Budu Race #5 @ Fort Ebey

I love riding at Ft. Ebey in the winter. It sits in the middle of Whidbey Island and is smack dab in the middle of a rain shadow so it generally gets about 10% of the rain we get in the rest of western Washington. It is also very sandy so it drains well. This combined with the warmest day of spring led to high expectations for the day. But Marshall is known for putting together a tough race so I knew a challenge was ahead. So early to Ebey I go. I decide to drive around as it take the same amount of time as the ferry and is cheaper since my bike setup is "overhight". I get there and do some warm up but I'm sore and tired from a hard day on the bike the previous day so I hope for the best. The race starts and I get a crappy start but I enjoy the technical descent but then the climbing starts. Oh..It's steep and a lot of it. I'm doing everything I can but I just don't have it today so I settle in for a long day. I cook'n as fast as I can and I eventually overtake a few others. Some have cramped and some have bonked. I've given away all my food to those in need and continue along my "merry" way. It's getting hard to make the hills now as they are STEEP but I keep going as hard as I can with cramps just kept at bay. The race is long at 22 miles and lots of climbing with 3500 ft of short punchy ascents. I find out that I'm 6th which was a suprise since I'd ridden so much of the race alone. It was an awefully nice day to race and was wrapped up with some good brews and food at the Diamond Knot. I'll do this race again next year!