Notes
Stumptown #1 was well-attended. Good to see so many familiar faces as usual. The first mile went out in a big pack at 5:00 pace led my the Baumans. I was too fired up and had trouble catching my wind. There was a group of maybe 15 right there and it was not strung out very far off of that pace for the next 20 or so. Believing I could beat some of the guys in the pack, but knowing many of them were good closers, I pushed the pace and found myself leading just after the mile. I thought I might be well-served by pushing because I have been doing more strength and less speed lately. It turns out, one Club NW guy took the lead back shortly and never relinquished it. Therefore, I ended up leading out a group of 7 or 8 including Matt Ingalls, Jackson Baker, the Baumans, Dusy Lieb, Dustin Franta, Jordan Welling, another Club NW guy, and a guy in an orange singlet named Chris. I was leading that group for the better part of the race. Bad strategy. When we exited the whoop-d-doos the second time I was hurting rather than closing. With about 300 to go Dustin Franta passed, then a Club NW guy, then Chris Baldus. I tried to catch Baldus but he had one more gear when he saw me coming. Held off Ahrlin for 5th place. A good effort today, but poor strategic race. Nevertheless, racing xc was as awesome as always.