Race Recap: CCORS #4 Henderson Pond

On Sunday it was time again for another race in the CCORS race series and myself and my racing partner Matt headed down to Jacksonville, NC. The race has held at the Henderson Pond Trails, which are located on base at Camp Lejune. To get onto the base you have to obtain a base pass a few weeks in advance, or try to get clearance race morning, which can be a gamble. A funny fact is last year we weren’t able to get a pass and so we literally had to hitch a ride on base in order to make it to the race. This is also the only memory I have of the entire race besides the fact that it was the first time I ever podiumed at a race (Oh how far I have come).

I think one of the reasons that Matt and I are such great race partners (besides the fact we are both super cool art nerds) is the fact that we both have very similar race preparation strategies. The plan is always to leave early, arrive early, pre-ride, then relax and get focused for the race. I am all for cutting out as much stress as possible on race mornings and if that means forgoing a bit of sleep to arrive early so be it! On the drive down we both were trying desperately to remember any detail from this course (always a great sign). I raced it twice and the only detail I could remember was that it was really rooty for a coastal trail. I also knew this could be just the fact that I was racing an ancient 26er last season and literally threw the bike because I was so frustrated with its lame tiny wheels (then I went out and bought a better 29er the same week). I remember also that I ran over two snakes last season, but I put that out of my mind because it was so much warmer and snake friendly last year! (spoiler it was very warm and snake friendly this season too)

When we arrived we quickly unpacked and set out for a pre-ride in order to get back once registration opened. I took the lead and tried to keep from going out too hard and wasting all my energy. This was a concern for me as I had wisely done a pretty hefty ride the day before and my legs were feeling it (always so prepared for races here). Even while riding the course I still could not recall a single thing about it. It was sandy and rooty and really not the most fun. Most of the coastal trails have a lot of flow to them so you can really crank it, but this one had exactly zero flow due to all the damn roots. It was also pancake flat which would have been okay but I am living that #singlespeedlife and thus was hitting the top of my gear the whole time. Thanks to the fact I finally have a Garmin (so pro) I was able to judge that it took about 2.5 miles for the trail to finally open up a little more and hit one section that was a bit smoother and more open. It was fun, but I could tell this was where everyone else would be gearing down and really trying to gap people, and I unfortunately did not have that power. Damn. From there on, the trail hits on one long section on road, before ducking back into the trail where the roots commence again. In about 6.5 miles of racing there is really only about 3 miles of what could be a nice racing course. Oh well, this is mountain biking and it was time to suck it up.

I had time to relax and eat a granola bar and chill for a bit before I had to start thinking about racing. For whatever reason I wasn’t super feeling like racing today (Matt assured me this would all change once I hit the course). I think I was worried about the flat and spinning out so much, plus the race started on a flat road section so I knew that I would not be able to get a good hole shot, which could put me in a bad position to race against my main competition. The last race not getting a hole shot had really put a gap in between 1^st and 2^nd and I hate the feeling of being gapped (like anyone would of course). Before I knew it, the pre-race meeting was going off and it was time to line up. The thing I love about the women’s category is that we have a solid group of women racing who are very encouraging to one another. At the start line we are usually talking about the course, riding strategy, etc, but as soon as that whistle blows we are a pack of badass bitches out for glory. I was doing my usual start line mental preparation (aka nervous yawning and clamming up) then BOOM GO TIME! I immediately had a great start and was clipped in and sprinting to the very top of my gear. I managed to stay with the lead woman for a good chunk of the stretch before she dropped a couple gears…and then me. I was right there for a long time before another rider came shoulder to shoulder with me (my poor spinning legs!), and she jumped in ahead of me as we dove into the single track. I was frustrated but knew that I would be passing her soon, as the roots and technical nature of the trail was a bit challenging for her. I was trying not to focus on the gap that the leader was widening on me, and I managed to make a pass before we hit the first half mile. There was then a log-over that I took in my trademark spectacularly bad fashion (grace is not my forte) and I dropped the rest of the group as I took off to try and catch the leader. Luckily for how badly the trail felt on the pre-ride, the first 2.5 miles rode at speed a lot smoother. It still wasn’t the most ENJOYABLE trail, but it wasn’t THAT awful. The leader was on a sick carbon full suspension, so I knew that she was probably not bothered at all by the roots, so I focused purely on my own job of picking the best lines and maintaining as much momentum as possible.

