Show and Race Re-Cap

Last weekend's activities turned out to be pretty amazing to say the least. The Shadow's Fall and All That Remains show was pure sweetness. I wish there was a little more breathing room on the floor though, because after the chaos of the show ended, I felt like I had a flashback to the old grappling days when I would leave practice covered in sweat. In the end, I was able to let loose and scream out the lyrics to some of the songs I knew and wound up catching a drumstick from the Shadows Fall act.

The Terror of Teaberry turned out to be one of my favorite races of the season. It was the first cold day of the year, so I raced with some arm and knee warmers. Initially, I planned on leading out with a killer pace, but the tension between Harlan and Chris had the pair battling as soon as the gun went off with Jeff Schalk in 3rd and myself in 4th. Still, not a bad start. The best parts of the race started coming about 15 minutes in where I got my first feed off of Aaron, who would be rally-car racing around Michaux handing me bottles, GU's, and cream pies.... mmmmm. Aaron kept it consistant through the entire race, by getting to me at least every 15 minutes, sometimes 5 or 10 minutes. It was so pro.... Thanks! Besides seeing Aaron around every turn, I was pretty much alone the whole time, enjoying some of the best trails that Michaux has to offer. By the mid-way point, I caught up to Harlan, who was truing his wheel?!?! We rode together for a little bit, but then the green machine dropped me on a sketchy, rocky, grassy, downhill that seemed like it was skewed on a 50 degree angle. I figured I would be able to make up the lost ground on the next climb, but as I began to reel Harlan back in he took a look over his shoulder and put the hammer down. So it was back to being on my own for the rest of the race. Chris was way off the front and took the win by half an hour. Harlan came in 2nd, followed by myself in 3rd. By coincidence, this was the 3rd and final race of the year. I placed 3rd in all 3 races, and finished 3rd overall in the series. Well the racing season is almost all wrapped up. Coming up tomorrow is the Bear Creek STXC followed by the XC on Sunday. The Bear Creek events will serve as the finals for the Mid-Atlantic Super Series. After that will be God's Country Marathon. Ride on.