Doing my best to look like I belong with the pro women, despite my $5 sunnies.
This blog has been requested as a re-cap of my weekend. Bear with me while I try to give a concise play-by-play, without boring you to tears.
READER'S DIGEST VERSION:
- VIDA MTB Clinic Valmont in Boulder Colorado.
- 6.5 Hour drive to Glorieta, New Mexico.
- Nap in the Subaru.
- NMEC #2, Bike and Brew Enduro, Glorieta Camps, New Mexico.
- 6.5 Hour drive home.
- Brief meeting with friendly deputy in Leadville, Colorado.
- Nap.
- VIDA MTB Clinic Valmont in Boulder Colorado.
- 6.5 Hour drive to Glorieta, New Mexico.
- Nap in the Subaru.
- NMEC #2, Bike and Brew Enduro, Glorieta Camps, New Mexico.
- 6.5 Hour drive home.
- Brief meeting with friendly deputy in Leadville, Colorado.
- Nap.
UNABRIDGED VERSION:
Last week was a typical work week for Leigh Bowe, NP. And typical spring in the Rockies weather caused VIDA MTB Series to make a hard call about the weekend schedule and cancel the Sunday session in Boulder. This caused me to pause for a fraction of a moment before signing up to race at the #2 stop of the NM Enduro Cup at Glorieta Camps as part of the Bikes and Brews Festival in Santa Fe. Friday afternoon I got out of clinic later in the evening than usual. Fat snow flakes started falling and I rushed to get everything packed up into the Subaru for a hectic weekend of skills clinic and racing. Patient, supportive husband made a delicious, nutritious dinner and helped me get my bike ready. He then gave me the safety message and a kiss and I was off.
Last week was a typical work week for Leigh Bowe, NP. And typical spring in the Rockies weather caused VIDA MTB Series to make a hard call about the weekend schedule and cancel the Sunday session in Boulder. This caused me to pause for a fraction of a moment before signing up to race at the #2 stop of the NM Enduro Cup at Glorieta Camps as part of the Bikes and Brews Festival in Santa Fe. Friday afternoon I got out of clinic later in the evening than usual. Fat snow flakes started falling and I rushed to get everything packed up into the Subaru for a hectic weekend of skills clinic and racing. Patient, supportive husband made a delicious, nutritious dinner and helped me get my bike ready. He then gave me the safety message and a kiss and I was off.
Jessie demonstrating proper form. Saturday was amazing as I was fortunate enough to be assisting Jessie Vogt with a strong group of women (the youngest of which was just 11 years old and full of mountain-biking awesomeness!). Despite threatening thunderheads all around us, the weather decided to wait until after the wrap-up to start precipitating. Halfway through my day, there was an awesome endo off a steep rock section that had me thinking ruptured spleen for a good, long minute before Lady-Shredder Heidi got up and announced that she needed to ride it again. Then she promptly sent the tricky section without hesitation! Everything went super-smooth, all day at the clinic.
In Glorieta, NM, the weather was another story. I had been closely watching posts of the thunder-blizzard that was ensuing. As the clinic wrapped up, I loaded the Subaru again and found the phone number for David Saenz, Glorieta Camps race director and I gave him a call. I thought it unlikely that he would bother to pick up, given the circumstances and the strong possibility that he was scrambling to make things come together (or about to announce a cancellation). On the contrary, David answered on the first ring and happily gave me a full run-down of the situation, his best guess for the new timeline for race day and a kindly, "Safe travels."
So off I went. Fueled by Chipotle, podcasts and The Lumineers, I arrived around midnight and found a nice cozy spot at the Glorieta Fire Department to curl up in the back of the Subaru.
So off I went. Fueled by Chipotle, podcasts and The Lumineers, I arrived around midnight and found a nice cozy spot at the Glorieta Fire Department to curl up in the back of the Subaru.
Good morning from Hotel Glorieta Fire Department In the morning, the sun came up strong and bright. I had no choice but to wake up early. Fueled by leftover Chipotle burrito and some strong brew courtesy of Carrie's french press, I was ready for whatever the day had in store for us.
The event organizers made an excellent decision to remove a stage and push the start time back by 2 hours which gave the sun a little time to work its magic on the soupy, soft soil. Many a racer made frequent stops, trying to get the nasty clumps of pine needles and mystery muck out of their drive trains and forks. Wheels stopped spinning and bikes were shouldered up the liaisons. The physicality of the day was impressive. But by mid-afternoon, the trails had done a complete 180 and the sticky clay had turned into fast, tacky dirt.
The event organizers made an excellent decision to remove a stage and push the start time back by 2 hours which gave the sun a little time to work its magic on the soupy, soft soil. Many a racer made frequent stops, trying to get the nasty clumps of pine needles and mystery muck out of their drive trains and forks. Wheels stopped spinning and bikes were shouldered up the liaisons. The physicality of the day was impressive. But by mid-afternoon, the trails had done a complete 180 and the sticky clay had turned into fast, tacky dirt.
#soenduro
Syd's super smile, despite the clump of @#$ that has stopped forward momentum. I was very fortunate to not have any mechanicals or crashes all day. Although we never stopped to check results, Krista was keeping track with her Strava and she estimated that I was ahead going into the last stage. This of course, blew my mind away, and made me feel quite dopey. I did my best to reel in my thoughts and make a game plan for the last stage. "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast," has been my mantra for years and it seemed like a good idea to chant something familiar as a way to get to my happy place. It worked. The last stage was my best. No coughing fits after I finished. Super fun. No bobbles. Fast. Did I mention it was SUPER FUN!?
I had to stick around for the awards. I still had about 23% of that Chipotle burrito to finish. For the record, I cannot recommend Chipotle as actual race food during an event (waaay too much fiber). But any other time, its exactly what my body wants.
I had to stick around for the awards. I still had about 23% of that Chipotle burrito to finish. For the record, I cannot recommend Chipotle as actual race food during an event (waaay too much fiber). But any other time, its exactly what my body wants.
My first pro podium.
The drive home had me singing out of tune with The Talking Heads and Radical Face while I fought off the Sandman. About 6 hours in I nearly gave up and pulled over for a few winks, when I was stopped in the Stringtown speed trap, just south of Leadville. Much to my surprise, Deputy Nice Guy only delayed me for about 90 seconds before handing me: not a ticket, not a warning, but ... his business card? Flashing red and blue lights were just what I needed to be perfectly alert for the last 30 minutes of highway before arriving home. Thanks Deputy Nice Guy. I slept soundly for a solid 5 hours.
I can't wait for next weekend.
I can't wait for next weekend.