Cohutta 100 Mountain Bike Race

 The Cohutta 100 mountain bike race was Saturday. This race got in my blood 5 or 6 years ago. It is in an area that I have done a lot of riding in over the past 15 years, the north Georgia mountains on the border with Tennessee. I always enjoy the big views you get from the ridges during this race. And the great long downhills. And the singletrack sections.Not much I don't like about the Cohutta 100.
 I told myself I would train specifically for this race this year. I had some good bike training in January and February but in March and April my biking couldn't even be described as training. I would miss two full weeks of riding and then put in 30 to 50 miles in a week and then lay off the bike again for a week. My running miles had been high during this time so I wasn't completely out of shape just, not in good biking shape. I would do the best I could with what I had and be thankful that I can even ride a mountain bike for a 100 miles.
 There were four of us from middle Georgia, Greg, Van, Monte and myself. We all started off together on the two mile climb up to the first singletrack section. Once on the trail I was able to relax a little and get my heart-rate under control on the flat flowing section. It all went well until we dropped back down to the river and started the climb back up the mountain. I was trying to stay on Greg's wheel which was a mistake. He set a pace a little too hot for me. He finally pulled away and I settled into my on pace and Monte and I rode together for a while while finishing the climb.
 At the top of the climb we have a long downhill that leads to a forest service road section that parallels a creek for several miles. After this easy section, it is a series of long climbs up to Potatopatch. Then a long downhill that drops 2000 feet to one of my favorite trails, Pinhoti section 2. We loop around at the bottom and then climb back up 2000 feet to Potatopatch and retrace our course back to the finish with a few deviations from our outbound route.
 I maintained my calorie and water intake well during the race and rode within my means all day. I had a realistic goal of going under 10 hours in the race. I knew this would be a challenge considering my lack of preparation for the race in the last 2 months. I came across the finish line in 9:58:28 and am happy with how the race came together.
 Next year I am really going to train for the Cohutta.