Trying (and failing) to get the hole shot. #singlespeedforlife

The root section gave way to the sole flowy portion, which is the bright spot of this race, and I kept my single speed topped out through the whole thing. I literally could not have pedaled any faster than I was, and so I focused on staying as smooth as possible through the corners so as not to lose any more valuable seconds. This is the point where I started to catch some of the Master’s Men Cat that start ahead of us. Passing was a non issue for this race and all were very gracious in letting me by (Thanks friends!). As I hit the road section I started to really push to try and catch two more Masters ahead of me before we hit single track again. Since I ride a lot of road I feel it is my obligation to hammer it hard on road, and thanks to my new Garmin I watched as my max speed hit 19mph for this section (no small feat when it is entirely flat and you have one gear). The trail then jumps right back into another rooty single track section for about 2 miles before it spits you back out at the race start for you to begin your second lap. As I came out onto the grass stretch before the shoot, I dropped my chain (ON A SINGLE SPEED!?!) which was annoying, as the race official was yelling at me to follow the arrows through the finish. I yelled a snarky response back about my chain worries (like I would just decide to stop there for no reason??) and jumped back onto course for my second lap.

So pro (not actually pro)

The second lap basically followed the same exact story as the first: lots of roots, badly taken log-over, fast flowy middle, hammering the road, and more roots. The only notable change was that at one point during the flat and flowy bits, I had a youth rider right on my tail that wins the prize for worst ability to shift gears ever. I am very used to how quiet and enjoyable a singlespeed is, and to listen to someone constantly shift whole over loading and tearing up their drive chain was most annoying (I swear I thought the poor chain was going to break). Luckily for my own sanity I dropped him as we hit the road and never heard the sounds of a dying drivetrain again. At the end of my 2^nd lap I knew that I was too far behind the lead rider to catch her; she is just amazingly fast and I was not capable of matching her on this course. I was very happy and proud of myself when I turned the corner and slipped into 2^nd place.

I’ll just causally stroll across the finish line right here…

I ended this race a bit sore from all the bumpiness of the trail, but very happy (and I didn’t throw my bike this time!). I congratulated the first place rider and checked in with Matt to see how his race went. He wasn’t as satisfied thanks to some mechanical mishaps, but I know that he is getting ready to have a breakthrough race soon. I was pleased that with this being the 4^th race in the 6 race series, I have secured my overall series spot of 2^nd! To celebrate we did our usual post race Mexican food feast before heading back to Raleigh. I have a couple of weeks off before the next CCORS race (and possibly something else for fun thrown in there), but I am looking forward to getting some nice easy social rides in before I have to race again.

I think I will take this block home at the end of the season…

Photos courtesy of 455 Photos

Surprise! Race Recap: 6 Hours of Warrior Creek

I had zero plans to race this week. After how exhausting Love Valley had been mentally I was looking forward to taking an easy week and just doing some easy road rides on the weekend. Luckily for me (and you, otherwise this would be a really boring blog post), life had other unexpected plans for maximum radness.

To preface this, 6 Hours of Warrior Creek is a HUGE BIG DEAL to mountain bikers around here. It is the state’s most popular race, on the best trail, with the best organization and support. It is known for its registration selling out in mere minutes after opening every year. You basically have to be sitting at your computer ready to hit send as soon as it opens. Well, my partner and I both goofed and missed out on registering for 6WC, and were placed on a very lengthy waitlist. I wrote it off that we would ever get in and instead made other race plans for the surrounding weeks. 6WC would have to wait until next year.

I was in the post-race-blues phase on Monday night after LV and settling into a mopey week when I got a surprise message from a friend, who is also an amazing coach: he had a buddy who might need a coed duo partner for 6WC… My immediate thought was “Wow I am considered fast enough to be asked to fill in” followed by my immediate text that yes, I am available and would love to race (there were probably a lot exclamations and emojis involved). I wouldn’t know for sure until Friday morning if I would be needed (the race was Saturday) and so I decided to try and not get my hopes up too much and go about my week as usual.

