Headwaters Weekend!

We had a great time at the Rainbow Resort this weekend! On Friday we met up at the Resort with enough daylight to go riding out on the Mountain Bike trails and scout out the course for Sunday's race. After that Carol and Holly made us an incredible pasta meal that was a perfect pre race meal. After that there was a heavy duty strategy session with code words and mile markers. For anyone who has raced they know these plans don't usually work out but it is a great way to take care of some of the jitters.

On Saturday we got up and mixed our bottles of Perpetuum... one smell of the stuff and it takes me right back to RAAM. Our first adventure was my gas light coming on as we were leaving the
resort. 40 miles later and a lot of cheering on the car, we made it to Park Rapids running on fumes. It was close! When I filled up my 20 gallon tank the pump showed that I had put in 20.4 gallons.

Off to the races! We had quite a showing in the race! If you look at the results there will be a lot of familiar names! It is nice to be at the start and to know a fifth of the field! Two bottles in my pockets and two on the bike and some snickers to boot. The weather was perfect! Short sleeve jersey and shorts at Headwaters!

We left town as a bunch and it was fun to be back in the pack. We had people that were racing for the first time and they said that the start was thrilling and I would have to agree, it is pretty exciting. We had a strategy that we were going to attack at mile marker 44. So I worked my way to the front and pushed the pace up... they forgot to tell me they called off that plan. So I am waiting for a long line of my teammates to storm around me, not to be. We all cramped. John was unbelievable as he pulled up front for hours. I sat in the back and tried to stretch out.
I was cramping early in the race. I was also riding sick, and oh, the sun was in my eyes. Near the end I was covering breakaways to insure that we stayed close to the leaders but there were already 6 up the road. It was a weird race in the sense that we had the chance to close for a
long time but no one was willing to get organized and not even John can do that alone. The bunch came in like we always do, storming down to the school in a free for all. Steve and Dave G. stayed with us all the way, very impressive! Melinda got second and Madonna got third in the Women's race. Third place trophy in her first race! Way to go! Paul S. completed his first
race. Another way to go. Holly took the wrong turn that DaveHoglund took two years ago and finished back but really would have gotten third in the race if it wasn't for the mystery corner. The Sayler family rode the tour and had a great time! Diane Hemstad rode her first century too! Way to go! Everyone did great!

Saturday night we had presentations on RAAM and that crazy Iowa ride. I might do it next year, it looks fun! Then we drank a truck load of lemonade and got a little silly, went to bed at 3.

Sunday we had a great breakfast and it was time for the mountain bike race/ running races at Rainbow Resort. Amy is awesome and staying at Rainbow really makes the weekend special. The race course was tough but I didn't throw up... there were bets being made on that. John once again proved that he is the manliest man I have ever met by riding the mountain bike race on his road bike and kicking my rear, the guy is unbelievable!! Thanks Bernie for believing in me and waiting for me! Dave Hoglund waited for everyone and won the race in a bunch sprint. Nice trophy!

Holy crap!! How could I space this!? Jorge also won a beautiful trophy as did Melinda and Cindy! Jorge set a course record on the run as he dropped the field and left them wondering what he had for breakfast. How could I forget that? Great job Jorge and I love you too!

After that we had a great lunch and we had the award presentation and door prizes brought in my Larry and Pam from Trailhead! Thank You! That was really fun! It was simply a wonderful weekend!