Day Four

Today was a brutal day. We started with a lovely ferry ride where sea planes carrying some of the racers that won a lottery gracefully soared overhead. Although it was relaxing to look out over calm waters and green or snowy mountains, I was nervous and somewhat dreading today's stage. I knew we would do almost 7000 feet of climbing. I knew it would be extremely hot. And, in contrast to the previous three days, most of it would be on fire roads, logging roads or trails cut through clearcuts. Sound gnarly? It was.

We started the race right out of the ferry terminal and, once again, the pace was fast. Although Phil had correctly advised me to treat this like an endurance day, I couldn't resist all the drafting trains passing by. By now, I'm recognizing racers that I like to be with pace-wise or singletrack-skill wise, so I kept my position. Fast doubletrack, down and up in woods and then crisscrossing up endless powerlines, I got caught up in feeling good. I took a good crash, when the trail tucked into some dark woods and my eyes couldn't adjust in time from the bright sunlight. We crossed a stream and hit a little singletrack and then headed back out onto the dusty roads. After two hours and having passed at least three women who have consistently finished ahead of me, I accepted that I really needed to dial it back unless I wanted a really big bonk. I did some nice riding with some teams and great women and then after the second aid station I slowed it down again. A final hour of singletrack switchback climbs and then wicked descending downs would have been more pleasurable had I not wanted to be off my bike so badly. As I rounded the last corner with 500 meters to go, a woman came up behind me. It was too funny because it was the same woman I outsprinted at the finish line yesterday! We went for it and she got me this time ( I took a bad line in the end) by one second! It was all fun b/c she is in the other women's category. Anyway, I finished third for the fourth day in a row at 5:04. Phil jokes that he is concerned that all these medals will cost us with overweight fees at the airport. Austin and Carson will be psyched!

Anyway, Phil had his best day yet! He said he felt great and came in 5th in 4:04, moving his overall ranking up to 7. Climbing up everyday!

Tomorrow will be a relief as we will take another ferry to Sqamish for singletrack and less climbing!

Photos to be posted later!