Quabbin Race Report

Cat 3 report by Joe K

The true meaning of 'TEAM'

I don't think I would have made It through the day with out my teammates. The day started off on a sour note for me when my local quick mart did not have my usual egg ham & cheese breakfast sandwich. I grabbed a power bar but I seem to perform best with a good morning breakfast. I met Miguel, Antonio, & Chris B at 6:45am and we followed each other up to the race. On the way up to the race my car overheated, the coolant reservoir was low, we emptied our water bottles into the reservoir and started going again. We drove another 5min and it overheated again. I pulled into a gas station, now we are really late and I was worried none of us would make it to the race. Thankfully Miguel drives a extended cab pick up truck, we all worked quickly to unload all the gear and bikes into the truck and try to make it to the race. We arrived with about 25min till our race start time, got our numbers and got dressed with about 10min to spare.

Chris B and I went for a short loop around the parking lot and somehow we both missed the call up for Men's Cat 3. We missed our start! My head was in the clouds thinking about my car and being rushed and somehow we both missed it. DAM! We had the option of jumping in with the 4's or go off solo trying to catch the group ahead of us. Chris and I took off like a two man rocket ship, TT-ing like crazy. We started to pick off riders and groups on the first few climbs. We got into a good group of about 8 riders but by mile 50 I was completely cooked, nothing left in the tank. The Cat 4's finally caught us. Chris managed to stay with them and finish strong, I hobbled across the line, battered and beaten. The grueling hilly course took it's toll on Miguel and Antonio too. Although they got dropped from their groups, they persevered and finished the race.

After the race, it was great to have each other to commiserate with, convincing each other that the day was long, hard, and difficult but we all gained some valuable training and learned form the experience. If I had to drive home alone after that kind of day I would have been beating myself up about such a bad day. When we got back to my car and without the help and support of the guys I would have not been fix it and get home. Although we did not perform well as a team on the bike, it was the off the bike comradery that made the day a success.