Terror of Teaberry

Photo by: Jim McGonigle

Sunday I headed north with Todd and Jim to race Michaux again. This time it was southern Michaux. The Terror of Teaberry. Michaux is a great place to ride and race. I have had mixed results in the different races I have done there. This being the about 11th or 12th race I have done in Michaux. 5 Maximus's, 3 or 4 Dark Hollow's and 3 Teaberry's. I have done well at Teaberry. The Maximus is hit or miss. Dark Hollow is always hot and tough. 2 years ago I felt like I was going to explode into flames at Dark Hollow, it was so hot.

Anyways, Rich (race director) likes to punish people. I guess he wants to make people remember his races. This was no different.

I decided to do the 20 miler. I guess because The 40 did not look so tempting with the rain that came in overnight. I think the 20 or 25 mile format fits me better. There was another Le Mans style start. I hate running. I twisted and sprained my ankle at this years Dark Hollow. I was able to finish the race but could not walk the next day. I took off running as fast as I could all the while watching the ground. I did not want a Dark Hollow repeat. I figured if I could get to the bike fast and get into the trail other SSer's would have to work hard to catch me. Not Me having to bust my ass trying to make up lost ground. I got to my bike in the first quarter of racers and took off into the woods. It quickly changed to a double track climb. I had been doing well with this climbs this year but today I was not feeling it yet. I was passed by at least 10 racers on this first climb. More importantly by 3 SSers. I was following one guy in my class up the climb staying in contact with him as we entered the singletrack. I was able to get by him on the next downhill. Yes I said I got by him on a downhill. Imagine that, me passing someone on a downhill. That does not happen very often. Anyways I got by him only to flub up the next short climb and he got by me.

At some point I settled down and started to ride like I should. On the climb to Rocky ridge I caught Arron, Matt and the dude I had just swapped places with. I was able to get by them and enjoy some wet technical singletrack. Even though it had rained the trails where in good condition. People where sliding around but I must have made the right tire choice. I got into a groove on Rocky Ridge and some trails beyond that. I was able to pass a mess of people. I think it was on Southern Gas trail. I caught a SSer and passed him. I asked him what place he thought he was in. He said he thought we were 1 and 2. That made me happy but in the back of my mind I thought he was wrong. Turns out there was one other SSer in front. But he turned out to be a non factor.

I kept chugging along, feeling good. I came a trail called the 3 Stooges or just Stooges. I saw a guy on the side of the trail putting his chain back on. I asked if he was alright. He said yes he had just dropped the chain but he was hurting. I was elated he was a SSer and now I thought I was in first and had a chance to win. Me! win a race! can't happen, not Me. Well I went up the first Stooge (hill) and this is where began to fall apart. while climbing it a guy (not in my class) caught me. We had been yo yoing all day. We were climbing and for some reason he said he heard someone coming up fast. I thought it was the guy who had dropped his chain. It turned out it was not. I looked back and saw no one. We hit the downhill. Which was pretty slick. I was getting tired. At the bottom it was slick and fairly technical. I could tell I was wearing out. I was making stupid mistakes and got knocked off the bike a couple of times. At that time the 2nd Stooge (hill) went up. I was caught by the guy who thought we were running 1,2. He got by. I did not panic, I figured I would catch him in a bit. I needed to save some energy.

Well we went up and over the second Stooge. We hit the bottom and began to climb the mother of all hills (OK I am exaggerating a little, but it was a bitch). I was right behind the leader. Then it happened.....he got on his bike and began to climb the fucking hill. I was having a problem just hiking it. My legs were screaming, I was falling into a depression. Do you know how depressing it is watching the race win slowing climbing out of sight. Well it is mighty damn depressing. Then I came around a corner he was off his bike hiking. Happiness came over me, hey I may have a chance. Then I had to dismount and watch him pedal away again.

I finally got to the top of the 3rd Stooge. The course went down from here. I let everything go on this downhill trying to make up some time. Knowing where the finish was and where we were going I knew there was a least one more tough climb. I was wrong there were 2 tough climbs. The first one would have been fairly easy if it was in the first part of the race. But it wasn't. It was a suck ass climb towards the end of the race. I was able to stay on the bike but probably averaged 3 miles an hour. I did see the leader near the top of the climb but could not catch him. I was bonking hard at this point. Actually I was past Bonktown, I was in Slumville. I came to the top and crossed the road. Here was the second climb. It went up hard. I did not have the legs to climb this and got off and walked. I was now in thissucksassburg In the back of my mind I waiting to get past by the the dropped chain guy. Luckly this climb was not long. I got to top hopped on the bike. Shortly I saw the finish tents and got a burst of energy. I went through the finish tent wasted, dead tired.

I know I finished 2nd. But was not feeling well about being first loser. Oh well! I won a new pair of shoes and that is something Papa needed.