Maplelag

Where am I going?



Regained contact.



Trust me on the last lap this one hurts.

Pictures from Skinnyski.com

Maplelag is always the climax of the year. Race-eat-relax, sums up the experience.
Its fun to just sit down and joke around with the spare time between events. The Swanson bros. are a riot to be around. Its always nice when they show up.

TT- not feeling fast at all. Drowsy and a little ill feeling really. It was an early start, a couple hrs after breakfast so the body isn't used to that. I ended up with a 10:20 time which was good enough for 7th, Sam was 5th.

STXC- I stayed off my feet after the tt and even layed down for a bit. I wasn't all too pumped up for the race but once it started I began to open up. A few laps in I was on the inside and someone came in on my front wheel. Which is what happened in the picture. I almost took out Jake. I recovered and chased back on quickly. Doug,Brendan, and TJ got a break. Sam decided to come to the front and chase it down. He was chasing for at least 5 min. When he began to fade, we were close so I came around and finished it off right at the start line. I was wondering why Brendan was cornering so slow and then would pin it out of the corners. Find out he burped his tire. I should have made an earlier effort to get around him. Came in on the sprint in 5th and Sam 7th. After the race I was feeling lots better and was all revved up.

XC- It was downright hot out. The first half lap was too fast for the conditions. I was riding behind Brendan most of the lap and we were both riding like small children. I liked when I came out on Suicide Hill, I was at the bottom and Sam and Doug were drag racing halfway up. TJ had dropped his chain in the lakeside drops so he went back around at the top of suicide as well. Brendan and I passed Doug 3/4 lap in on the ski trails. Brendan took off from me after the start finish area and never saw him again. Doug caught me exiting the final single track. I had to stop and get two bottles out of my stand because I was hurting bad and I don't think I could have made it without. I eventually caught him back maybe with a 1/4 lap to go on the ski trails. When I looked back shortly after he was gone. I tried to put as much time in as I could without cramping but to no avail. In the end Doug got the last box. I was pleased with 4th on the day and 5th overall in the omnium. Sam finished 2nd, 15 seconds behind TJ and 3rd overall in the omnium. Thanks to the Richards family for all their hard work on putting on such a quality race and accommodation's.
Full results
Sam Brendan and I are pretty much locked in on our final results for the series in 1,2,3 respectively. I don't know whats going to happen the next race. After Chequamegon its all over really. Its been a fun and successful season. I can look forward to ice and snow now.