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| 1345g and solid - bling bling! |
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| This down jacket weighs just over 0.5lbs is all and I could stuff it in a pocket! |
If you haven't been to the Teva Games you really have to just GO. It is one huge event filled with everything from Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Photo Contests, Dog Jumping, Fishing, Rafting, SUP, Running and of course Riding!! People come from all over the world to compete in their respective disciplines. It's pretty amazing and really fun to see so many athletes from all the different sports.
On top of all the contests, there is also a huge expo area that goes on for light years. You will get lost and turned around in Vail Village I guarantee it. There is so much to see, do and even eat! Choose from expo vendors such as Chipotle or go to a Vail restaurant and dine on their patio. What a great atmosphere!
On Friday I headed to the venue to pre ride the course and I liked what I saw. What I was most impressed with was the fact that they were able to hold a mtb race at all this year given the amounts of snow and bad weather that has been affecting all of us in the west. My new wheels that I was testing out for the first time were awesome. Stiff, responsive and light. The Stan's 3.30 Ti Hub is just the icing on the cake. Stan's NoTubes does such an amazing job with their technology!!
The course was short and condensed with 900 feet of climbing per lap. It was surprisingly NOT muddy at all, as those in charge had been clearly busting their buns to create a flawless event that would go off without a hitch.
That said, my race DID NOT go off without a hitch. What happened is beyond me although I think I have an idea. I prepared as I always do in the days leading up. I had descent sleep, a great place to stay, our awesome team mechanic Jimmy was there to make sure the bike was ready and generally, all signs getting up to the start line were pointing to a great day on course.
I could not have been more dead wrong.
The race started and I was right up there in front where I needed to be and about 5-10 min in without warning I popped. I am still not completely convinced that I actually blew but I am going to guess that I was ready to but knew enough to lay off the gas before I actually did.
Once this happens or comes close to happening as in my case, it is all over. I went backwards. In fact at that moment I don't think I could have even pedaled backwards if I had wanted to. I had NOTHING. Nothing at all to give. At that point my legs felt empty and hollow and if negative watts could be produced, I was producing them. It felt like I hadn't trained in a year and decided to come race Pro. What an awful feeling but I did it to myself off the start line at 8232 feet. I should have known better.
As I pedaled my empty legs around in circles everything screamed at me to stop. My mind was relentless with bad self talk and the seething pain in my legs was almost completely unbearable as I made my way around the course. My heart rate wasn't even a factor because I couldn't push enough to even get my heart rate high.
So I rode. I JRA'ed (Just Riding Along) this race. My legs were jello and I couldn't push. The thought of having to go around 4 times on this loop was almost more than I could bear so I just chose to concentrate on whatever was in front of me at the time and to NOT think about the big picture that I really had a good 1.5 hours of pure suffering still left. It is these kinds of races that make those races that seem "easy" all the more sweet.
I prayed for a mechanical or anything to happen to just save me from my misery but our darn team mechanic is so dang good that nothing happened. : ) I am not sure I should thank Jimmy Deaton or not?!! Hahaha!!
I somehow slopped it across the line in 11th place and went straight to the car where I curled up and couldn't move for about an hour. I couldn't stretch, I couldn't eat or drink, I couldn't get out of my clothes - I was a wreck. And I knew that not being able to do these things for recovery was going to compound the issue!!! Aye yie yie.
I finally mustered enough energy to go to Garmin tent that was centered in the middle of Vail Village. They had given me an Edge 705. Tools such as these are great in a race when you are going good and you see on your screen what you need to accomplish in order to be better (like trying to keep the same average speed each lap). But they are even more valuable when you have a bad day because every last little bit of information is recorded and as much as it hurts the ego to look at that stuff.....YOU HAVE TO. It is what will make you a better rider and racer in the future. The Edge 705 couldn't have come at a better time in my season. And on a fun note, I hit 34.1mph on some of the dh. At least I was going fast somewhere! Stats like that are interesting to see and all with only one push of button. Thanks Garmin!!!!!
In addition to all these fun things that I acquired at the Teva Games, The Sherwins were also adorned with some Teva shoes.....it being the Teva Mtn Games and all! I think I was just actually felt sorry for after my race. Hahaha!! Mine are so comfy that I have literally been wearing them ever since I got them!
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| On left: Teva Men's Links On Right: Women's Teva Brea TMG |
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| At least I wasn't the only one at Teva Games just whooped |
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| (l to r: Shannon, moi, Zeph, Kaila) |
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| Posted at the coffee shop in Eagle, CO |
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