Cindy Wins at Downieville!

Category: Expert Veteran Women age; 34 - 44
Distance: 29 miles
Placing: 1st

Race prep starts Friday night with setting up camp at Indian Valley Campground, full accommodations included premium swim hole (with rope swing) in a nook of the Yuba River which ran along side the campground. Thank you Shannon for coordinating. Kirk and I spun out our legs on the North Yuba Trail. A great up and down trail that skirts the river.

Race Day:
The race starts in Sierra City at elevation 4,194'. Starts time 9:30a. What a scene with the categories divided by a paint strip on the the road and one orange cone to the left side of the road with a stapled 8x10 card stating the category in that designated section. Sections were about 25 feet deep on a road not wide enough to warrant a paint strip but this was to stage about 150 racers per category. I was the only one in a state of confusion because these mountain bikers seem to know exactly what's going on. The race is on!

Racers are sprinting off the start line at the front, however, I find myself walking my bike for the first 100 meters along with others. I've got my leg over the saddle and I'm riding, yeah! With 8 miles of climbing ahead I settle in. The further we climb the steeper and looser the road gets. There is a section that takes the walker to the right and those able to ride on the left. Thank goodness I didn't blow my woad early because I needed everything here I stay to the left and ride through it! I'm feeling pretty good having passed about 40 people. Further up the climb I'm now passed by 15 people. Dang. I reach Packer Saddle summit where bottled water is passed out. It's a long day and the temp is nearing 90 with smoky air, I take the water and thank the support person then douse myself from head to back. I'm in the zone. First section of single track is under way and I find a wheel that is about as technically inclined as I. Life is good. Until the slow climbers and fast descender show up. I'm moving off the trail left and right letting the fast guys past. Dang it! We hit a dirt road then the Baby Head section. This is appropriately name due to the boulders being about the size of babies heads. Thank goodness we pre-rode this two weeks earlier and I know the line, I'm passing riders, yes! me passing down hill riders. It was great. Several creek crossing, I fall a few time (Cathy corrected me on the terminology - it's not a crash if you can walk away Cindy). Sections of the trail lead to blind corners with 2 - 3 feet drop offs that requires a landing onto cinder blocks with a rut on one side and a cliff on the other. Incredible stuff! I'm numb. I see a course marshal pointing to the correct direction of the "v" in the trail. He shouts out "only 3 miles to go!" Thank goodness! I stand and my legs feel like stumps, my tank is nearly empty. Only 3 miles I tell myself over and over. That was the longest 3 miles of my life. At the exit of the single track to the road leading to the finish this dude from behind says, "slow down, this is tight." Good thing he was there, I'm sure my speed would have sent me airborne. Then I hear Kirk's encouraging words, "all the way, keep going all the way to the finish!" I'm out of the saddle, it's a slight decent and I'm moving along good. Then there are two rollers that felt like mountains and I'm finding gears 2x1 wondering if I am going to make it to the finish. Then I see an orange ribbon and I'm able to stand for two peddle strokes. I finish!

I roll about 20 feet to the High School lawn and I drop. Not sure if I'm going to throw up ... I've got chills and my body is completely wondering what in heavens name have I just done. After laying there for about 20 minutes I start thinking about Kirk who has volunteered to take the shuttle to Sierra City to pick up the truck. I unwillingly throw my leg over the saddle to find him. We coordinate a meeting spot. The local who drive the shuttle bus tells me of a great swim hole. I lay by the river until I know I can take care of myself without drowning then jump in. It was a beautiful thing! When Kirk returns, we see a team mate of his who says, "Kirk you got 2nd place!" Yippee! We finally get food then go check out the results. There are hordes of people and I simply couldn't stand, I needed a seat. I pull up a curb and try to regain some conscientiousness. Kirk walks over with misty eyes and says YOU WON...

What an event.

-Cindy Carroll

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