Still, the skies were sunny, but for how long? Jim was a late arrival to the event, which doubled our team participation that day. Once I registered, the skies became dark and it looked like it was going to rain any second.

I met up with Jimmy as we warmed up for the race. It skies got brighter, a good sign, but you can tell the race was not starting on time, not a good sign.

Jimmy said his goal for the day was to ride with group and be there at the end. I was all for help and hoped he would. As it was windy, and you could tell the front was coming. Once Gary got the fields organized we were off. A's first, then B's next, followed by C's-Women. Dave Curry was lined up with us, but Ted McPherson was not their. Dave/Ted were people I marked in the previous race as riding strong. I rode tempo at the front, with Dave. One of his Sci-Fit guys bridged up, then another rider. Now, as a three man group, they had about a 200 yard lead. Could this be a good group to get away? I decided to bridge up. Now, I am in a full sprint. In the first turn, I could hear some of the riders overcooked the turn, and brakes being heavily applied. After some effort, I caught the lead group, and was taking pulls. Into the hill, I am still working real hard. The one guy, about the size of Hick, was riding really strong. Over the top of the hill, it is the two of us at the front, trading turns at the lead. Now the high speed part, and it is still the two of us, though I see others are starting to catch us. We are flying, but this is still only the first of six laps. Turn by the farm and into a strong headwind. Yikes, this is not easy.

Into the second lap, the main part of the field has caught us, and I wasted alot of energy. I shuffle back to about tenth, just before the hill, and was trying to regroup and see who I should watch. At the crest of the climb, four guys put on a effort. I was expecting others to start to catch them. At this point I was back about five or six people. By the high speed section, three Big Bang people went to the front and slowed down the group. Too late. The gap was too far, and I was asleep at the wheel. The lead group had one from each of the four teams there. Only one guy I knew, was Sean Easley from Big Bang, who I put back several times at RATL last week. I started moving forward and yelling for others to come ahead. By the end of the second lap, myself and two other guys were in full chase mode, with the rest of the group just watching. Jimmy caught and moved forward during the winding farm section, but the group was still going too slow. I moved forward to start pounding.

Lap three and four was a slug-fest. I got the big Hick -like guy to come forward, and another guy who was just hanging on, but still willing to give a short pull every once in a while. For the most part, it was the other guy and me. It was full speed for two laps, and we were loosing ground. Now, I could not see the lead group. I was hoping two of the four would get dropped, and then maybe, we would have a chance. We passed up a group of four A-riders, lapped the women's field, and passed others, but still no sign of the lead group. The big guy was working hard too, real hard, and none of the other teams would come forward. With two laps to go, I knew we would not catch the lead pack. The big guy was getting gassed. And now, all of the other teams were fresh. After crossing the start-finish in the lead of the chase group, I sat up and yelled at the rest of the young people to do something, "since they have not done anything so far!" Now, we were racing for fifth place. Some of the AGH-North Hills guys and Big Bang guys came forward to ride tempo. I stayed towards the front four or five people. One Big Bang guy (not Henry Wang) took a huge pull down the high speed section. Man, I needed that.

At the bell lap, I was not sure what I had left in me. I was out of water, and still had some fight in me. I just need to stay out of the front, and had to get others nervous enough to work. I was second wheel over the climb, which was good news, but some started to attack. I covered two of the attacks, and the group was one, going into the high speed section. Now guys started to slow down. Darnit! Two A riders went around us on a sprint. Bang, I was off to get them. I blasted off the front, only to have the A-riders sit up and not be involved in the final mile of racing. It was the right thing to do, but now I am completely exposed, once again. I slowed down trying to get people off my wheel, hoping someone else would do something. Then, Wang goes on one of his usual "one move and done" tricks. The Big Bang guy from the last lap goes too. I jumped their wheel through the windy farm section. They slow down coming into the last turn. I looked at Wang and other Big Bang guy, and they looked gassed after 100 yards.

Give me a break! I said screw it and started going. This was at the last turn, and way too soon, especially considering how fresh some of these guys should be. I know that I am racing for fifth, which is the last money spot. I am cranking along pretty good, and one guy starts around me, but cannot pass me in the wind. We are down to the last 20 yards and I clicked up one more gear and dug in. Coming to the line we were now three wide with two just behind us. At the line, I threw the bike, hoping it was enough.

After the race, several came up to me saying how hard I was working at the front. One guy gave me some Power Bars he was so impressed. That made me feel good. I tried like hell for three laps to catch the lead pack and real disappointed I missed the break.

After we finished, the wind starting getting cooler and it started to sprinkle. I made it back to the car and and got everything away before it started to rain. They called the Cat 4's over to review the finish line tape. One Big Bang guy was trying to say he beat me at the line. He was to my left and saying the person furtherest away does not get measured right. Gary ended that conversation quickly, and said it was a no-brainer. I did get fifth. I was the lead master for Cat 4 for the last races. The next master guy was the one who tried to come around in the end. He worked with me on the earlier laps, taking some short pulls. I have raced with him at other races, and know Chris. Chris was at all three races, and I the last two. I won the Cat 4 masters, and received a very nice plague, beating Chris by one point. Throwing the bike was the difference.

Hats off to Don for running a good race. The surface was in best shape that I have ever seen. The race was well marshalled, and results quickly put together.

So, I have completed another training hurtle. I am disappointed that I missed the break, but there is no doubt that I worked harder to earn fifth place, than I every would have to been in the top four. Still, it was a good learning experience, and I am darn glad the rain held off :o)