Whidbey Island Mudder Race Recap -5/17/2009

Short and sweet race recap...

No mud, but plenty of dust and hot conditions for this location. Sue Burklund and I counted 4 broken chains, not sure how many more there were that we did not see.

Jeff learned a valuable lesson on how listening to the screaming crowds to get some air may not be the best race tactic...can we say "Pinch Flat."

Henry opted to race in the Expert category today instead of waiting around for the Sport's race at 2pm and rode a fine race at the longer distance.

Gavin also decided not to wait until 2pm to race, and opted instead to race his singlespeed in the beginner category and discovered the beginners are mighty fast.


Here is the link to the photos Joel took Mudder Photos

Whidbey Island Mudder Addendum

The sun was shinning at the Whidbey Island Mudder last Sunday. TAI had an excellent turnout with Troy, Bob, Chris and family, Joel, Jackson and family, and Henry all camping out the night before. Thankfully for the fire dept., we were not camping together. There were lot’s of other important TAI folks there too, who are listed in the race results below.

Beginners completed 2, Sport 3, and Expert 4 laps of about 6 miles each. The course was exactly the same as in preceding years: plenty of rolling single-track punctuated with some SCREAMING descents that ask racers an age old question. “How much speed can I carry into this fast corner without the bike sliding out from under me?” At the Whidbey Island Mudder the answer was- lot’s of speed! Yeee- Haaa!

Yes the course included the unique, tall sand hills which are the remains of the old plans to make a golf course on the land. With temps in the low 70’s and dry, conditions were ideal for speed. It seemed all the racers in my group managed to take advantage of the fast conditions except me. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the added distance the Expert class provided. I especially enjoyed the benefits of the extra resistance/ strength training I got when a spoke broke in my rear wheel. I may have been defeated by 20 others racers, but darn it, I felt like a Catholic after confession after my race. Mashing my wobbling rim across the grinding brake pad for two was cycling penance.

I want to publicly thank Bob McGee for allowing me to sleep in his luxurious RV the night before the race. The morning pancakes were killa too. Also, Bob brought the largest and loudest cowbell in the world. Bob McGee rocks, and so does his cowbell. That bell inspired dozens of Sport racers to mash it down and get it done! No one wanted to sit near me when I had the cowbell. I hope it was just the obnoxious the bell.

This was my first race this season using GU. I want to make a short commercial for GU. Thank you GU. One or two packets during the race made all of the difference with my endurance. Strength was not gained with GU (of course), but stamina and endurance were certainly improved. If you didn’t pick up a box this year, get one next time. Don’t forget to eat them with lots of water.

There was great attendance and team camaraderie at Whidbey, but I would love to see all who weren’t there at Leavenworth. You know who you are. Obviously it’s impossible to be at all the races- I hate it when work and family get in the way of riding and racing. We’re all busy. Congratulations to all who raced.

Yours in the Quest,

Henry


Jr Boys Beg 11-14
7 Jackson Burklund
8 Keegan Fitzpatrick
10 Aaron Agudo

Beg Men 35-44
2 Troy Hopwood
6 Gavin Spoomer
11 Jeff Osborne

Sport Men 35-44
17 Bob McGee
27 Chris Liebsch

Sport Men 45+
3 Russ Moul
7 Francisco Pons

Expert Men 35-44
21 Henry Shaw
23 Pat Fitzpatrick

Expert Men 45+
1 Vince Haag