Mark Foster's 45+ 4/5 Report

CCCX Ft Ord

Written by Mark Foster
10/1/11
45+ Cat 4/5
16 riders, 1 team mate- Tom Rice

So finally we get a beautiful day for the races. Sunny, 70 degrees, absolutely perfect….except the wind. As I’m warming up on the trainer I notice Tom hasn’t shown up, and the race starts in 20 minutes. I think to myself, “Bummer, I guess Kate really tightened down the screws”. Then Tom comes flying in to registration; half dressed and completely frazzled….I think(I was on my trainer). We line up to start the race and the race director gives us another minute for Tom….nice. Tom shows up and the whistle blows. The pace starts easy enough, then one guy(Patrick Hampton) attacks on the first hill. So much for Tom’s easy warm up. Tom’s adrenalin is so high he can’t help himself and though not warmed up, begins to chase. He gets some help and just after the first lap we catch Patrick. At that point I decide to get everyone’s pulse up and pull for an entire lap. I think I dropped one or two guys, but that was it. At the top of the backside hill into the wind, I could hear my buddies cracking jokes and laughing about the effort I was putting out….to no avail. Although it was the fastest lap of the race, I looked back after my stint and said, “That’s all I’m gonna put out….I have three laps to recover.” The last lap was slow and going into the final downhill we start wishing each other luck….too funny. I lead it into the downhill, but big Jeff(MVV) can’t help but pass me on the fast descent. It was a repeat of the last race there. I follow in his draft. Two guys pass him(us) in the final corner and they start the sprint early. I take off when they do. The only difference in this race, is that I pass on the right instead of the left. I take the win by a few bike lengths and get the Series Jersey for the season. I’m going to miss that class and those guys next year. I had such a good day, that I elected to not do the next race and call it a season….and immediately belly up to Steve’s van for the post race Margs. I had a blast this year and know that Tom is going to be the guy to beat in that class next year! Thanks for reading and see you guys at the Low-Key Hill Climbs….maybe. -Mark