Sunday, March 05, 2006
Shamrock Invitational
What started as an idea Chris E. and I had to shake the bugs out with a hard race-simulating training session, turned out to take on a life of it's own.
As soon as I sent out the e-mails, Erin starting thinking of ways to make this training session into a race with more character than the running of the bulls.
Shortly after concocting our ideas for an Ireland spring-green theme, we set off for the Glenn's Fair Price store, which is a wacky costume shop here in town to buy cheap party junk.
We saw fake boobs that you can wear, but Erin wouldn't let me buy them. Then, we hit the mother load! Blimey we struck it rich! Eye, we found a veritable treasure trove of gold coins, green Marti gras beads and green leprechaun hats, a gold plated shamrock that's 3-inches tall “for the trophy†and some green and white ribbon! Erin also made participant medals with these huge green cookies that look like four leaf clovers, sweet!
In attendance were the hearty crew of: Dylan Johnson, winner of the Technical-Tricky-Leprechaun trophy where, like golf, lowest score earns the win for clearing the tricky parts of our lesson ride over to the mountain, and combined with the Super D beginning of our short course race; Chris Scott who won the cutters "trophy for best short cut:" Nick Waite who took the Short Track award; Chris Eatough, winner of the 7th mile prime; the lucky ladies, Erin and Allison, who drove over to watch and cheer us on like green clad cheerleaders; and me.
The Super D race started 1000ft above the twisty circuit atop the Homestead Trail. It was a gradual long downhill stretch with whoops and berms and rad turns. Dylan had a hold on the lead but Chris was hot on his tail. I was right there but toward the bottom's high-speed single track I was gaped. Dylan was flying! Nick got a little stuck behind Chris and lost contact with us. Chris had the early lead or so I thought. Then just as a thought I got to the front I saw Dylan ahead of us !??! Dylan had taken an accidental short cut and was out front. I got the win and Chris was second. The race was 5 laps of quick, world cup style throw down. We cut loose until we were spent. After our race we sat in the sun and talked out about our adventures and miss adventures.
We may not have had the UCI sanctioning but this was a lot more fun. And we didn't have to send all kinds of money to Switzerland!
We got our travel packs and jackets and loaded up for the 45-minute bike ride home.
Next March, look in your mailbox for the invitation!
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