds amazing!!! Congratulations!!!!
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velobella
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Posted: Tue Mar 31st, 2009 05:42 pm |
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You guys were both sooo awesome. I can't believe Natasha did 8 laps! Thats crazy talk.
And a 45 minute improvement is huuuuge. Thats almost 7 minutes per lap!
What a fun race that was. beautiful trails, low key, and homemade cookies!
Michael wants to do it as a co-ed team next year.
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natasha
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Posted: Tue Mar 31st, 2009 06:00 pm |
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I loved your race report Wellie!!!! And I am just sure that silly ol'Boggs was your idea
You kicked some serious bootie out there - especially in combo w/ finishing a thesis. That is just plain craziness.
I thought I was the only one who almost cracked and cried - Terry kept cracking up when he showed me this one pic - which was me almost crying before Mtn Dew, happy and smiling after! Your cookie equivalent!
Co-ed teams would be a total blast...
So - for more fun there's the Sonomas 100...(conveniently placed on the Kern weekend!). I know, I know...just sayin'.
http://www.bikemonkey.net/?page_id=1401
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marjamison
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Posted: Tue Mar 31st, 2009 06:49 pm |
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You all should come up and do the Coolest 24 hr (or 8 hr!) race (in Cool) the first weekend of May! Then you'll be free for Kern. Not such epic single track as Boggs, but a seriously fun event. Actually I'm undecided if I should do that or go to the beginners track clinic down at Hellyer that weekend. Hmmmm . . .
Great job, by the way!
Nevada
Last edited on Tue Mar 31st, 2009 06:50 pm by marjamison
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jeninsb
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Posted: Tue Mar 31st, 2009 08:36 pm |
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LOL, too much fun. I can't imagine spending eight hours on the bike. I think I'll just read the reports instead ;-)
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juliepo
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| Joined: | Mon Feb 26th, 2007 |
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Posted: Tue Apr 7th, 2009 11:15 pm |
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| Great job and fun report. Are you ready to join a four person team in the "coolest 24 hour race? You only have to do 6 laps and you get to rest in between each one!
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