Luther Loops

Raced the first inaugural Luther Loops MTB Race yesterday. These trails are brand new and were just given 'legal' status recently. The trails system isn't long - at only about 4 miles per loop - but I discovered it is only a 15 minute drive from my house. There is talk of extending the trails and also doing more races here. Format of the race was 2 hours, most laps win. I'll try to make this post short (what is with me and these super long write-ups?)

There were about 20 or so racers total, about half of which were in Sport and other half in Pro. I raced Sport and recognized a few riders from other local races. We start out at a double track that funnels into single and no one is vying to jump out front. I end up going into the single-track second, along with two other riders right behind me. I yo-yo back and forth for first and second for the first half of this lap. Then I'm in first for the better part of this lap, with the other three guys right on my tail.

I realize now I pushed it way too hard, because I completely blow out going into the second lap. Two guys overtake me pretty quickly and just like that I'm alone. I hold on, feeling like crap and come in to go out for the third lap.

I pull back in this third lap, just trying to keep a rhythm. I regain some strength and start feeling better.

I don't really remember the fourth lap, except that when I came in I still had time to do one more lap, so I go out for one more.

On the fifth lap, my quads start cramping really bad. I start sliding back and forth in the saddle to try and redistribute my muscle load, which seems to help a bit. Come in to the finish and I'm elated that I'm done. As I cross the line, I hear the race organizer call out "third place, sport". I'll take it, for sure. I go home with some loot and a podium finish. Great race against some super great riders. No pics, yet. Final stats: 20.15 miles, 2 hours and 15 minutes, 8.9 average speed.