Chickasabogue State Park, Mobile, Alabama
The Jeff Dorminey and Carl Viars Road Show
Jeff D: Made the decision to preride the course, had one hour before the start, course was suppose to be only 6 miles, well they changed the course to 9 miles. Saw that I was going to be late to my start so my pre ride warm up became a full scale race against the clock! Got back just in time for the start, ouch!
Carl V: It was around 32 degrees when we arrived at the start at approximately 7:30 AM. With that kind of temperature I don't have the motivation to do a proper warm-up. It was hard enough to drag myself over to the registration table. I forced myself to saddle-up and do a few laps in the parking lot and exchange a few greetings with some of the other beginners. I managed to pre-ride the first 1/2 mile of the course, but that in know why clued me into what laid a head.
Race Start:
Jeff D: Because I had just pulled up to the line when the starter said go I had to start in the last row, and just having finished doing one hard lap I knew I was not going to race everyone into the single track. After we got into the single track I started moving up pretty fast.
Carl V: At the line the starter informed us that the race had changed to one lap of 9 miles vs. 2 laps of 6 miles each. I was ok with that, but felt that distance would be to my advantage--small if it was. I felt unsure since I had never rode the course, other than the first 1/2 mile. Being a complete NOVICE!! This was out of my comfort zone (Swayback), which I am still learning. Well this was one of my objectives...expand my comfort zone and build my MTB experience base. I was planning to start at the back and play it safe.
The Race:
Jeff D: First lap- No problems having a good race, filling good, passing folks, moving up through the field. Second lap - up until about the halfway point I was still filling good, then I started running out of gas, my pre ride loop (done at race pace) was telling on me. I started going slower and slower and not a thing I could do about it! Three competitors passed me in the final 4 or so miles.
Carl V: It felt good to get under way, the first mile was a blur and was filled with a lot of obstacles that I managed without stressing out to much. I did manage to come across several obstacles that did raise my concern level pretty high, but the most scariest (collarbone Canyon - a huge drop-off) I just did it and felt good about it afterward. It was the longest 9.2 miles I ever rode on a MTB.
Finish:
Jeff D: Came across the finish line in sixth place with a total of 27 miles (but only 18 race miles).
Carl V: I finished 6th out 8. It was a big confidence booster for a big chicken like myself. I managed an 8.4 average MPH pace on a course I didn't preride...I think that is a record in the speed category for me. I still have a lot of room for improvement and I plan on doing that. I finished with a :)
Jeff D: Overall pleased with how I rode, felt good for about 22 miles, the only problem was that I had to go 27. If I had not done the 9 miles at race pace before my race, I believe that I would have finished in the top three. And after racing for 27 miles I hope that when I do the average sport class distance ( 16-18 miles) it’ll be a piece of cake!
Carl V: I am going to keep trying!
