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.