Racing is back

The weather allowed the Dirt Derby races to happen last night. We had a different and much easier track this time, as the property has moved the motocross track closer to the road. A flat, twisty, slippery hard-pack with some loose sections hidden here and there along with a very stiff wind in our faces at times was still a good challenge and resulted in some good racing, at least in the middle of the pack where I was! I got a much better start than my first race and made a few passes straight away. I was making ground on some guys in front of me when someone fell right in front of me and I had to stop to avoid him and the people next to me. I ended up getting a couple of them back later in the race by using better lines and upshifting when the wind was at my back - use that wind when you can! While we need the rain, I hope it holds out for next week so we can race!


2012-Mar-6
Crossfit Central WOD
CFT Finish DL:  365, 405x, 405x
I got 365 up, which I missed last time. Still not happy with that.

Dirt Derby Mountain Bike Race (20min, 5 laps)
Finished 9th out of 15 in my race. No crashes!
Strava - Race Data

2012-Mar-5
Krav 1 and 2 classes, 60min each
Lots of sparring and sprawls!

Strategy

I'll tell you what, your choice in strategy can really make or break you in a race! Last night I entered my first mountain bike race, and I screwed myself right off the start. Let me break it down: Because I had never entered a race before, I thought I would start at the back of the pack and then try to chase people in front of me and pick them off one at a time - chase the carrots, if you will. Due to the rain that fell a few days ago, the track was deep and soft, and very much one-lined in a lot of places. That one line wasn't even really that good for the most part. So with my strategy in effect, we were off... a few small obstacles were no problem then the first uphill climb that turns to the left. It was soft and steep...yep, 10-15 people in front of me piled up, unable to make it up. I jump off my bike and wait for them to get straight and going, and realize that I just lost at least 30sec of time there then it happened again on the next climb on that lap. Looking at the data (lap 2 was first real lap of the race) I can see my first lap was over 1min slower than the next (lap 3). Yikes. Next time I will not lay up at the start! I'll just hit it and if people are faster they will pass me anyway, but at least I wont get hosed at the start of the race.

2011-Nov-29 & Dec 1
Crossfit Central WOD
CFT
SQ 335, PR 200, DL 335 (WTF!)

I am not real happy about those numbers. No screw that, they are bullshit.

Dirt Derby - Mountain bike race
Data

2011-Nov-28
Krav Maga class
Getting ready for level test on Dec 10th!