MFG Race #3 - A Fun Race & A Good Cause

Yesterday was the Starbuck's Gran Prix, benefiting the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Last year, it was a stand-alone race, but this year it is part of the MFG series. After calling up the top 8 riders in the the class standings to the line for the race, they invited anyone who had a family member that was fighting cancer or a family member that is a cancer survivor. Let's just say that a lot of people moved toward the starting line. Thoughts of many people ran through my head, but most prominent was Becky. How bad can it hurt to push yourself to the limit on the bike for 30 minutes, compared to what others go through?

That was a rhetorical question. But, I will tell you that it does hurt quite a bit.

The race was at Lake Sammamish Park. It was a new venue for me. Not sure if the the Seattle series has been there in the past or not. A very flat, fast course. Not a great layout for me, as speed is not the strength of my cycling repertoire. What is? And it included a long stretch of deep sand beach. My plan was to cut down to the water's edge and ride in about an inch of water, where the ground is very firm and rideable. But on warm-up lap #2, they were taping off the water so that you could not ride it. I was worried that the long run through the sand carrying my bike was going to inflict serious damage. So I decided to ride the "detour", which was a thin strip of firm sand along a retaining wall further up the beach. The only problem was that it was a longer route. But I chose it because I felt that I would get through the sand in much better condition to immediately push in the upcoming flat section, and make up any ground that I lost. In hindsight, it wasn't a great choice because of issues getting stuck behind other riders and the fact that the nice firm sand got torn up pretty fast as people rode and ran through it.

I still don't know how I finished, because I had to leave to go to the airport to pick up my wife before they posted my the race results. As of this morning, they are still not posted online. But I felt that I raced hard and did push myself close to the limit. As I look back, there is always the feeling that I could have pushed just a little bit harder. Or at least I could have run the beach section, instead of trying to ride the detour. Oh well, life goes on.

Next week, I'll miss the MFG race on Saturday. Bummer, because I think I am actually doing pretty well in the overall standings. But hopefully, I will make it to the Seattle series race on Sunday, and try to redeem myself for the horrible start in the last race.

Here are some pics courtesy of Joe Martin - thanks, Joe.

I actually made it to staging on time and got a good position (2nd row, visible between front row guy in bright yellow and guy in black)

Riding a section of the beach

Chasing a wheel after the hairpin

Making up some ground on slower riders in the barriers