Mt. Evans 2014
Well… the day dawned overcast, but regardless, I wore bib and jersey only and sent my rain jacket, undershirt, and wind jacket up to the top in a SAG vehicle. I was here to win, not whimper. Registration for my group (MM65+) was cut off at 30, so it was a pretty big group off the start line. My longtime Batenoir (Herb Johnson) was on the front line immediately in front of me with Ed Chamberlain (last years winner) and my strategy was to keep him there until shortly before the finish line. The first real attack came at mile 5 when Ed and Bob Groves(?) went off the front. Herb and I followed, but could not keep their pace and a gap that I recognized as insurmountable soon developed. At that point we were a group of 4 fighting for 3rd. Herb spent about 50% of his time standing and attacking and the other half seated and grinding. After half a dozen attacks, I looked back and we were alone, so Herb and I would be fighting it out for 3rd.
Once we got above timberline, the attacks become pretty serious, and my HR hit 153-156, but I Was able to hang and still had a bit left. During the last of these (13,500 Ft) Herb began wheezing and wobbling around a bit on the road and I still felt pretty good and realized that it just might be my day.
About 1 mile before the finish I rode around Herb, picked up the pace a bit, and Herb could not match me. I kept my HR up in the low to mid 150s until crossing the finish line (14,130 Ft) and developed a good gap back to Herb.
All-in-all, I think this was my best executed race, ever.
