Miles Pesky RR Report-35+ 4/5

Miles Keep Pesky RR report
Where- Pescadero Road Race
When- June 18, 2011
Race- Mens 35+ 4/5, field of 75
Stats- 47 mi, 3750 ft climbing, 70 degrees, 2 hrs 28 min
Finish- 32nd

So this was my first Pesky race. I was nervous off and on the week prior. My goal was to experience and finish the Nor Cal classic and have fun.
Being a bit of a climber, I thought that this would suit my riding style. I had done the training and have been feeling strong as of late.
I got there plenty early, my food intake and warm up went perfectly. Everything was going as planned. As I was rolling around getting ready to go to the starting line, I ran into fellow team mate Mark Foster. We chatted a bit about his race and the course. Before I knew it I had 2 min to spare, so off I went. This was my first mistake. Getting to the line early gets you a spot up front for the start, even when it's a long road race. We started neutralized from the High School and through town. There was a sprint prime at the beginning of stage road, I wasn't really interested in those, so pretty much let the sprinters do their thing. Once we started the first climb up stage, the group started to break up. I just stayed calm and in the middle of the field. On the descent on stage I lost some ground and the race took off. We turned right onto 84 and up we went. There were a few riders around so I managed to get a group of about 4 together so we (I) didn't have to go up the long and windy 84 solo. That worked out pretty well, we went hard taking turns and caught the main group about half way up. Then right onto Pescadero Rd, passed W Alpine, and started the climb up Haskins Hill. This is were I am at my best, and dropped my group fairly easily. The finish line was at the top, and we went through uneventfully. Once again, descending Pescadero Rd I lost some ground. At that point the field was smaller groups and I found myself with my "team mates" from
84. They consisted of mostly guys from Oakland Cycling Team, and a few randoms. Everyone was cordial with each other and worked well together. Through town again and up Stage Rd we went for our final lap. I pulled a bit of a gap on my group going up stage but didn't hammer too hard as I wanted to finish Haskins with a bang. We all met up again on 84 to help each other out on now a bit gusty 84. As we turned onto Pescadero Rd, and through the feed zone I grabbed a commemorative water bottle and up we went again. I noticed one less "Oakland" rider, and found out that he had thrown a chain. I figured it mattered more how I finished, so I hit the last climb hard, it's only a bit more than 2K in length. A small group of 123 men passed me going up, then a solo 2 came by so I jumped on his wheel and I finished in tow. The finish doesn't have much of a fan fare, we basically just limped back down to the high school in town.

I guess what I have learned is to get to the starting line early, and man up on the descents.

After a long hard race I felt pretty good. The longer 100+ mile rides we have done lately on the weekends have helped. I was glad I had finished in one piece
and had experienced the Nor Cal classic, and I had the tan lines to prove it.

Thanks to Tim for the attached pic of the race with me in pain going up Haskins!

-Miles