Pats Peak MTB Race

I had two goals for the race. First goal was to qualify for nationals(needed a top 15 finish) and to take it easy on the first lap to pace myself. In the starting queue, I took a quick count of heads and found that my field was one of the larger of the day and had 21starters. The advice I had heard from most people was you just had to finish and you would qualify. With 6 more heads then spots, I knew I needed to do better then just finish. Being new to mountain bike racing, no one was familiar to me and assumed that they were all better. I stood there waiting for my field to be called to the line pondering the race, and when we were called I wasn't paying attention and went from the front to the back of the pack. Hmm, not a good first move. When the whistle went off, something inside my head wen toff too and I attacked the group, going around a large group of riders and to the front. Within the first 100 yards I was at the front of the field and climbing hard, opening a gap behind me. At this point I actually realized goal number two was over and focused on the race.For most of the first lap I tried to push my pace without blowing up.The three distinct long climbs were just that, long. Neither overly steep or technical in nature, they just sapped the strength. Over the third climb and I started the long technical descent. (Racer note: on Thursday I broke my full suspension frame and with the assistance of Anthony at the Loft was able to secure a hard tail rig to race. Note to all, the first time a new bike is ridden by you is probably best not to be at a race. Afterwards someone asked what I thought about the bike and I said we had a rockstar relationship; we went hard, had violent fits with each other and when it was all over best that we part amicably before someone dies. Still, major accolades to the Loft and Anthony for their help!!!) With heavy hands on the brakes, I just about crawled down the mountain. Weaving around large rocks is tough, doing so downhill while trying to pass riders from earlier fields is just about downright impossible, so I continued my crawl. This impossible action was not conveyed to five riders who had caught me and magically jumped from behind to in front on the same tough downhill. Having been there and watched, I'm still not sure how they did it. As we broke the woods and the downhill, I could see the five riders just in front of me and pushed to catch them. On the uphills I would pass two or three, then on the downhills they would pass me. At one point one of the guys asked if I would pull him up the hill if he helped pull me down. On the final lap, I knew that same rider was just behind me so I pushed really hard on the uphill and let the brakes loose on the downhill, riding at the edge of comfort and control. When I broke through the woods I was confident that I would hold my position and qualify for nationals. Mission accomplished, final result 5th!
Note 2: It was pretty surreal to be riding along a fire road in the woods, pass a house with with people in the front watching the race and hear "Hey, that's Scott Brooks".