I focused 2013 race season on Maffetone running and rarely raise heart rate above 74% max for any sport.
I trained for A2A as “C” event but tapered and weight-controlled like “A” race. I wanted a high place finish if the opportunity arose.
_uncertainties
1. Gained weight and lost cardio fitness (MAF test) during Danube vacation.
2. Injured left knee during hill repeats.
3. Food poison Tuesday prior to race. Core temperature and heart rate went berserk Wednesday.
4. Rain forecast.
5. Right frame cracked at mounting point.
_plan
Keep Lenny & Jessica in sight for 38 miles. They usually became the chase pack. Be aggressive starting at final climb. Be ready to go off road at the final intersection.
Resupply in Dacula. Skate to Atlanta with Luke and Casey.
If everyone feels good, skate Silver Hill twice.
It's OK to quit at check point 5.
_start
I had no confidence lining up next to Eddy’s costume; I couldn’t remember last time I skated fast. “Anticipate unhappy quads. Ignore heart rate. Stay positive. This is what you love to do.”
Perhaps remembering last year’s wrong-turn incident, no one wanted to lead. Lenny finally got in position behind Piedmont Club skinsuits. Jessica and Morgan latched on. I grabbed the 10th spot. Unrecovered from NY 100K previous weekend, most pro racers ended up in the chase pack within spitting distance (world record: 100 feet 4 inches).
Lead and chase packs merged. Having too much energy, Francisco zipped in and out of the paceline socializing bilingually.
Posers started to show weakness when climbing. Group shuffled at every turn. Eddy and other contenders emerged, showing no interest in breaking away. Francisco got his phone out for FB shots.
3 Piedmont skaters stayed up front—my competitions were controlling the pace. Pros let them. I couldn’t believe my good fortune.
Jessica wanted the title. The only other visible female was Vanessa. I was surprised not to see Marcy.
_don’t try new things at races
When weather forecast turned favorable, I opted for the lighter CDS gloves instead of usual sliders. At one point, I saw near-finish landmarks but dismissed my memory. Garmin 305 said 10 miles to go; I was unaware of losing 9 miles from incidental contacts between glove’s hard palm and GPS start/stop button.
_unexpected finished
The final ascent felt neither difficult nor final. I focused on staying inside the pack and was oblivious to Piedmont skaters’ positions.
Someone shouted, “if you’re racing 38, you better get to the front.” I recognized the 2 final turns [Thank you Google!], panicked, and accelerated. The 3 Piedmont racers hesitated at the T-intersection; I sliced through the traffic like Michael Jordan. I led the entire field. I sprinted. "Just go! Don't look back!"
I wished I practiced sprinting at least once during Obama Administration. 14-year old Matthew Fortner and his dad chased me down with comical ease.
I was stoked. One of my skate fantasies was finishing A2A 38-Mile ahead of the pros. My previous A2A lead pack attempt lasted only 40 minutes.
I socialized, refueled, resupplied, and powdered my nose in next 10 minutes. The sun was out. Everyone was smiling.
#’s
Course: 38 miles
Time: 2:10:59
Avg speed: 17.4 mph
_49 miles to Atlanta
I got back on course as Luke and Casey rolled by. The group also included Marcy, Bryce and Larry. Larry helped me out in 2009 after elites dropped me.
I started pulling. My quads cramped, but I wanted to contribute to my friends’ experience. “Just get to Silver Hill. Don’t over-hydrate.” I looked forward to see Candy Girl and Nancy at check point 5.
We picked Vanessa up who was spitted out by the lead pack. I knew how that felt. We picked BJ up for the 2nd year. BJ left the lead pack too late and was unable to stay with us.
_scary moment
More cops showed up at intersections this year; not all had the same stopping power. Bryce barely missed a car that ignored the policegirl. Rest of us braked to avoid confrontations with large metal objects.
Fueled by adrenaline, Bryce surged next climbs then suddenly faded. We waited a few minutes and let him drop off the pack.
_Silver Hill
The wind ain’t right this year. We barely got over 40 mph.
We prepared the 2 rookies for the climb out of Silver Hill, “lots of climbs remaining; this is the longest one.”
_Atlanta
Marcy’s feet continued to hurt. She had her own climbed rhythm but waited for us on the other side. Luke cranked out steady power. Casey’s skating form changed but kept up. Vanessa hung on, determined not to skate alone. I felt unexpectedly strong. I should write Phil Maffetone a thank-you letter.
City traffic was a bit hairy. Larry prepared a whistle that alerted police of our arrival. Larry led a lot once the road turned flat; we had to slow him to keep the group together.
The final miles had more skateable surface than in 2012. Thanks for the new route, Lisa.
We entered quiet residential streets. Larry and Marcy surged. Luke, Casey, and I were content with the speed. Vanessa decided to take her time now she was out of city traffic.
The new route came with a pitch black tunnel that added to the excitement. It reminded me of the rainy Barcelona skate led by locals, “do you want the scary route or dark route?”
Three of us finished 87 miles hand in hand.
#’s
Course: 87 miles
Time: 5:49:29
Avg speed: 14.9 mph
_results
Bryce came in 13 minutes behind us. He had nerve pains and needed ice.
Morgan missed the same turn Herb and I missed in 2008. Morgan finished the race with Jessica, who got her first A2A title.
Columbian Mauricio Garcia Sierra won the 87-mile race. Francisco got fourth.
Brian and Lenny skated together and averaged 17 mph.
Pat, Blake, Mike, Linchen, Rick, Greg, and David didn’t have the performances they hoped for. It’s difficult to stay motivated through training season.
Holly finished the full distance but seemed a little rattled.
Eddy got 2nd in 87-mile race and rode Valerie's bike with skates.
_post-race
Luke bought me lunch: “Anything you want from Taco Bell.” “Cash register.”
Sandy’s Yaris took us to an early dinner at Flying Biscuits.
Stacey made a surprise appearance at award ceremony. Everyone wanted to know what she was up to.
The rain came 20 minutes after awards. On 27th floor of downtown Hilton, Casey and I munched on hors d’oeuvres and watched Cowboys gave the game away to Broncos--a predictable end to a great race weekend.
