Camp Maplelag MNSCS # 9

ARE YOU READY KIDS!!!!!! Hey kids did you miss it?? Maplelag XC course is one of the toughest and funnest around. Did you show up, survive or DNF? I'm guessing 7 experts dnf'ed. Speaking of kids.....check out picture here 25 kids in the kids comp class!!! .

Maplelag is like going to Camp. Thank You Richards family for Camp Maplelag!! The lake, swimming, fishing, friends, non-stop race action, home style food, cookie jars, movie room, skills clinic, main lodge, dinner bell? Everyone has kid like energy. It's hard to explain the great job the Richard's family does. Food is inclusive with overnight stay, so everyone sits together at mess hall on wooden benches and tables. The food rolls out on carts, you just want to start singing like at camp when it's served.

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Anyway, for the long weekend all five in my family plus my Dad all headed up. We all raced. I can't even begin to share the fun we all had. On the left is a picture of Leo after a full day at camp. By the way Duncan is fine, a bit sore, but fine.

The Time Trail Saturday AM hurt as my biking time has been lacking. Time has got the best of me, hence my late blog post! This week I started 2 more MBA classes(I'm halfway through St. Thomas MBA program), kids are back in school, and the actual egress windows are both finally in!!

In the short track my goal was to simply not get passed by the leaders. I lost three spots when my chain came off on final lap/hill, looks like weak derailuer to me. Important thing is met goal of not being passed by expert leaders, whew. Duncan also did ST and was leading for a few laps. It was so fun to see him hammer it out with the leaders. What a race. He took 1st in citizen males in ST and overall. Far out!! The short track is a blast to watch.

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In the Cross Country race on Sunday, we all raced. Alta and Leo did kids comp. Everyone finished. All but Leo got 1st or second in age. I should mention my Dad at 67 was the oldest, and got first. He stood on the podium alone, on the top. Anyone have a picture of that? I'm sure most of you spoke with him this weekend, he sure had a great time.

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Since some of you other old farts like my XC race re-caps, I'll recap. First off, let me say got my butt kicked by a 15 year old. Yeah, thanks for making feel young Jake!! From no training to way into expert mix, very nice. So you know, my race re-cap might be a little long, so stop reading and check out pictures below if you want. See ya....

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Ok, the expert race went like this from my view: the start went well as didn't go for broke but hung in around 15th. After first single track the glimpses of leaders diminished. On downhill before the steep open gravely climb my chain sucked into BB area again. I got off bike to fix, Barry and about 6 other guys wizzed by. I made up some ground on the gravely climb. From there it was to the lake side drops. It was follow Hollywood, Shane, and Lance toward suicide hill. Matt Kurke was near, Jan was somewhere behind and Barry was up ahead somewhere. Shane and Hollywood went back and forth a few times, then at suicide hill I hammered past a few folk. Eventually I passed Tom and caught up with Barry. I think that was all during lap 1.

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Lap two Barry and I pedaled together talking about how long a race it was going to be. Barry is really good at following and showing me his wheel. He knows I'm a sucker for a race and will speed up if challenged. He did this on short track and other races. We actually joke about it. As we cruised along we knew Jan was coming, Matt caught us. Paul was ahead and eventually came in site.

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Lap 2 and 3 was a bit blurred as Paul was always there and/or ahead, Jan did catch us. Matt, Paul and I all went after or chased Jan at one point or another. I passed Jan once and passed Paul about four times. It was near 90 degrees, hot, and a tough course. Yowza. I do remember Seeing Barry catching me again at beginning of lap 3.

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So at start of lap 3 it became myself, Barry then Matt. Jan was way gone and Paul was ahead somewhere. At suicide hill Barry the steady one made his move. My legs said no with a few electrical shocks, I had to let Barry and Paul go. Finally I steadied my pace and kept Matt off. It was hard but finally caught Paul and passed him. He was basically riding one handed, yep, what a finish for him. I never saw Barry but ended 45 seconds behind him.

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It was a hard race for me but happy to finish in the money and not DNF. Check out the expert money picture. Barry and I we're having fun in nose bleed row. (all pictures are from my Dad's or my Camera, one might be Dana'a which I'm sure to buy a few pics from her again).

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Looks like for my efforts this year I'll end up 6th or 7th overall experts for 2008 season. Not bad for a 42 year old. My goals have been mosly set on next year, we'll see..... Later!