I did it.

I arrived at Hurkey Creek on Friday night knowing exactly what I had to do to not be stressed out for Saturday. I had way too much gear, but I wanted to be comfortable this year while off the racecourse. Last year, I found myself too cold, too wet and too tired. The list of these four things made all the difference in the world in the amount of rest I got between laps. 1) Earplugs - no more damn voice and generator noise from the surrounding camps. 2) Air Mattress - essential for getting a good nights rest. 3). Extra riding gear, no more putting on wet clothes and helmet at 2a.m. at 40 degrees. 4) Electric blanket got the chill out of my bones after the night laps in my tent. I also brought my disc-man and listened to some Floyd (momentary lapse of reason) which really relaxed me. By the time Saturday came around I was ready to do my laps.

Pics of the team here: Cisco, Me, Maureen, Nino

Lap 1 at around 1p.m. was extremely tough as it got kinda warm, and I felt like I was hyperventilating almost the whole lap. I felt that I wasn't in rhythm and my breathing suffered miserably. It was a horrible feeling and perhaps I was pushing too hard, but I got through it with my fastest time ever on the course 1:08

Lap 2 started at 6:30p.m. as a day lap and finished in the dark. It was also a tough lap, but a little bit easier. I turned my HID lights on and felt like I was flying through the downhills, I thought my time would improve, but it did not. 1:10

Lap 3 was a total night lap in the cold dark 1 a.m. hour. I made a few mistakes that cost me some time. After the first climb, I was a bit delusional and totally missed the trail marker because they had opened a gate that wasn't there before. I had almost ended up on the 74 hwy back down to Hemet! I got on the brakes immediately and ended up ripping my pearl izumi's right across the knee. The other mistakes were a couple of near miss crashes and a couple of walked sections I actually should have ridden. This lap felt good, breathing was good, rhythm was good, I felt in the zone, but my time was a bit slower due to muscle fatigue and my mistakes. There were some points in this ride where I was coming up with excuses not to do my 4th lap - yes I felt like quitting. But the mileage markers they put out this year were a big encouragement. Mile 3 mark: okay, I'm done with the big hard climb 1/3 the way done. Mile 5" OKAY! I'm halfway done and finished with the seconnd big climb, Mile 7: YES, I'm more than 2/3's done!! no more climbing!! Mile 9, Okay 1 more mile to go. Time was 1:19

Lap 4 started at 8a.m, it was still about 55 degrees, but I elected to wear shorts, long sleaves and warm it up on the course. I was amped for this lap because I knew it was my last. This lap felt good and clocked in at 1:14.

Now these times were 100% better than last year's race where I was all over the board with inexperience, and worse conditioning. Last year was like 1:15, 1:25 1:34, 1:28. Plus, this year I was with a much faster team that included co-ed females so there was a lot more pressure to perform. Anways, I got my ass kicked by Maureen the team captain, she put in better times in 3 of the 4 laps. Louis eats a piece humble pie.

As a team we missed the podium by about an hour and a lap, so we were actually in the thick of things, and doing a lot better than a bunch of the all male teams. In the end we were all happy with our performances and looking forward to doing it again next year. harrrr.... Next year, I may just only volunteer and be the camp mechanic, racing's too tough on my schedule and my body.

6 hours of Orange County coming up in early November.... hmmmmmmm....more self inflicted torture!!!!