I originally registered for both the 30+ and 3’s events with full intention of racing both. Then I did Fox River Grove. After completing the 30+ event there, I had nothing left for the 3’s and was a DNF after 2 laps. So, I decided that I needed to commit to one event and give it everything. After 2 weeks of internal debating and some helpful advice from teammates, I decided on the 30+ event. It was mostly gut instinct, but also the fact that I got a 1st row start position versus 3rd row for the 3’s.

This was a target race for me, and I was nervous. I knew the competition would be tough, but I firmly believed that I could get a top 5 in this event, maybe top 3. Plus, I had my wife as a good luck charm. In the last year, she has not had a chance to attend many races, but whenever she has come, I have never finished lower than 5th.

This was my first time at Snake Alley so of course I read the always helpful race preview at CBR very carefully. Starts have never been my strength. For some reason, despite 20+ years of clipping into pedals, I frequently botch this. So, for the last several weeks, I basically treated every stop light like the Snake Alley start line. My clip-in's were quick and smooth.

Race time. “Riders ready…” then the start. Attempt one at the clip in…miss. Attempt two…miss. Attempt three…miss again. Attempt four…finally, success. I sprinted to the base of the climb and was positioned around 10th-12th. Not horrible, but my goal had been to be in the top 3. Already, not the way I had planned. Then I started climbing. It was clear from the outset that my legs weren’t going to take me to the success I had imagined. I don’t know if it was fatigue, the heat, dehydration, maybe just an off day, or maybe I didn’t have the form I thought. In any case, I started losing ground on the first trip up the Snake.

It was pretty amazing, as I crested the climb, the lead riders were already rounding the next corner on the downhill. I hadn’t pre-ridden the descent at full speed and I was a little hesitant on the corners, which only served to further extend the significant gap which was now developing between me and the front.

Well, I paced myself as best I could, but really struggled through the rest of the race. With a steady rhythm, I picked off a couple of guys, and managed 11th. This is a respectable result, but given my pre-race objective, was pretty disappointing.

As I had already planned on racing only 1 event, I was fully ready to pack up my bike and head home. A post-race talk with Randy and some helpful peer pressure from Liam convinced me to at least start the 3’s race. Randy had also doubled up and said he actually felt better in his second race. The words that came out of Liam’s mouth were something like, “You’re gonna at least start right?” The message that came from his eyes was more like, “Man-up and get your ass to the start line.”

So, I lined up with Liam, Koster, and Morrissey. Unfortunately, Morrissey’s rear tire was going flat at the start. No pit and no free lap at Snake Alley can make for an early exit.

“Riders ready…” then the start. Attempt one at the clip in … success. Hey, wow, where was that little nugget of hope about an hour ago? I guess that’s what happens when you relax and just go race. This was a moderately sized field and with my 3rd row start position, I quickly learned why the start is so critical. I got bogged down in a hoard of riders competing for position up the twisty brick road. As I crested the top, the lead riders were well around the first corner. Even if I felt great, that is basically and unclosable gap in such a short race (at least for me).

I thought, well, maybe I’ll do 3 or 4 laps then call it a day. Once I reached the halfway point, I knew I would stick it out. (Just like Randy said, I actually felt a little better, although still not great). At this point, however, between the two races I had made 20 trips up Snake Alley and was starting to feel it. I stopped looking at the lap counter and just rode. The last 2 times up were agony. With two laps two go, I was lapped by the 14 year old (not a typo, FOURTEEN) who was soloing away for the win. Liam came close to lapping me for his very solid 6th place. I finished 23rd.

To be honest, this was an extremely gratifying race. It wasn’t the result, but rather the journey. I had no motivation, low morale and every pedal stroke was a struggle. Nevertheless, I stuck it out and finished the race and drove home with a sense of pride and accomplishment that I certainly would not have had without the second race.

26 times up Snake Alley. I thought back to more of what Randy said between races. He said that during the years when he performed best at Snake Alley, he had nothing left at the end of the race, that he could not have ridden that climb even once more. He had given everything. On other days, when he was not as good, he could double up and compete in a second race. When I think back to my best races, the same has probably been true for me. At the end of a great result, I felt like I could barely turn the pedals. On this day, despite a seemingly immense struggle through one race, I was still able to ride a second, maybe even a little better. Clearly I had more to give. How does one consistently find that magical zone that is a perfect combination of fitness, rest, and motivation that allows you to push yourself to the very edge and little beyond?

Congratulations to Ryan Fay on his victory and William Pankonin on his 4th. I look forward to racing with you both very soon in the 3’s.