Colossal Cave RR Race Report (JJ)

by JJ Schmidt

I wanted to do this race last year but decided not to because I wasn't ready.  I wasn't ready this year but decided to do it anyway.  Buzz, Jimmy, Michael, Gary and Greg were registered for masters cat 4/5 35+.  I signed up for the cat 5 race thinking that would be my best chance of staying with the group as long as possible.

We started with the Collegiate C group and the pace was not that bad.  Half way up Old Spanish Trail I heard a guy say, "this is going to be a roll out for the first 35 miles."  Not a minute later, some one attacked and the group took off.  I was not prepared and found myself off the back.  After the hill I started working with Burt and Matt, a couple of U of A guys.  Matt and I took a couple of pulls on Loma Alta, and then Burt carried us around the corner and took a good pull on OST.

We caught another collegiate guy from New Mexico, Josef but lost Burt, who I found out later got sick and couldn't finish. I didn't realize it, but we lost Matt on OST also.  I worked with Josef for the next four laps.  On the third lap I saw Buzz walking his bike and offered him mine thinking that would get me out of finishing the race.  No such luck.  It was a tough race, but I had a good time and was grateful to Josef for working with me.  After the race I had some great fellowship with my team mates and some wonderful food thanks to Ray and Diana.