KORC

Acronym for Kinnickinnic Off-Road Cyclists down in River Falls, WI. This crew has built an excellent network of mountain bike trails that is similar to Piedmont, Hartley & Lester Parks here in Duluth and would be the course for Saturday's event. With 5k, 10k & 20k races to choose from I opted for the longest. Lining up for the short dash into the woods I pondered etiquette as all three groups went together. Not wanting to hold back anyone I didn't start aggressively and yet still positioned fifth man in the singletrack. Maybe a mile and a half in I began receiving glances and comments to the bib I wore on my thigh and quickly realized I was w/o the company of my group. Already I felt like I was in a heavy weight boxing match navigating the switchbacks and up & downs the arduous hills. Climbing found there wasn't like our route this coming weekend here in town but wasn't punchy either. At any rate, handling everything well I chose to leap out of the track and trudge past each person ahead of me and kick the pace up a notch. Along the way, until we reached the aid station signaling two miles to go I had some fun chat w/the 10k leader encouraging him in his first snowshoe race. We opened a little gap on the chase group behind and it was all he needed to stat away. Coming out of the forest I stepped aside not to ruin the sprint between second thru fourth. Passing by the line I went out to do it all again. The trail condition improved immensely as it was churned up but not very deep to leave it firm. Running the perimeter to an open field up top I noticed there was someone in pursuit of me 30-45 seconds back. Once back in the cover I attacked really hard to the point where I got ahead of my agility and bouncing shoulders off trunks would indicate that a deep breath might be needed. It helped and from that moment on I played the out of sight, out of mind game. Upon finishing, I realized my effort put forth was wasted since the victory came w/a huge margin!! I must have been going good or else my competitors bonked?? Oh well, after negative splits and going back into the warm day care facility to escape the -13F I got some weird looks during the awards ceremony for the other distances. Nobody expected anyone doing the half in for awhile yet. As I removed my iced layers I spoke w/Phil Smith, editor for Snowshoe Magazine, as he wanted a report of how it was out there. Eating plenty of candy & chili before grabbing my pottery we hit the road.

Training so far this week has been nothing more than dead tiredness and wretched soreness! A sensation that has me thinking of the title to Gary Allan's newest album, GET OFF ON THE PAIN hitting stores March 9th. Science would probably dictate another regimen but there is something about entering competition feeling like I've been smacked by a bulldozer that winds my clock!! In that case, game day on home soil has me optimistic.