Mingo Creek Race Series #1

Note for the photo: Recreation of the condition on the race day


Race name: 2009 Mingo Creek Race Series #1

Date and start time: 03/29/2009; 10:10 am

Location: Vicinity of Mingo Creek Park;

Type/distance: Rolling hills; 6 laps = 28.3 miles

Competitors to watch: None - first race and don't know anyone

Weather: 48 degF, freezing rain turning into cloudy

Course condition: Mostly clear of debris, but slippery due to rain

Race goal: Finish with the main group

Race strategy: Stay near the front for the first two laps, and try breaking away in the third lap

Pre-race meal :
0600 - 3 Quaker rice cakes with peanut butter; 1 glass of soy milk
0930 - 1 cliff bar

Mid-race meal :
2 GU gel pack
16 oz water with two scoops of GU powder

Warm-up description:
2 full effort 15-sec sprint
Endurance ride (150-200 Watt) for the rest of the time
Total 30min

Start-line arousal level(1-5): 5 (mostly due to cold)

Results: #32/45 (1:40:16)


Power files start/end point: 40"32/1'36"04

What I did well:
1. Making check lists for race kits really help putting me at ease. I had one of the best sleep last night.
2. Being prepared for worst weather really helps. I brought rain jacket and booties, and they prevented me from fainting due to cold
3. Staying in and finishing the race despite the cold
4. Catched two guys during the race

What I need to improve:
1. Didn't expect the freezing rain would soak through my full-finger gloves and cause numbness. An extra shell besides the full-finger gloves may help.
2. The Gel-Bot didn't work as I hope, and I couldn't get food when I wanted.
3. Improve strength to climb short-steep hill better

Aches/pains/problems afterwards: None

Comments on or description of how race developed:
I was one of the first few people who got there. I went throught the registration process in a few mintues. As I was about to get dressed and take my bike out for warm-up, it began raining heavily. I tried to ride hard a bit to get my core temperature up, but the freezing rain seemed to sap my energy and I couldn't stay warm.
The rain seemed to cause the organizer some problems, too. They were ten mintue late to start the race. The Cat 1-3 rolled out ahead of us, and five mintues later, it was our turn. While waiting to start, I couldn't help but shake all over from the cold. My fingers felt worse - I could hardly move them, let alone shift properly. People around made fun of me, and said I should get more body fat (My body fat was measured at 8% with BodPod recently).
There was a short climb about 100 yards from the start line, and I was among the first 20 people at the top of it. And then there was a relatively flat portion. At this point, I noticed my PowerTap computer went into sleep mode while waiting for the race to start. Silently cursing, I fumbled with the buttons with my numbed fingers and made it start to work again. Soon afterward, we approached the major climb on the course, and I started to have trouble. I couldn't stay seated and mash the pedals at slow cadence, for if i did so, my muscles would get cramped. And my hands were so numb that I couldn't stand up and try to catch up with the other people. So I watched the main group rolling away helplessly. I didn't expect the competitors to be so fit. Ninety percent of the racers stay with the main group throughout the race.
Starting the 2nd lap, the main group was already out of sight, and I couldn't find anyone to work with me to try to catch them. So, my main goal for the rest of the race was to time-trial at my sustainable power output (200-210 Watts) and hoped that I wouldn't get lapped. I also tried to stand and crank out as much power as I could on the major climb on each lap, because I know that's what the main group would do. At the 5th lap, I noticed that I no longer could stand and pedal on the major climb, so I held back. During this lap, I got lapped by the Cat 1-3 group. On the last lap, I felt so tired, I didn't have the energy to sprint for the finish line. But nevertheless, I felt happy that I was able to finish the race despite of the miserable condition.

Is There a Life after Death?

I am probably the person with the poorest health in my family, because by the age of 29, I already have surgeries which requires general anesthesia four times. Anesthesia sleep is the most peaceful sleep I have in my life, which makes me wonder if death is just like this - a very very long peaceful sleep? I find this notion very appealing - no more emotions, just peace.

