Sea Otter

Wednesday after work.
Sea Otter started with a cold in my nose and a sore throat. Ugh. Lots of tea, and kleenex.

Thursday. 11 AM. Downhill practice.
My run went something like this :
"oh god, oh god, oh god...oh no...eeeee....HILL! oh...oh....oh...damn...oh geez....oh godohgodohgod...ACK BIG HILL!"

Then I got off my bike and stared down at this really bumpy, rutted downhill section. I was completely demoralized when the cross country chic came up behind me, no pads or anything and put-putted down the hill. My downhill skills suck. I finished the course though after taking a breather and wondering why I torture myself with this stuff.

Thursday afternoon. Sea Otter expo.
Windburned.
Sunburned.
Freezing cold and blowing nose repeatedly. Cold, cold, cold. Really cold. I can't feel my lips cold.

Friday AM. Downhill practice.
My practice went something like this: "Meh. Screw it. Let's go check out the pump track."

Saturday AM. Way too early in the morning to think about racing cross country.
Got to Sea Otter before the birds were awake and spent a long time trying to change out my pedals on my juliana while eating chocolate covered donuts. This did not work as well as you would think. Saw cross country racers heading out on the track and thought I'd better go find the start line. Only one porta potty at the race start. Just one. Sea Otter is cruel.
The race was suppose to be 10 miles, but it ended up closer to 13. I started complaining loudly at mile 11. Spent most of the race cruising along chatting with other beginner riders and trying not to get run over by the beginner men who were apparently reenacting the chariot race scene in Ben Hur. Men, geesh.

2 hours later
Finished race just as the rain started to fall. Can't be Sea Otter unless you are cold, wet and miserable.

2 hours 10 minutes later
The heavens opened up and sent a monsoon.

2 hours 12 minutes later
I am completley soaked through three layers of clothing and still heading up to see the downhill racing.

2 hours 13 minutes later
Cursing the weather gods.

2 hours 20 minutes later.
Cursing Sea Otter

2 hours 25 minutes later.
Cursing friends who insist on doing downhill racing even though it is pouring down rain, and the course is now one huge sheet of mud and water.

Saturday afternoon back at the hotel.
Spent rest of the day trying to dry out clothes by hanging them over hotel heater.

Sunday
Spent an eternity watching the downhill racers. Next year, I swear I will race.

Monday morning heading back to Santa Clara
Felt such relief that Sea Otter was over and I could take a break from training. Then realized Wildflower was only three weeks away.
Damn.

Swimmies anyone?