Inline events got to the point that I couldn't effort to be picky. And I owned up to the fact I'd never be more ready. I decided on 100k when Nancy invited me in Budapest. It'd be fun to re-visit NYC.
_NYC travel
Using the public transportation was an interesting experience. New Yorkers were helpful when approached with questions, but I didn't anticipate the difficulty of spotting natives at airport and train stations. It didn't help the Q train I counted on wasn't in operation.
Plan B was to use taxies or to skate. The rain made it difficult.
_Race day condition
Mid 70's. 100% humidity. Wet pavement.
Lots of black Storm Surges showed up. I used 100mm gold Street Fights and carbon frames.
_Faster start than needed
If the goal were to optimize average speed, I'd start slow, shop for a pro pack that lap us, shoot for 3.5-hr finish. I chose to ignore finish time <= Texas Flyers had realistic chance at 2 non-pro podium spots.
I stayed in front after the gun, making sure no 100k racer got away. Casey joined me. We matched the speed of 23-year-old Michael Pereira. He was relentless. We let the kid go after short discussion during 2nd lap.
Lap #5. Luke, Renee, and John joined. Casey and I went off the script and pulled the pack. I didn't like the marathoners' erratic accelerations.
John kept lifting the pace; I almost let him go.
photo by Ron Morella
At one point, I asked everyone to slow to wait for Renee; she never caught up. John also got dropped.
A 42k racer in skin suit started to skate slightly faster than the pack off the front. I advised her to be cooperative, “you’re just wasting energy.” She ignored me and was repeatedly swallowed by the pack going down hills. It took me a while to realize she didn't understand a word I said.
The lead vehicles were 2 pretty Ducaties. The peloton looked happy during first half the race. It didn't take them long before lapping us. The pros slowed enough at one point we actually latched on. What are the chances I'd skate in the peloton during in a big race?
_After 42
Things settled down after the marathoners sprinted off. My group was down to 3 with Luke and Casey. It was a relaxing ride. We even slowed to observe a commercial photo shoot. We positive split and made no effort to stop bleeding. I started to think about the end games and looked for attack spots.
Lap 14.
4 pros lapped us for the 2nd time. Casey jumped. I followed. Luke dropped.
_Free ride
The pros were 2 laps ahead and didn't ask us to pull. One guy decided on a baby surge with 2 laps to go. My quads cramped half way up the previously harmless hill. I got popped off the back at lap 16. I focused on keeping recovery pace; I needed to be ready by the time Luke skated by. Luke pass never happened; I gained too much ground behind the pros.
Marcy and Kara Peterson lapped me. Marcy was a machine in skin suit. Her precision strides were the most beautiful thing on the course. I had insufficient incentive to skate that hard; I let her go.
[podium photo]
Casey went on to win the advanced division.
I finished 2nd in 4 hours--3 minutes in front of Luke.
Michael Pereira blew up during lap 5 and abandoned the race after many lonely miles.
_race #'s
64.07 miles in 4:00:30
avg/max: 16/33 mph
gels: 6
elevation gain/loss per Garmin 310XT: 1915/1933 feet
_Post race
Sandy skipped the wet surface race but joined the podium celebration at a West African restaurant. Luke and Casey talked Skate Farm Thailand.
Casey and I rode a free shuttle between rail stations. We chatted with the bus driver. The guy was so cool a girl pursued him between stops. When I grow up, I want to operate large public vehicles.
It took me a long time to recognize the racers at official dinner at Iguana Bar. The Empire Speed Club had the highest density of particle physicists. It was great to catch up with Dustin on musician and other things.
Nancy took us on a foot tour; she was the only non-tourist human at Time Square. Grand Central was indeed grand.
_Sunday morning skate
I briefly considered the scheduled 7-mile run before replacing it with coffee and buttered bagel.
Philly skaters hired a bus to skate Manhattan that morning. It was great to see Euro Roll friends.
At leisure pace, we still went faster than buses and taxies in city traffic.
USS Intrepid looked newer than 12 years ago. Casey and I rolled the final portion of NYC skate while eating gyro and Thai before the pre flight shower.
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