Tanasi Challenge- Race Report

The Tanasi Challenge was the 8^th stop on the South Eastern Regional Championship series. The Tanasi trails are located at the Ocoee Whitewater Center (which was the kayaking venue for the ’96 Olympic Games), just outside of Ducktown, Tn. The decision to do this race was kind of last minute. My first ‘A’ race of the season was the “Showdown at Sugar” NORBA event in June, and then I was going to have 3 months before my next race. I figured it would be good to add a race in there, instead of 3 solid months of boring training.

Coming off my win at Sugar Mtn I had some confidence built up, but could I make it two for two? There are some great riders that compete in the regional races, so I knew I was gonna have some serious competition.

This race would be my first time riding these trails, so I was hoping that there wasn’t too much of a learning curve on them. On my pre-ride I was pleased to discover that Tanasi is not too technical, just lots of flowy singletrack, and some pretty good climbs at the beginning. Ohh, and I can’t forget to mention “Thunder Rock Express”. Clear weather meant that the trails were in great shape. If it had rained, then it would have made sections of the course very technical. There was one dark spot on an otherwise good pre-ride though… I got stung by a friggin’ Yellowjacket! Thank God I’m not allergic, but damn, that hurt like a mother.

The day of the race I was up early, as I was hearing all kinds of sounds in the motel…people upstairs walking around, TVs playing, coughing, creaking, dripping, you name it (Editorial note- Don’t try and get any real sleep at the Ramada Limited in Blue Ridge, Ga.). After my normal pre-race breakfast of pancakes, it was off to the event.

My wave didn’t go until 11:30am, so I had plenty of time to hang out and get warmed up. Getting warmed up took on a new meaning today. It was hot, with a capital ‘H’. Temps were expected to be in the mid 90s with some nasty humidity. As a Floridian, I’m no stranger to riding in hot temperatures, so I wasn’t expecting the heat to be a factor, or at least not too much of one. With the Ocoee river right there, you certainly had a place to cool off afterwards… which more than one rider took advantage of.

After a 15 minute delay, they called up my class, Beginner 30-39. We were doing 1 lap of the 11 mile course. As always, one of my goals is/was to be in the top 4 or 5 upon hitting the singletrack. I never know if I’ll be able to achieve it, but it sounds good, right? The whistle sounds and we’re off! On top of having to watch out for fellow racers, we also had to look out for bystanders. The first part of the course was on some paved trail that bordered the river. This section of trail is used by people watching the kayakers and rafters. Needless to say, it made for some interesting obstacles. When we got to the singletrack, I had the position I was looking for…I was sitting in 4^th. With all the climbing ahead I felt that I was in a good position to be able to attack on the climbs and keep anyone from getting too far away from me. The guy in 3^rd fell of the pace almost immediately, so that put me in 3^rd. Not even 10 minutes into the race and I’m in 3^rd, so I’m feeling really good about my chances. The good feeling was short lived though. On one of the climbs, I lost momentum trying to go over a particularly big root (due to picking a bad line...but lets keep that between us.). I got one foot unclipped, but I didn’t get the important foot unclipped. The foot that was still clipped in was on the side that all my weight was on when I came to a stop, and I fell over… again, not a big problem by itself. A tree caught my fall, so all I had to do was stand up and be on my way. Wrong. When the bike fell over the back tire got wedged in the same root that that I got hung up on. So here I am leaning against this tree, and I can’t get unclipped because I can’t get the bike up because the wheel is wedged. One guy goes past, and I'm still fighting to get my foot unclipped and get the bike upright. I'm frantic as it appears if the whole damned field is going past me, and I'm floundering on the side of the trail like a fish out of water. In a move that would make a yoga master proud, I twisted my free leg around the front of the bike where I could get some leverage and finally get my trapped foot free, and I get the bike up and get going again.

Until I saw that only 1 guy had gotten past me I was in the throes of a panic attack over the mishap. It takes me a couple minutes to get out of my funk, but once my head is back on straight I pass the guy for the second time and I'm back in 3rd place. I'm finding my rhythm again, and I make a move for 2^nd as the second place fella is having some bike problems. I’m right on the wheel of the leader and when we enter a doubletrack descent I get around him and put it into high gear to try and create a sizeable gap that I can work off of once the climbing starts again.

I built on my lead over the next few climbs and for almost 10 minutes I ride by myself except for passing the occasional rider from a different class. Almost out of the blue a guy from my class shows up on my wheel and manages to get around me, and leads for the next few minutes. I am stronger on the climbs so I am right on his wheel anytime the trail goes up. After hugging his wheel for a bit he announced that he had blown and that I could get passed. I gave it all I had to create a big gap while he was trying to recover, because I didn’t want to have to be playing that same game near the end of the race. I was now starting to pick off more riders from other age groups. I'm past the halfway mark, so I’m just trying to keep up a steady effort, but at the same time not make any stupid mistakes. As I mentioned earlier, this is not a technical trail, but if you don’t pay attention it can take a bite out of you, especially Thunder Rock Express.

A long jeep road downhill tells me that the end is near. The only challenge left is Thunder Rock Express. Thunder Rock Express is a fun, and at times steep, downhill filled with rocks of all kinds; loose baseball sized ones, half buried monsters, jagged tire slicers… all of them waiting to take out anyone but the totally diligent.

If you make it down Thunder Rock Express unscathed then an easy gravel road downhill awaits you. All that was left was the run for the finish, which is on pavement. I get on the pavement and click into my highest gear and floor it for the finish line. There is one last potentially tricky section though. The final stretch of the race takes you through the Ocoee Whitewater Center parking area, across a bridge, and to the finish. The bridge is the tricky part, and that’s because of people. Despite signs that say “Caution! High speed mtn bike race in progress”, people would routinely walk down the side of the bridge designated as the race lane, or just stand in the way of the entrance to the bridge. If anyone was in the way I was prepared to put a shoulder into them if I had to. Thankfully my way was clear and I made it across the finish line with no problems.

Almost there...

If, like Ichabod Crane, I can just get across the bridge safely.

I thought I had done well, and even won, but I couldn’t be certain…not after my hang up on that blasted root. I didn’t know for sure if someone had gotten ahead of the pack without me knowing it. I grabbed some recovery drink, and then I went and cooled off/cleaned up in the Ocoee. I wish I could describe how good it felt.

Of course it always takes forever to post the results, and after a long wait I found out what I had hoped for. I took first place. I finished 2:22 ahead of second place. Along with the medal, the race promoter supplied a bottle of burgundy champagne.

While on the podium I was tempted to open it and give it the ole shake and spray, but I didn’t think it would be well received.

This was a first.

This was a great result for me, as it tells me that I’m more or less on the right track with my training.

I’ll enjoy this win for a few days, and then it’ll be back to the daily training grind. I gotta be ready for the Florida State series.

I do want to give some props to the folks at River City Bicycles for sponsoring the Tanasi round of the SERC series, and offering up some shwag to the winners. I do have one thing to ask whoever fixed up the award bags though… what the hell am I supposed to do with one tire? That’s like getting one shoe, or one glove.

My winnings.

Also, I want to give a shout out to my sponsor, the fine folks at SixSixOne.