Big Brown and Big Mud

The weekend started well... I went to the Preakness at Pimlico here in Baltimore Saturday to see an impressive athlete.... Big Brown. I grew up on a horse farm and we had 1 or 2 racehorses at a time growing up so I am used to being around the horse racing scene. I have always followed racing, but I haven't seen a horse as impressive as Big Brown in a long time. When I was little I was lucky enough to see back to back Triple Crown winners Seattle Slew in 1977, and Affirmed in 1978. They were amazing and had a big impact on me and my racing aspirations. I always liked to see a dominating performer in action. This year we have something special and may actually have a horse to take the Triple Crown. Big Brown crushed the field at the Kentucky Derby, and he just repeated his dominance at the Preakness. It was a great day with lots of sunshine and fun with no training... what a nice way to spend a Saturday!
On to Sunday... I left my house under sunny skies at 6AM to go to Tomahawk MX and the Masters of MX series race. So far we have had 3 out of 4 race weekends be raining and muddy; last week was cancelled so I was itching to get to the event. Tomahawk used to be my training track and its always a good place to ride. Little did I know what was happening in the mountains.... by the time I crossed the AT in Frederick it was drizzling, and out on I-81 it was pouring. Well, it was another muddy race! I always feel like I have an advantage in the rain because of my MTB racing experience, but it was tough going. I got the holeshot in my first class moto and ended up having a good race finishing 3rd. My second class didn't go so well. I did get the holeshot again, but was passed quickly after taking a rutted line and bobbling after losing traction. That is when the trouble started. I got totally roosted and couldn't see a thing! I waited until a section where I could go for a tear off (usually you can do them in the air, but when its this muddy NOBODY is jumping far!) and I pulled off ALL of my tear offs by accident. In my defense there was so much mud on the goggles I could barely find the hook to tear away! After that I had 2 tip overs which is actually pretty good on a track that was getting worse by the second. I ended up 4th in the race and was looking forward to getting back out there. I tend to have better 2nd motos and it gives me an advantage when the other guys get tired. Well, for the 2nd time in 3 races they cancelled the 2nd motos! I kind of expected it, but when your best attribute is your fitness, and the mud makes the effort more than 100% harder and longer you want to have your advantage. I guess 48 degrees and raining is miserable, but we were already wet, right? I can't blame anyone for not wanting to go back out, but I sure would like to have it go my way one of these days.
After the race it was an exercise in mud removal and truck preservation! I was covered in mud head to toe with a bunch of muddy gear so it was quite a task. To top it off by the time I got back home at 4pm and through the car wash with the bike the sun came out. It was nice for a while and started me thinking of going out for a run.... I went upstairs and got some clothes together... and then it started pouring again. Something was telling me to call it a day. The bonus was the Moto GP on Speedvision... it was time for a beer and some couch time! I hope you had a bearable weekend... I may do my first mountain bike XC in so long I can't remember on Saturday we will see how the week goes! I hope all of the mud comes out in the wash!