Salt Creek Crit, P12

Ok Ive been feeling a little under the weather this week and decided if I felt ok this morning when I awoke I would race today. Well I felt just fine, so I loaded up the truck and off to the races.

During the drive I contemplated what the plan would be. The plan is to do the P12's and try to get 3 to 4 real hard efforts in. Use the race as fitness. The race was an hour thirty crit up near Tulsa.

I arrived at the race site registered, pinned number, warmed up, and off we go. The first three laps were at cruise speed so I decided to put in my first effort solo off the front, not too long 8 mins. perfect time to sit in. We race, we race, off I go, this time I have company there are six of us in the break and it's a good one. The four biggest teams are represented, and the fire power is there, Chad Cagle (now with Park Place), Steve Tillford (former world champion), and Brad Huff (Jelly Belly). I finish my pull and we started rotating. I realize that I have pulled through twice and Lord I am about to die. There is an hour left in the race and I am praying we get caught. My prayers were answered, and I only had to pull two more times. Man, that had me re-thinking this go off the front and get some work in. WE race. I want to quit. We race. I think I can bridge to that solo move up the road. Off I go. I get about a 100 yds from the catch so I give a quick check under the arm and a solo rider is closing like a bullet. I get caught about 25 yards away from the rider I was chasing. This could be good, we got a good gap. I grab the wheel of the rider who caught me and we blew by the original rider up the road. This guy is killing it! No wonder, I'm on, Jelly Belly, Brad Huffs wheel again. Shezzz why me. The field's chasing and he is not planning to get caught. We go 3/4 of a lap and Im doing all I can to just stay on his wheel and then, the elbow. I'm thinking, What! I'm old. You want me to pull? Well, I gave it a go and realized very quickly that I can't pull threw at 36 mph. That's correct 36. Not much more I can do. Right about after that, I BLEW. I licked my wounds back in the field for 18th. These guys were at a different level, but it's fun.

I hope all is well,

Phillip