Bar-H
Yesterday was Bar-H. And although it was scheduled as a XC race for me with a 1 hour tempo run, I was more happy doing what I did out there. I was there to support Team Zoe Fitness and Zoe Fitness Athletes.
Rich started the day with a Cat 1 race. He went off at 9, I got there just in the nick of time, so I could get bottle directions. I was glad. He reminded me of his mantra, and off he went. He came through transition, in good spirits and smooth but also recognizing the degree of challenge he was facing that day with 1500 feet of climbing each lap that day. He finished his XC race with 12 minutes before the lead off of the Single Speed race. He barely had enough time to fill his bottles and get to the staging area. WOW, he came through for his third lap, a little slower than on gears, but already having climbed 4500 feet he was steady and smooth.
Cat 2 went off 11:30. Justin fresh back from Seattle felt if all the cards were right (Rey and I concurred) he could win the whole thing. I have been watching Justin very closely for signs of stress, and fatigue with all the life changes he has occurred during the last 10 days, I kept thinking there was going to be a little bit of a ‘crash’ in there. He has gotten so strong in the last two years, he just wasn’t showing it. He came through transition in first, he looked strong and ready for what was left for him on the course. There’s not only all the stresses of moving, but coming back into the Texas heat, we were hoping it was going to pull together for him, it did, he got a podium spot, 3rd place.
I was surprised and happy to see Thomas and Connie Mullins out there. Thomas has just told me he has been fighting a stomach virus for a week which left him 7 pounds lighter. This is one tough guy, stomach virus, 7 pounds and he’s not missing a beat. He’s here, on one of our home courses, he’s going to give it his all and race. Great job too! He came through transition, smooth, and smiling and ready for more. At the end of the race, as everyone was near exhaustion, Thomas looked as if he just rode around the block. Everyone was complaining, Thomas was smiling. Great Job, he even came to the line with 2 others sprinting for position, WOW.
Rey had his best race since I began coaching him. He came in through transition only a place or two behind Justin. I think, this surprised us all. I knew this was going to be his best race of the season. He looked fresh and was ready for lap two. He was the fastest he had ever raced before, at HR that only we can dream of reaching, in the 190’s and he said they felt easy. OUCH! He was seconds behind second, and less than two minutes off the lead. Second place openly admitted to drafting off him for an entire lap, which is the only reason he had any gusto left to take him in the closing miles. This actually put him in 2nd place for the series. You see that Rey, second in the series. And this is just the beginning, Good Job! You’re a hard worker, and you deserve to win. And, I think, you can! Just play your cards right, and make sure you don’t have another 0. He finished podium, 3rd place.
Connie is out for a brutal day, she comes through, she is having fun, she’s met a friend, and they are enjoying everything Bar-H has to offer. Which for the weak of heart is too much.
Rich came through finishing both cat 1 and Single speed with his eyes on the prize. He was off to coach basketball, he felt like he didn’t leave anything out there. Everyone of my athletes concurred. They left nothing behind. This is the right thing to do. Leave nothing on the trail, give it 100% and take prisoners.
It was a hot day, not as hot as it can be, but hotter than it has been all season. It was a tough course, one person said take the El Paso Puzzler and jam it into 18 miles, that’s a compliment.
I really enjoyed being out there.
Thank you Team Zoe Fitness and Zoe Athletes for all your hard work and dedication, you demand the best!
-Zoe