Except it happened. Friday morning I got the text that yes, I was needed, and I dashed into work to get my schedule cleared so I could head out first thing in the morning. Then I was immediately in a state of HOLY SNAP I AM RACING WARRIOR CREEK! I still had plenty of nutrition and clean race clothes left over from LV, so all signs from the universe were saying that this was just meant to be. I had already texted my racing partner, Matt, asking if I had his blessing to race with another partner, and whether I could borrow his bike for the race. Matt is amazing and offered to let me ride his new Santa Cruz racing hardtail, as this course has some good climbs and the 27.5 would be a perfect fit for what was a flowy, bermy, snappy course. YAY!

The 6am morning of the race I was meeting up to carpool and meet my racing partner for the day, Matthew. I actually slept through my alarm and was a bit late in getting there (first impressions are my forte) and then we hit the road. I rode down with a teammate from OCCP who lives in Durham and is an amazing mountain biker. I felt very pro being in such talented company of my new bro friends. I had never ridden the Warrior Creek trails, but I had exactly zero time to be nervous since I was still trying to absorb the fact I was actually going to be racing. I was assured the trails were the best in the state and I was going to have the raddest of times.

Much carbon. Very pro.

Once we arrived at the camp, we had a primo pit area right at the start of the trail and we were able to get checked in before the lines grew too large. It was a little overwhelming to see so many talented riders at one race, but the atmosphere was just super laid back and chill. Everybody was there to race of course, but you could tell fun was the main motivator. My new racing partner and I decided strategy: #1 TONS OF FUN, #2 go out and see how we feel and judge according to that, #3 try and get in 5 laps. The laps are 11 mile loops, and the start lap has an extra segment of road in order to string out the crowd before the single track starts. I was kind enough to allow my partner the first lap. J I was looking forward to having an extra hour to chill under the tent before I had to think about getting on the bike. Best life decision ever.

Managed to take a horrible start line photo.

The start of WC was the biggest race start I have ever seen at a mountain biking event, and it is one giant mass start. To string riders out they do an extended road loop before hitting the single track to let the faster riders get into a better position. Even with this, I heard it was still wheel to wheel for a big portion of the first lap. I didn’t have to worry about it as I was just lounging comfortably under the tent. We had pre-planned that the first lap goal time would be about 1:15-1:25ish hopefully. I warmed up at about an hour and then sat to wait to see my partner come in so we could switch off. This is the most stressful part of the race for me; I sat there freaking out that I would miss my partner coming in/couldn’t remember his bike or kit/had missed him and I was the worst partner ever, etc. After what felt like a million years but was in reality a very fast opening lap, my partner shot out of the woods and I was jumping into the transition point for my turn. I shouted at Matthew to take it easy and he told me I had one job only, “Have fun out there!” and then I was dropping into the single track on a hard right turn.

And wow. I was told that I would enjoy the trail and there were berms. More berms than you could ever imagine. More berms than you could ever believe. This is all true. The trails at Warrior Creek are the best in NC for a reason: they are downright fucking amazing. There is so much flow and smoothness to the trail that you are constantly doing something that is wicked fun. Berms to the right, berms to the left, berms to a drop, berms to an in-and-out. You are always thinking, always flowing, just having the raddest roller coaster ride that you could ever imagine. Having of course never ridden the trails, I was just overwhelmed with it all, and having a blast while trying not to destroy my borrowed bike my getting too gnar (for me). Now because my racing partner got a killer position and first lap in, I was placed with some very competitive and skilled riders, and so I was having to be careful and allow some passes in, as I was not used to the speed of the trail right off the bat. In one disaster of a pass another female rider hit my wheel causing me to get thrown to the right and somehow ended up twisting my saddle around (I stepped on her spokes, so eye for an eye). I thought that SURELY it would be easy to right if it had become crooked with such minimal force. Nope. Not a budging at all. I jumped on the bike and tried just seeing if I could stand up and deal with it and realized that was not going to work with all the good shred to be had. I had a couple racers pass and offer assistance but they didn’t have a multitool (I am an idiot and didn’t put mine in my pocket). Luckily, the nicest single speeder ever stopped and of course he had his tool on him (Such nice chaps those single speeders) and in a flash I was back on the bike with a correctly placed saddle. I probably lost about 5 minutes here, which was making me uber depressed. That didn’t last long as I then was enjoying the trail again (you can’t be upset riding these trails).

