2012 Mud Bowl - WORS #12 Sheboygan

What would a 12 race mountain bike series be without an annual mud race?  A 12 race mountain bike series!  The WORS series seems to have an epic mud race every year and this year did not disappoint.  Ironically, we had one of our driest riding seasons we have had in a few years but raced in the rain more this year than prior.   4 of the 12 races were raced in the rain this year, Iola, Rhinelander, Suamico, and the most recent Sheboygan.  As any champion would it saved its best for last and WORS did that with WORS #12.

The weather watching started early in the week after rumors of cold and rain emerged on the iPhone, iPad, and even the iMac, each device spreading the same rumor.  In the 4 hour drive down south on Saturday it never stopped raining, rumors confirmed.  The next morning we woke up to sideways rain and a 30 minute rain delay which would do nothing but allow the course to be stirred and mixed with each drop of precipitation. 

We sprinted out on pavement for 100 yards shooting into grass and that is where the challenge started.  The first blade grass sucked your wheel in as if we were fighting dropping into a black hole.  We were around the first few corners and the bike, kits, and bodies were covered in mud.  Sliding down the first single track I was in 5^th position and the literally slid into 4^th when Nathan G. was forced into a line that threw him and his bike overboard.  It didn’t take each of us long to realize that bike handling would be overshined by any fitness a rider displayed.  Each section had its own and new type of challenge.  Off camber mud slides, uphill tire slips, buried roots, flooded trail, brakeless log jumps, and river crossings that were quickly turning into lakes.  I will allow the enclosed pictures to tell the story rather than making up descriptive words that don’t do the conditions justice.

With each mile of trail the more skilled riders took ownership and rode a race of their own.  There wasn’t much more you could do than just race what you could manage.  Cole H. was immediately up the trail alone and Marko L. was close behind.  The way they were displaying riding skill they were sure to stay away the rest of the race.  Darrin B. and I were behind.  Not so much in chase but riding what could be managed.  Darrin would put small gaps on me in the more technical sections but I allowed my patience to stay intact on the first lap and would bridge them back.  Starting the 2^nd lap I allowed my race management and my patience to disappear.  I attempted to put a move in on a drier part of the trail and pushed my pace.  My chosen pace put me outside of my technical limit and soon thereafter I was sliding, slipping, and falling.  I slid into a tree and caught my hand the wrong way causing an instant throb.  From that moment I lost patience, confidence, and enjoyment.  All huge “no noes” in XC racing.  I knew better but with each wheel rotation the course got worse and I was exposed each time.  By the end lap 2 Darrin had put a gap on that put him out of reach. I was joined by Nathan as he made his way up from his 1^st lap fall.  He too put a gap on me that put him out of reach.  With ½ lap remaining I had another racer ride up and it was Mike P.  We switched spots a few times but he took control in the last ¼ mile as I allowed my mind to beat me ruthlessly. 

I came in 6^th place after riding in 3^rd and 4^th for most of it.  It was disappointing to drop a few spots but after having time to reflect I’m the only one to blame.  Not my fitness, not my skill, but me.  At first I wanted to blame the weather as anyone could blame the weather and conditions for a poor ride but I was exposed just as every other rider was.  I allowed my biggest competitor beat me, my mind.    

The beautiful thing about WORS racing, even in the midst of a Midwest monsoon, is the people involved.  As I allowed my mind to beat me Darrin was yelling encouragement to me the whole time.  My competitor, the one I was racing against to claim a 3^rd overall series spot with was yelling for me to keep going, to keep with it, to stay focused.  I am grateful for what we have even if I’m still cleaning mud from out of my ears. 

WORS #11 Bear Paw

The WORS season is quickly approaching its final races.  As sad as it is to see the season and year reaching its end it is always a great day to be at the final 2 WORS events.  They are 2 of the best courses we do all year and timed perfectly with the best time of year, fall.

White Lake, WI was the race site for this past Sunday and only being 2 1/2 hours from home I was able to sleep in my own bed the night before which is always an advantage.  The ride down south was one of the brightest I've seen in quite awhile.  The yellow on the leaves were vibrant and the air temperature perfect creating a must smile attitude.  Perfect before lining up.


My legs were good in warm up but I didn't know what to expect coming off of my worst week of the year 2 weeks prior.  I had a good week of training and some longer base miles to get my legs back under me.  The first climb came and I settled at the front until Cole took off.  I was happy to see this and knew I could respond.  At the top the attack took 4 of us with including myself, Mike P. and Nathan.  I enjoyed the pace up the climb which set confidence knowing my legs should be good. After the first single track  I let a little gap to to Mike and Cole.  On the next flat I passed Nathan and eventually by the end of the lap attached to Mike but Cole had another 10 seconds on Mike.  I always had them in sight but it took a full lap to get back on.  The course is technical and their skill kept them just out of reach until the two track.  At the end of lap 1 Mike clipped a pedal and was forced off the bike and I was chasing Cole alone.  The start of lap 2 I was with him.  He took the lead in all the single track and I did some work on the 2 track.  Each technical section he would take small lead but nothing I couldn't bring back on a hill or two track.  Although I believe this is where he noticed his advantage  On lap 3 he gave me the lead into some single track.  This ended up being my worst lap and I just couldn't find a rhythm on the bike.  By mid lap Cole took advantage of that and was off the front.  Ending lap 3 I noticed Nathan was coming up behind me with the momentum of a Porsche on a back country road.  He had found his engine and looked on fire.  We were together for a half a lap and I did work on the 2 track as he would shoot in front on the single track.  Eventually his skill rode away from me and left me back in 3rd.  I finished with a descent lap and felt good at the end.

I was happy to come away with 3rd place and some good points towards the overall series.  I wasn't completely satisfied though as I had the legs to win the race but not the skill.  On a course where skill outshines fitness it just wasn't my day up against some smooth riders.  The win would have granted by true wish so I could bring Copper up on the top step with me for his first ever podium visit.  Sunday was one of Coppers last days with us as cancer took the better of him.  I wanted badly to to win for him and show him off on the top step but in true Copper fashion he was just as happy on the 3rd step as he would have been on the top.

National Article

UPCX Iron Cross

This is always a great time of the year, UPCX comes back.  The UP has a growing following which has allowed the series to bring 9 races to the UP this year.  9! CX races in the Upper Peninsula.  The organizers and volunteers have really done a great job bringing this to us.  The best part of it might be that it is only $10 and you still get all the dirt, sand, mud, grass, pavement, and barriers that any other cross race offers.  

I won't be able to make a majority of the races because of my MTB schedule but I'm taking advantage of everyone I can when I can.  The first was this past weekend at Al Quaal.  It sure is nice to be able to roll out your back door and be at the race venue in 2 1/2 minutes.  Makes for a special and enjoyable race experience.  

I didn't have much of a goal going in other than to stay safe and up right so that I could race another day.  Especially that I had WORS #11 the next day in White Lake.  I kept the up right portion of the deal but gambled with the safe part in the 2nd corner.  Only doing 1 warm up lap and not knowing the speed into the 2nd corner I overshot it with Colby just ahead of me.  I ground his rear cable in my spokes which might be the only thing that kept us upright.  The crash averted I was back on the attack.  I quickly moved out front and by the top of the first run up I had a small gap.  I hit the first lap and second lap at top speed giving myself some breathing room for the ramainder of the race.  I put it in cruise control until the last lap where I challenged myself to put out my best lap time.  My first lap was 5:59 and my final lap was 5:53.  I came away with the win but I was just as happy that my effort was still solid by the 10th and final lap.