this place needs some tlc and attention…
After the Bulldog, things got busy and are starting to take a new focus. Its a good thing, but unfortunately my training has suffered and will prolly suffer more. I tried to keep the momentum rolling into the 909 and MARC finals, but I jsut couldnt find the time to get in what was needed. My performance at the 909 was a direct result. I hammered it off the start, and halfway through the first lap I felt like I was on my 3rd lap. Not that this was a very technical course, but I felt sloppy too. I jsut didnt seem to have any flow in the rocks. Speaking of rocks, one came up and took out my derailleur hangar after my first lap. I had mixed emotions at that moment. Half of me was grateful I ddint have to go through any more of the beatdown, but the other half didnt want to see a DNF under any circumstance. In the end the former won lol.
So at least the 909 wasnt a complete wash. It wasnt the big race prep I wanted to see the week before the MARC finals, but it was still a pinned effort for an hour or so. Again life got in the way of any serious training I needed to accomplish for the next week, but I got in what I could. Courtney and I both forgot to prereg, so when race day came and it was a monsoon, Courtney didnt have any trouble with bailing out. To be honest I didnt either, and was going to, until I found out I had a shot at the podium for the MARC. That was enough to seal the deal for me. With the conditions, they also shortened the course to only 2 laps for CAT 1 and Pro’s. That was a little relief, but its still Bear Creek rocks. And they were wet. Really wet. 1st lap for me I felt like a stuttering fool. Just didnt seem to have any flow in the rocks. 2nd lap I felt much better and felt the rhythm of the Bear Creek rocks. Although it wasnt any faster, I just felt it flowed better. So while my 4th place finish didnt have the competition in it like the Bulldog, I will take it. It landed me a 2nd place in the MARC, and that was the series I had a goal in the beginning to complete. The cool thing about this series is while it doesnt attract a ton of fast racers doing the whole series, the individual events themselves attract fast racers from all over the mid-atlantic. Sure I’m not anywhere’s fast enough to keep pace with most of them, but at least I can get an idea of how much faster they are and how much work I need to do to be competitive in the future. And for sure the 2nd place for the region is pretty cool. For my first year as Cat1, I cant complain.
Coming up, I need to do some fun rides. With some big life changes in the horizon, my racing year looks to be about over. Sure I’m going to try to make a good showing at the Summer Showdown at Bear Creek, but thats about if for the racing (unless I try cross). Right now Im looking to get in some fun epics with fun friends. Maybe even another sausage and peppers ride?
The following email was sent out by an equestrian local to Lake Nockamixon. Her disparaging claims about Valley Mountain Bikers are categorically false. VMB is drafting a letter that will be sent to all appropriate officials in an attempt to clear the reputation we have all worked so hard to build.
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If you enjoy your horse trails be aware the the Lehigh Valley Mountain Bike Association is taking over the trails. Initially members indicate that they will share the trails with equestrians but after they mark the trails they remove the surface material making them no longer usable to riders. Watch for the pink flags that indicate they are going to take over an area. This organization is all over PA, and NJ.
You can go to their website and see all the trails that they presently have. They are well organized and extremely unfriendly.(Just read what they have written about horses and riders in general). You can read the forums and get an idea what they do in the park. They somehow have gotten into Nockamixon State park and have plans for many more trails. Although their “RULES OF THE ROAD” indicate that they will slow for equestrians that has not always been my experience. We figure they are hitting 40 miles per hour on the access road.
Their blog also indicates they have plans for the Bucks County Horse park. Also here in Nockamixon they plan to go around Lake Nockamixon and under 563 bridge along the creek.
Please spread the word. Pass this e-Mail around.
I have been in contact with the PA Equine Council, The PA Game Commission, Fish and Wildlife, The park manager here at Nockamixon (Obie Derr), Nockamixon Township supervisors, the Bucks County Horse park, Bucks County Park and Rec (Bill Mitchell and Michelle Smyser) and State Rep. Margarette Quinn.
Remember, in PA the biggest business is farming and in farming horses are the number 2 source of income in the state. Don’t let anyone tell you you are in the minority as far as rights to state, federal and county land.
Sallie Jo Reid
And most definitely not on purpose. Pure dumb luck I suppose. But I’ll take it! All year I’ve been struggling to just not DFL with these fast fuckers. It’s like, come on guys, just break me off a piece of the middle of the pack will ya? Realizing my skinny peers aint gonna break me off shit, I resorted to working hard and putting in some massive mileage and elevation gains on the road bike. Part of my downfall is the last lap. I typically fail to hold a respectable pace on that last lap with thoughts of giving up as I get passed by the older class and females who start several minutes after me. I felt different this time. It felt good. And fast lol. I started off the line hard and kept it going. I think this course suits me well too, as there is minimal climbing. Jsut a few short punchy climbs. The kind I can get anaerobic and purely muscle up. Its those long Tymor climbs that I cant hold up. But then again, this one did have a good lengthy “three bitches” climb that I kept going strong on till the end. Anyways, I think I typically do well at those short punchy steep climbs due to my years of stupid heavy squats and leg presses. Its also where I did most of my passing. So at the field before the last long climb I kept looking back and nobody was behind me. I thought to myself if I can jsut get up this climb I’m home free, as I can usually hold my own on the descents. I was jsut worried about the climb. I knew I was in at least 7th place and was fucking ecstatic I had a shot at gettin in the top ten as long as I didnt get passed on that climb. I cranked out as hard as I could and made it to the top on the verge of cramping quads. I turned around and still nobody was in sight! More thoughts of letting up crossed my head, but that didnt last. Even though I knew I wasnt gonna get passed on last stretch and descent, I wasnt about to test the waters. I kept the hammer down, flowed through the switchback downhill and gave everything I could for the grass field finish. I thought my legs were gonna get ripped off on that last little road hill to the finish line. As I crossed the line (not knowingly in 4th place), I thought no matter where I placed, I knew I gave it my all and felt strong and fast all the way through to the end. This was the feeling I was looking for. Ha now all I gotta do is try to re-create it for the next races! Dumb luck may have a part in it, but I also have a few ideas as to how it all came together 
Cutters was out in full force too. Very cool to hang with the team and see them race. Definitely set the mood for the race for me. Hope to see them at more XC races. Up next for us is the 909, but Courtney has the Dirty Bear Tri before that. She’s been swimming pretty consistently the past couple of weeks, and while it may not be her strong point, she is getting more proficient at it and should do well. No matter though as she will make up any time in the bike and run for sure. I think Nick and Joe are still on track for the Wilderness 101 this year. Courtney has her sights on it for next year. This is beyond me. I got no business riding 101 miles on my mountain bike. You guys are nutz…
Stay tuned, I will post pics and flix shortly.
the bird says: 
