{"id":218,"date":"2012-09-14T16:44:50","date_gmt":"2012-09-14T16:44:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sayjack.net\/?p=218"},"modified":"2013-08-20T22:10:05","modified_gmt":"2013-08-20T22:10:05","slug":"day-6-race-day-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sayjack.net\/?p=218","title":{"rendered":"Day 6 – Race Day"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ready to race…photo is from behind in hope of showing rainbow–but as you can see, it disappeared, erasing our hopes for improving weather.<\/p><\/div>\n

Every year we choose to race up one signature mountain climb, the day being known as \u201cRace Day.\u201d\u00a0 Bragging rights are at stake, no small prize for wannabe jocks who have little else to hang their hat on. Today was Race Day.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll call the chosen mountain \u201cOld Baldy\u201d, since\u2014unlike the Alps and Pyrenees, where every mountain pass is named and famous\u2014the Umbrians do not seem concerned with names.\u00a0 It tops out just over 5,000 ft., and our climb profile showed a 3,000 ft. vert. climb over 10.85 miles, for an average of 5.3%.<\/p>\n

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The rainbow, moments earlier<\/p><\/div>\n

Markham and Charles (Atlantans and \u201cEasties\u201d), first place finishers on past race days, were ready to go.\u00a0 Todd and Rick (\u201cWesties\u201d) showed up riding particularly strong this year, as did Bill S. (\u201cWestie\u201d).\u00a0 Rich (Dallas, un-allied) would always be in the hunt for a podium spot, as we presumed would be his strong-legged friend, Bill R. (Dallas, un-allied). Howie (Westie) podiumed last year on the Tourmalet, but as usual kept his intentions and riding form quiet.<\/p>\n

Having just past my 60th<\/sup> birthday, I announced my comfort with riding for pleasure now and in the future. Waking up with a sore throat confirmed that as a sound strategy.<\/p>\n

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Earlier at the hotel, waiting for a break in the rain. Hey, whose foot is that?!!<\/p><\/div>\n

Meanwhile, our weather luck ran out. We woke to a moderate rain, and the forecast called for \u00bd\u201d of rain with 15 \u2013 20 mph winds from the north.\u00a0 The Race Climb was just outside Norcia, 2.5 km from our hotel.<\/p>\n

We waited until 9:30 AM in hopes the rain would abate, and in fact it lessened to a light rain as we left the hotel.\u00a0 We even got a rainbow at the race start.<\/p>\n

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Gearing up. Rich improvised a helmet cap from some shrink wrap he found, but the wind on the mountain carried it away.<\/p><\/div>\n

The rainbow did not deliver on its promise, though.\u00a0 Mike lined us up for a start photo and away we went in a light but steady rain.\u00a0 Charles and Markham immediately opened a 100\u2019 gap, ignoring instructions for a neutral start.\u00a0 Rick followed, and I rode his wheel feeling comfortable and easy, although I was breathing moderately hard.\u00a0 After a half mile, we were down to two twosomes, with Charles and Markham keeping a steady 50 yards ahead of Rick and I. \u00a0Unfortunately for me, when the gun goes off and wheels start spinning, something old, beyond intelligence, takes over. \u00a0It was looking like I was in a race.<\/p>\n

[Note: from here, this is a personal account of my race experience. \u00a0Sorry, Markham and Charles–I wasn’t with you!]<\/p>\n

By mile 3, all sense of pedaling easily up the mountain was gone. \u00a0Rick kept hammering and we were both near our limit but not closing the gap to Charles and Markham.\u00a0 Slowly they pulled farther away, and then it was just Rick leading me up the mountain to the cadence of rapid breathing.<\/p>\n

At a certain point in an endurance race (as many of you know better than me), you have to make the commitment.\u00a0 The pain is intense, you\u2019re well beyond your comfort level, and your legs beg for relief. Miles of suffering lie ahead. You\u2019re either all-in or done.\u00a0 You reduce the equation to making the curve 100 yds. up, then you add 50 pedal strokes, then you regain Rick\u2019s wheel across a 10\u2019 gap. The struggle never ends.<\/p>\n