The course continues to flow and flow and you start to have some climbing to do. I was happy that I luv climbing and so I was just eating it up. I was passing so many people on climbs I was just so happy that I suffered through so much Roubaix training and hilly road rides. Those climbs were my BITCH (I was also glad that I had gears for this one). Right when I was thinking “Holy snap this trail is a never-ending berm-vortex-of-eternity that I am stuck on for forever,” I popped out onto the pavement and it was transition time. My partner checked in with me to make sure I had fun “SO MUCH FUN” was my answer, and I pedaled my way over to chill for a bit. I love the in-between of duo racing, I might be almost a pro at it. You decompress, chill, relax, put your feet up, eat some snacks, casually text your racing partner who is suffering on the trail, check up on social media, etc. It is almost like your job is done for the day! Right at about the point where you are getting really comfortable with your non-bike riding status, it is time to warm back up (ouch) and race hard again. I knew the second lap would be quicker for my partner since it didn’t include the pavement portion and so I was in place and ready to come about 15 minutes sooner. There wasn’t any stress this time at the hand off (I had finally memorized bike and race kit) and before I knew it I was off for my second lap. I had asked my partner if he wanted me to push to allow for him to take another lap, and he laughed and said he would see how he felt but no added pressure.

I could almost be mistaken for knowing what I’m doing…

Legit photo credit to Daren Wilz

I took off on my second lap, this time riding much more confidently knowing what to expect (A TON OF FUN) and I was picking up better how to ride the berms (we don’t have stuff like this in Raleigh). The first 5 miles flew by quickly and I felt great. I expected to be a little tired since I had not really prepared for a race this week at all, but I was still super fresh. I was leap-frogging a lot of people the whole time. I would pass easily on a climb, get caught on a decent or techy section, catch up on a climb, repeat and repeat. I had a lot of racers congratulate me on my climbing abilities which was extremely motivating (GOAT GOAT GOAT) and I was just enjoying every second of the race. There was never really a time that I was dying and hoping for it to end. I could have lived in that berm-vortex-of-eternity forever quite happily. It is sort of my M.O. to be less than thrilled with my first lap and then in LUV with a course on my second. Negative splits yay! There were exactly zero mishaps for the second lap, which I was happy with, as there were plenty of bikers struggling or cramping at this point (I pray for you solo 6 hour people). I was checking the time on my Garmin and I knew I was getting closer to the cut off time for a last lap. I knew that my partner might not be planning on doing another lap, but dammit I was going to get there under it no matter what! It wouldn’t be on me that we missed out! I hit the pavement and easily made it under the time limit with about 5+ minutes to spare. My partner was less than thrilled with this but I guilt tripped him into heading out and told him to just take it super mellow. I was ready to get into non-race clothes and relax hardcore.

All in a days work…

With my work done, I just soaked up the amazing ride that I just had while drinking and snacking to my little heart’s content. Together my partner and I managed to get in 5 laps, with only the top 4 teams getting in 6. I am really proud that I jumped in last minute to a race as epic as this, on a trail I didn’t know, riding stuff way more gnar than I was used too, and I held my own. I will always be analyzing for ways to improve and get faster, stronger, more technically skilled, but this race was more of a proving ground of my bravery and ability to take on a challenge. I was spontaneous and exciting for once! I also had a blast hanging with some really cool bros and soaking up a ton of racing knowledge from some extremely gifted racers. 6WC was THE RADDEST and I am the luckiest shredder ever to squeak in. Many thanks to my friends for helping hook me up with a partner, loaning me a bike, driving me to the race, and putting up with my fangirlish enthusiasm for racing.