Got there early this a.m. so my son (11) could try his luck at his first race (10-12 year olds). Perhaps it wasn't the best race to try as it was Juniors State Champ's. He got spit out the back after 1-1/2 laps. Good learning opportunity anyway as I think he was a little too cocky. He came in 12th out of 12 finishers and like 18 starters or so.

I signed up for the men's 4/5 race at 3pm making for a long day. Went to lunch. Had a bowl of soup and some chips. Good thing I ate light. As my son and I sat down to watch a couple races, I realized there was a 30+ 4/5 race at 1:10!! Yahoo, I didn't have to sit there all day!! But, that left me 30-mins to get dressed, change registration, pump up tires...yadda...yadda,...yadda. All said and done: 15 minutes to warm-up. But, it was pretty warm out there today anyway, so...probably okay. I did a couple of sprints, and rolled to the line.

Still not warm enough during the first 2-3 laps but the field wasn't going all out anyway allowing me to warm-up with them. Stiff headwind after corner 4 up to the s/f line. That'll keep the group together for the most part. Earlier races saw one or two breaks succeed though so who knows?

A couple of guys went off the front on the back side (wind assisted there) and I went with. But, it didn't stick, the field would follow. So I'd withdraw back into the comfy pack and recover, then move back up front for some more. Did this 2 or 3 times.

3rd time with about 7-8 laps left, me and another guy went off alone. I look back, we've got a gap: I couldn't see the field right after we went around a corner, giving us maybe 2-3 seconds. We go through turn 4 into the headwind. Question, of course: "Is this guy going for the prime this lap or for a long-range break and the win?" I never got a chance to ask him--I should have though. Now, he's on my wheel with 100 meters left, I'm in a headwind, I have never won a prime, not enough space to cat'n'mouse, what to do? I'm limited. So, I put my head down, and just try to accelerate too much for him to come around in the wind. Apparently it worked as I look down between my legs and don't see his wheel anywhere. I cross the line winning my first-ever prime. I look back, he's back with the field. I still have 2-3 seconds on them, but am totally wasted so I sit up, and wait for them to give me shelter and rest. Won a nice bottle of White Lightning Clean Streak and a bottle of Self-Cleaning Wax Lubricant. Anyone else use them? How are they?

Well that was it for the most part. I had vowed after Long Beach to work on my sprint: lower gears to allow for better spinning and accelration. Seems to have worked: going into the sprint today, I picked up probably 4-6 spots and could accelerate better out of corners. Came in 28th, though. Was too tired and couldn't fight for position in the last 2 laps when the field upped the pace.

Next race: Glendale Bicycle John's.
Goal: not sure. Do I go for a good placing only this time, or try my luck with a prime and a good placing? I'll wait for you all's feedback before deciding.

G'day.