Ag3r/ButlerHealthSystem at the Race At The Lake 4/24/2010

This past Saturday was the second Race At The Lake of the season in Munroe Falls, OH, and the second race of the year for me (as well as the second "real" race in like five years). I arrived at the race and got suited up with plenty of time to get to the start line, but not enough time for a good warm up. The officials rolled us out to the "official" start/finish line on the hill in the back of the course and off we went.

Somewhere around five laps in they rang the bell for a $10 prime. My legs were still a little cold and needed a good warm up, so as we approached the base of the start/finish hill I took off. I had a good gap, buuut... I misjudged the gearing I used and was starting to bog down. Suddenly two guys came up to me on the outside. I tried to dig deeper but couldn't turn the pedals fast enough and they gapped me and got the prime. Okay, didn't get it but the legs were opened up now!

I drifted back into the pack and took some shelter and the race went on. A short time later I started to develop a bad back pain that shot from my lower back, down the right side of my behind, and into my right hamstring. I hung back trying to work it out, eventually doing so a little bit. (note to self - call Todd at Pro Bikes to get re-fitted on my bike to help with the back pain!).

After a while, the final lap bell rang as we past. We went around the course, and as we closed in on the final stretch, I glued myself onto a wheel I knew was one of the fastest, Dick Brink, a mainstay of the Race At The Lake. But as Dick took the final turn, with me on his wheel, he took a bad line that got us boxed in. We couldn't advance. All the while I heard teammate Mark Briercheck holler out, "What are you doing over there Schar?" I look to my left and there's Mark free as a bird with the whole road open to his will. Crap!

I slowed down, leaving Brink's wheel, and got a gap where I was able to get out of the box. I came around the other side and kicked it in. "Get on it!" shouted Briercheck. I came around a lot of the pack, and was all out going up the back hill to the finish line. Just a little way up the hill one guy sits up. Crap! I threaded a needle and got around him without losing too much momentum. Then, almost at the line another guy sits up. I hate that! But I wasn't about to do the same. I noticed a little window that would get me across the line at speed, but put me in the grass at the edge of the road right after the line. Time to turf it up! I aimed for the window, passed that guy, and controlled it into the grass.

All in all, a good, fun race. I got 4th (in the money), and Briercheck got 9th. Good representation for Ag3r/ButlerHealthSystem.