Rick motioned me through to lead for a while, but I act strategically and decline.\u00a0 Actually, I\u2019m at my limit and can\u2019t, but he MUST NOT know that.\u00a0 By mile 6, it\u2019s clear my legs will be wrecked for the rest of the day, and it would be a shame to burn them up with no reward, so I grit my teeth and keep following.\u00a0 Rick\u2019s standing on his pedals, laboring, and I think he might crack by mile 8.\u00a0 He\u2019s cracked before.\u00a0 All I can do is cling to his wheel and hope.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re averaging between 9 and 10 mph, and the slopes are ranging from 5 \u2013 9%.\u00a0 Occasionally we get a brief reprieve around a bend, but we just click into a higher gear for fear someone behind may gain on us.\u00a0 We no longer see Markham and Charles so we\u2019re fighting for the final podium spot.<\/p>\n

\u201cThree miles to go!\u201d I say cheerily, hoping the news will break Rick.\u00a0 \u201cReally?\u00a0 Three miles?\u201d he replies, and gets out of the saddle making another push.\u00a0 My plan backfires and I pay the price trying to close down the gap again.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s raining hard and the wind is catching us in the face as we make some corners.\u00a0 We\u2019re wet but not cold.\u00a0 Rick leads on, and I recognize his strength and generosity\u2014the wind would stand me up.<\/p>\n

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Rick and I. Rick was kind enough to drag me up the mountain.<\/p><\/div>\n

I\u2019m beyond any thought now, heartbeat at max, legs threatening to cramp.\u00a0 One more ramp. One more ramp.\u00a0 One more corner.\u00a0 Suddenly, we see the Andiamo van, signifying the top.\u00a0 It\u2019s 100 yds ahead.\u00a0 I wait to mark Rick, but he doesn\u2019t make a move, so I jump up and pull even with him, ready to dash the last 10 yards.\u00a0 \u201cReally?\u201d he says.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re going to sprint now???\u201d<\/p>\n

I sit back down. Nope, that would be too chump to do, even in a once-a-year race. Rick is a friend, a man of great character, and he has done all the work to get us up the mountain. This is his first chance at a podium finish and he is earning every meter of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go across together,\u201d he offers.\u00a0 I accept on the spot.<\/p>\n

But we weren\u2019t at the finish.\u00a0 Mike was pointing us up another road.\u00a0 \u201cTwo more\u2026\u2026.\u201d he said.\u00a0 The rest was lost in the wind and rain.\u00a0 Two more what??? Two hundred yards?\u00a0 That I could do.\u00a0 Two more km?\u00a0 That would be impossible.<\/p>\n

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Todd and Bill, tied for 5th. They were closing the gap at the finish.<\/p><\/div>\n

We turned up the ramp, praying it was the last, then hit a hairpin and it wasn\u2019t the last. Rick kept churning, never giving in, and I wondered if he had reconsidered his offer.\u00a0 And then\u2026.there was the mountain-top caf\u00e9, just below the pass, with Nel\u2019s Andiamo van parked at the road\u2026.the FINISH!<\/p>\n

We fist-bumped and rode in together, noting two riders rounding the curve behind us, trying to close the gap.\u00a0 \u201cGood job–get inside the caf\u00e9!\u201d Nel ordered, and then we realized a hard diagonal rain was soaking us amid gusting wind.\u00a0 It was freezing!\u00a0 Markham and Charles were already inside, standing in front of a huge stone fireplace.\u00a0 They, too, had crossed the line together\u2014co-champions!<\/p>\n

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Getting warm in front of the fire.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Bill R. trying to get warm<\/p><\/div>\n

And with that, I officially declare my retirement from racing on Race Day.\u00a0 It just hurts too damn much! \u00a0It\u2019s a prerogative of turning 60.\u00a0 Sorry, Ken Rosskopf! \u00a0Thank you, Rick, for a great last run.\u00a0 Go get Markham and Charles next year!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Race Podium: Markham and Charles, tied for first. Rick and Jack, tied for third. Rick prevented an Atlanta sweep.<\/p><\/div>\n

Distance: \u00a014 mi.<\/p>\n

Vert: \u00a03,200 ft<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Every year we choose to race up one signature mountain climb, the day being known as \u201cRace Day.\u201d\u00a0 Bragging rights are at stake, no small prize for wannabe jocks who have little else to hang their hat on. Today was … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[4],"tags":[10],"class_list":["post-218","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cycling","tag-fondo"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3QqGi-3w","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sayjack.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sayjack.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sayjack.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sayjack.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sayjack.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=218"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sayjack.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sayjack.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sayjack.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sayjack.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}