I have to admit I considered committing suicide many times after my first life-changing knee injury - I imagined all the things I could do but is now impossible due to the injury, and I got frustrated. However, I believe all children have responsibility to their parents. For most children, the responsibility is to take care of their parents financially when they grow old. Although my parents probably won't be needing this, and they probably can hire someone to help them with activities of daily living, I think one of the major happiness they get from having my sister and me is to see us lead a happy life. For this reason, I can't die yet.

But if I should die, I hope it will be a fast process - no lingering pain - and like someone who suddenly turn all the lights off in a room. Also, I hope people who are close to me, especially my parents, will not be too sad if I die prematurely. I want them to know I am finally in peace, quoting the words of Yoda: "Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force."

What's too Risky?

My aunt sent me this piece of news recently , which prompts me to write this article.

Taiwanese parents tend to be too protective of their children. They always want their children to be on the safe side in many aspects of life, such as choice of career, friends, even hobbies. In terms of career, most parents want their children to become either doctors or lawyers, as if they are the only careers worth choosing. For choice of friends, most parents encourage their children to be with students with top grades, and stay away from those who know how to have fun. Lastly, most parents encourage their children to pick "classy" hobbies, preferably indoor ones, such as playing musical instruments. And although sports as a hobby is acceptable, they don't want their children to master the sports, because they think being a good athlete means the person must be a bad student. For sports involving a little more risks, such as cycling, they find it unacceptable. Bicycle racing - it's out of the question.

I admit cycling involves more risks from falling, and even more so in bike races. But the most common injury is road rash, not life-threatening injuries as people perceive. There will always be risks in your life, and bad things do happen no matter how hard you try to prevent them. For example, I saw in the news that a pedestrian was hit and killed by car driven by a drug addict. There was nothing she could do to prevent that. But does this prevent people from going out in the street and doing their business every day? No, because they don't let fear control their life.

Bicycling is the only sport I could do and do well, and I draw inspiration from doing races and train for them. Without it, I am but an empty shell without a soul. I hope my parents will understand this some day, so I can share my joy and excitement from doing bike races with them, instead of hiding this from them.

So, what's too risky? It all depends on how you view your life. If you want to be on the safe side all your life, and still can be happy, that's fine. But for me, I know if I don't do bike races, I know I'll be very sorry when I reach old age.

Pre-ride Mingo Creek Race Course

Mingo Race Course



Share your bike routes @ Bikely.com

The start is on the Valley View Rd near Sugar Run Rd. Immediately following the start, there's a sharp uphill turn. Therefore, you want to start near the front to avoid the bottleneck caused by it.



Sugar Run Rd turning on to Sundust Rd: This corner is very technical. I turns about 90 deg and features a drop-off. It will be a peloton destroyer if the surface is bad.



The first left hand turn on Sundust Rd: Watch out for loose gravels on the right side of the road!



The start of three consecutive steep climb: About 1.2 mile from the start, you will see a pond on the left hand side of Sundust Rd. You should try moving toward the front if you can't sprint up the climb as fast as others to minimize ground loss.This is the only real hil, but its a double-deck hill, so you get to rest a little between the climb. However, I felt I was slowed to a crawl at the top of each climb, even though I was using 50*27 gear.



Green Valley Rd turning on to Gilkeson Rd: This corner is very technical. I turns about 90 deg and features a drop-off. It will be a peloton destroyer if the surface is bad.



Green Valley Rd turning on to Gilkeson Rd: When we were there, the corner was covered with loose gravel.



Patterson Rd joining Valley View Rd: The stop sign and the narrow bridge is where your position counts. You want to move to the front before this because one you pass this, it is very difficult to get to the front due to the turn and the narrow road.



The view of the last few feet in front of the finish line



Finish line view from the opposite direction