FSC #4 ALAFIA

Although I hate to admit it, I haven't been on the bike in 2 weeks.  With the weather and not being able to tear myself away from the mini ramp (my skateboard skills are improving), the training stuff just didn't happen.  But I gotta tell you, no amount of training could have prepared me for the race course at Alafia!!!

After pre-riding the course on Saturday, I almost told my Mom and Dad that I wanted to bail out on the race.  I found the course to be extremely difficult.  With it's non stop steep rooty climbs and drops, I had a hard time trying to get the feel of it.  I practiced different lines to take on the technical sections and nothing really seemed to work (couldn't get the flow going).  Definitely a "power course"... and I only have so much power!! So, after getting home and really thinking about whether or not I should do the race.  I kept asking myself questions like:  Can I really do this race without killing myself?, Am I really up for this huge challenge? Should I take the easy way out and just skip it?  And my answer to the last question was, heck no!!! 

On race day for some reason I felt very relaxed.  I didn't even get all stressed out seeing the other 9 women in my class.  I felt like I was doing this race for me and as long as I did my best...I would be happy.

Here's my short race report because I'm really tired and I have school tomorrow.  I was 5th going into the woods.  Went back and forth with the 4th place lady. I think I got passed by all of the 11-14 year boys (they are sooooo fast!!) Ending up, you guessed it, in 4th place.   In a couple days, check out MTB Mike's blog, I'm sure he will have a cool video of the race.