Had signed up for the elite 5's but John and Jason were in the 35+ 4/5 so I switched into that category.  Well, I wasn't ready for that group and got dropped within the first 10 miles.  This race is a climbing race with a steady 20 mile climb and then a really steep pitch for the final 2 miles and then a nice downhill ride to the finish.  As it turned out, after getting dropped, I came upon John and Jason.  Jason had a flat and didn't have the correct tube to fix it, I had an extra. Flat changed and we were off in a rotating paceline to try and catch the group.  I only lasted through 2 rotations and then dropped back, I couldn't keep their pace so i encouraged then to continue.  A few miles later the 45+ 4/5 came by and i hitched on with them.  I was able to hold their pace and rode with this group until a few miles from the finish.  there I came upon Jason again, he had flatted again but i didn't have another tube so we walked and talked for a bit and he got a ride back in one other the race support vehicle. I continued on and met up with John my teammate who was looking for Jason.  We rode the rest of the way in to our cars and another event was done.   

some other statistics

Elevation gain 4929

Hard race - started out with a climb of 2500 feet. Single tract for first 2 miles then fire trail to the top of pacifica mountain.  then back down to valley floor and a few more climbs.  I like the race promoter Pacific Coast Trail Runs because the venues are so incredibly beautiful.  The races are low key but very competitive. 

My legs were pretty tired from the trail run yesterday, so the goal today was to stay with the group. They split our category into to groups again just like last week.  I lined up with several other teammates in the front group and off we went. the pace was fast right from the start with little wind.  We circled around the course maybe 7 or 8 laps when the 2nd group came roaring by.  when this happens, our group is required to slow down and let them pass and then get a decent lead before we can start racing again.  We made a full lap before we were able to start racing again and I told one of my teammates that I knew a few other guys were going to jump as soon as the officials released us to race again.  sure enough a few guys went and i went with them.  BAD decision, I lasted about 30 seconds couldn't hold on and then the rest of our group came riding by.  I was going backwards so fast that by the middle of the next lap, i was off the back and couldn't catch back on.  so I pedaled around the course for the next few laps until we finished. 

The Cat 5 racers are notorious for being squirrely especially during the final sprint and today was no exception.  When i came around the last corner, about 500 meters from the finish I saw 4 riders sprawled on the ground.  Someone has crashed while sprinting for the finish and had taken down a few other with him.  they all looked to be ok, just some road rash and bruised egos.

I live to ride another day

My second trail run with this promoter.  I learned a great lesson from my last outing and carried my own water and food, even though they did have aid stations at the 10K mark.  This worked out much better today.

The run started  with a 2 mile single tract climb which then opened to a fire trail.   I had lined up at the front of the group not knwoing about this single tract so I was caught.  No place to step off to let other people pass so my pace was faster than i felt comfortable.  When we finally got to the fire trail, i was able to let people pass, but had a good placement and hadn't destroyed myself for the remaining miles, or so I thought.  the initial 4.5 miles were basically up a mountain.  We topped out at 2500 +/-, turned around and headed back the way we came.  Back to the single track which was a rocky deeply rutted portion that you had to jump from one side to the other all the way up and down, no flat area for foot placement. Some more people passed me, but i passed several also.

I arrived at the halfway point feeling pretty good, ran through the aid station grabbing a few boiled red potatoes with salt, my new favorite food for these trail runs. After crossing through the flats which was about 1 mile long, the race started back up a realtivley mild incline, my legs screamed with the lactic acid and my pace slowed.  the climb wasn't much and I figured I was almost done.  Back down a long and winding single tract  and back to the valley floor.  I thought that a right turn was coming and back to the finish area, but no, a left turn and up another climb which seemed to last forever.  I had seen several other runners heading the same direction, but on the trail, never saw anyone until the final downhill section where I was able to pick up my speed and pass 2 or 3 others before the finish line.

the best part about this series is the chile con carne they serve at the finsh area. Now that I have done a few of these races, it is something I look forward to.   

Beautiful day - clear and cold.  hundreds if not thousands of people climbing the Mountain to start their New year. Saw several friends on the way up and on the way down.