Another diversion

While the road racing season for many (if not most) has kicked off, I am still trying to round myself into some sort of shape before my 2009 road racing debut at the Frozen Flatlands omnium the first weekend in April. Winter in the Methow has been reluctant to give up this year and I am eagerly awaiting the warmer weather of spring. A few weeks ago, I raced my mountain bike as a diversion from the usual base building rides and indoor trainer sessions. Then, last weekend, I had another opportunity to break my training routine with a little competitive diversion.

Every year at the beginning of March, the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association puts on a winter triathlon. It features a 12k bike leg on mountain bikes, a 22k nordic ski leg, and ends with an 8k run. Like most triathlons, it is contested by both iron competitors doing the whole event themselves and teams of 2 or 3 participants. Like all MVSTA events, it is well run and a whole lot of fun.

I was invited by a couple of friends to be their teammate and ride the bike leg. I accepted and soon enough race day came. The bike leg is ridden on mountain bikes but it is all on paved roads. The rules call for tires of a minimum width of 1.5" and the event is a mass start. With nearly all of the strong riders on slick tires, the pace is pretty high and pack riding is the rule. The bike leg route climbs slightly in steps for the first 5.5 miles and then gains another 500+ feet in the final 2 miles. Not being a climber, I hoped to maintain contact with the lead group until the last few miles.

Alas, it was not to be. I lost the shelter of the lead group on a rise about halfway through the leg. Three of us who were dropped formed a small group and continued at a pretty good clip until the base of the final climb. Here, more humility was dished out to me as one of my good friends and regular riding partners unceremoniously dropped me and climbed away from me. (I'll have to find an opportunity this season to return the favor.)

I completed the final climb at my own pace, trying to limit my losses. I knew that our team had the strongest skier in the race so that as long as I didn't lose too much time we'd be in good shape. I reached the transition and handed off the bib to our skier and he took over. He quickly erased the deficit on the leaders and extended to a comfortable 6 to 7 minute lead at the end of the ski leg. Our runner put in a solid run to finish it off and my 2009 season had its first achievement. It was a lot of fun and I was very fortunate to have such strong teammates. I can't wait until next year!