Andrew’s Race Recap!

Good morning! Not that always do I get to partake and write a post-race recap. Normally, I’m simply working across the course, cheering like loopy with a automotive full of children, loud music, and one of the best snacks to maintain our cheer on.

First issues, first. I’m not normally a highway biker, and I’ve by no means performed a pure highway race earlier than; I’ve solely performed triathlons. The explanation this race even got here to fruition was due to the man within the image under, the one on the best of me. That is certainly one of my finest pals rising up. We now have the identical first title, have been pals since third grade, performed soccer collectively for the longest time, went to varsity collectively, and he’s in all probability one of many smartest guys I do know! We had a guys’ weekend in April this 12 months, and let’s simply say dad and married life have been too good to us all, and after a weekend filled with one of the best meals Utah needed to provide, no sleep, and reminiscing of our glory days in Excessive College (20 years in the past), we determined a well being problem was wanted. So what higher approach to get again on the horse (or bike) than to do a motorcycle race? Out of the six of us, solely the Andrews caught it out and did it. We signed up for the Tour de St. George. All of us grew up there, so we noticed it becoming that we return to our roots.

Initially, my buddy signed up for the metric century (I had no thought what that even meant… I’m embarrassed to confess that – sorry, all of the metric customers on this planet), which ought to have been round 62 miles, however for the Tour de St. George, it was 80. I used to be stoked for that, and I used to be in. However, as we bought nearer to the race, the race jitters bought my buddy, and he mentioned he would possibly go into cardiac arrest if he did that. So we did the mini-century, which was 57 miles lengthy and had an elevation acquire of three,259 ft.

The evening earlier than, we met Andy, did our packet choose up, and went to carb load Michael Scott type from the Workplace. We went to the Pasta Manufacturing unit (the place I labored all all through highschool). I believe I’m getting extra awkward as I become older, as a result of I walked in and noticed the hostess, and I acknowledged her as a result of she regarded like her dad and mom (who met working on the Pasta Manufacturing unit and later bought married). I then requested her, “Who’re your dad and mom? (awkwardly) Janae simply laughed as a result of, I assume, she is used to my mannerisms after ten years of marriage. In fact, I bought alfredo with my pasta in solemn remembrance of Michael Scott. When Brooke was within the hospital for per week, all of us watched “Rabies Consciousness Race” from the workplace too many occasions to rely, and so I needed to carbload like Michael.

Race had a begin of 8:15 am. That was good, as a result of the temperature was within the excessive 40s, and I couldn’t anticipate the solar to come back out. We began in the course of St. George, and we had a police escort till we bought out of the busy metropolis middle, which was very good.

I felt like I used to be taking place reminiscence lane doing this race. St. George is lots greater than it was after I first moved there within the early 90s. There are soooo many extra homes and developments now. About 8 miles in, we handed a monumental piece of historical past. Pictured under is Bloomington Elementary. Why is that this vital? Janae and I each went to this college collectively. I used to be in 1st grade on the time, and he or she was in third. She all the time jokes that she wasn’t into youthful males and would solely play kissing tag with these her age or older. Nicely, the jokes are out, I gained this one in the long run.

I’ve the Fezzari Shafer, a carbon gravel bike. I bought this used as a rehabilitation present for myself after I broke my ankle and had surgical procedure. Biking was the one factor I may do with an enormous boot on, and it didn’t damage after that got here off. I couldn’t run or do a lot after I broke my leg and had surgical procedure, which to this present day is likely one of the most painful issues I’ve performed, and belief me, I’ve damaged extra bones than I can really matter. This bike normally stays related to my Wahoo Coach to coach on all through the winter and/or late nights after I have to calm my thoughts and experience at midnight. I modified out solely the tires for a extra road-appropriate tire, and it labored nice.

Janae and the clan noticed me EVERYWHERE!!! They had been one of the best cheer squad and I all the time was so pleased to have the ability to see them all through the course. I believe I noticed them like 12-14 occasions throughout these 57 miles. I’m a fortunate man!

The plan for this race wasn’t actually to race. However to have enjoyable along with my buddy and experience collectively. We had a blast collectively for the primary 25 miles. We talked about life and recollections and reminisced a bit about all of the silly issues I used to do after I was a teen and a semi-adult in my twenties. Brooke is giving me a excessive 5 to the pinnacle and giving me some power after I simply took on an enormous hill.

As you may see, there aren’t many footage of my buddy. Our plan kinda fizzled. He needed to experience just a little extra conservatively as a result of he was beginning to really feel his hamstrings, and he instructed me simply to tackle the hills at my tempo. Sooner or later, I regarded again and I couldn’t see him wherever. We had been getting handed by individuals double my age, and I made a decision that it wasn’t going to occur anymore. So for the remainder of the race I used to be decided to essentially flip it on and get shifting. I used to dread lengthy climbs and excessive miles, however I’m beginning to love them!!

The help stations had been each 20 miles, and so they had been stocked with nearly every little thing you can consider. My favorites had been the gummy candies, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and Skratch (my coaching drink of alternative).

I can’t inform you what number of cyclists have instructed me I had one of the best cheering crew. I had this rider who stayed with me for a number of miles as a result of he needed the power they had been placing out!

Street racing was such a distinct expertise from doing mountain bike cross-country races and triathlons. You possibly can draft, and I used to be not used to that. I might hear individuals staying proper behind me, and I saved pondering they had been making an attempt to move me, after which I noticed they had been drafting off me. It turned my recreation that when somebody would attempt to stick with my wheel and draft, I might activate my legs and push more durable, so in the event that they needed to draft, they must work more durable for it.

3+ hours on the bike was so enjoyable. I don’t know if I ought to begin using extra highway races now, follow cross-country mountain bike races, or do each! I do know winter is across the nook, so it’ll positively be much more Zwift and TrainerRoad races and exercises till the spring!

I felt so good ending, I beat the clan again to the end as a result of the final 2-3 miles had been all downhill.

The post-race meals was ABSOLUTELY wonderful. I like an excellent BBQ sandwich and pasta salad. The kiddos had been all decked out in BYU gear. The volunteers mentioned they wanted to say “Go Utes” for treats, however they wouldn’t. They gave it to them in any case!