As we all know you truly NEVER forget Your First Time. After being shut out of registration for a closed cat 5 race on Saturday, the 30+ Masters 4/5 at Elk Grove Village on Sunday became my first official race ever...what a blast! As I have made good friends with some of you, the overriding consensus was to start racing and start getting the experience as soon as possible, and without question figure on getting dropped your first few races, it comes with the territory.....sound advice I thought, as I set out my objectives for the race.
Think back to your first time. Recall the moment waiting for the race before yours to end as you lined up on the side? Remember the feeling of rolling up to the starting line in the pack and then sitting idle for a few minutes while the instructions were given out? I vividly recall thinking two things: first thought was,man this is SO COOL, I LOVE IT! and second, find a XXXer's wheel if I get in trouble and hold it. Before I could have any more then a million other thoughts, the whislte blew and the race was on!
The very first turn of the race I found Rick's wheel and stayed with him for perhaps the first 2-3 laps of the race. I figured I needed to survive two critical times if I was going to not get dropped and finish strong. First, the initial frenzy at the very beginning of the race, which Rick's wheel helped out alot on. The other was the mad rush the final lap or so. Most of the XXXer's were bouncing around back and forth in the pack throughout the race and I found myself doing the same. About halfway through the race I managed to move up to the first 20 riders or so and found a very good rhythm. With about 3 laps left I positioned myself somewhere around 10th overall.
I continued to feel quite strong the final two laps as I saw Ansgar, Mark, Luke, Bob and other XXXers begin to move. As the last half of the last lap came I knew this was the second of the two waves I needed to hold if I was going to not get dropped and finish strong. Down the back stretch after the second to the last turn downwind, the race took off. I held it just fine and starting saying to myself, "forget about getting dropped, I am going after this thing!".....silly rookie thoughts of course.
Rick and Jeff H. made their move strong up the left side. Ansgar was already well positioned. I could see Mike K. and Luke about 10 meters ahead of me in the pack. After the last turn I hammered it as hard as I could. Immediately I slung past a dozen riders before I heard the sound of metal meeting pavement in a way that just doesn't massage the ears. About 30 meters ahead the pile up began. Two riders on the ground. A third plows into them. By this time I am right on the crash to the left. I see a fourth rider (Mike K.) hit the pile as his bike climbs on top of the guys on the ground and his rear wheel goes end over onto the group.
As I pass the wreck I look up with about 800 meters to go and hammer it again.
The finish line of my first race, how sweet it is. 45th out of a field of 100 and did not get dropped. Without getting caught behind the wreck, maybe even higher.
I suppose we all have to start somewhere, but ya know what? I'll TAKE IT, with bells on!