Race #1 4/2/14 - The junior races didn't start until until the next week so I raced in the beginner men 14-17. The reason I wanted to race anyway is because I just needed to get the familiar with Prairie City and the feeling of racing is a great feeling to me. I got a really good start, which is unusual for me. I like the two laps because the distance is to my advantage. I finished 8th out of 19.
Race #2 4/9/14 - I was looking forward to racing in my catagory 13- beginner men. I had another good start which led to a good finish. The course had uphills which is part of the reason I finished well. Second place was a friend I had picked up from racing, Khy Kinsey. I finished 1st out of 11.
Me and Khy after the first race
Race #3 4/16/14 - I was hoping to continue riding strong. On the pre-ride, I noticed that the course was flatter than it had been. I got another good start but blew it up. Khy got around me and I struggled to pass him the whole race. A sprint finish and Khy beat me by 00:00:25. We were now tied in the series.
Race #4 4/23/14 - I missed this race because I play minors baseball and there was a game.
Race #5 4/30/14 - I missed another race because I was playing baseball. My friend Khy won both of these races.
Race #6 5/7/14 - I was nervous to race because of the drop two. I needed to get podium to be competitive for the championship. I had a second place start and was behind Khy. He had a huge lead and I couldn't focus on him because I had competition for 2nd. I got passed once and caught up to 2nd on the hill. I tried to catch up to Khy, wasn't paying attention and accidentally got off course. There was another rider who followed me. When I saw that I was off course, I stopped and let Khi go by so I would be back in position. I ended up getting 3rd.
Race #7 - 5/14/14 - I wasn't really looking forward to race #7. I wasn't sure I would do well because I was sick on Tuesday, the day before. I had stomach pains. Khy crushed the first part of the course. I was third, then Khy crashed. Josh crashed in another corner of the race. My sickness didn't effect me at all and I ended up getting first.
Race # 8 - 5/21/14 - I was looking forward to race #8 because I was healthy. I got a fine start and was 5th. I passed three people before the single track, except for Khy. Khy and I went back and forth a few times before I was able to pass him completely. My bike had a mechanical issue towards the end of the race. I recovered from it and got 1st. I beat second by 15 seconds and third by 1:15.
Race #9 - 6/4/14 - I was kind of sad that it was the second to last week. After a week off for Hangtown, it felt really good to be back at Prairie City again. It was really hot. When we started Khi was in front but then I passed him before we left the start area. On the long downhill, he passed me back. I stayed on his wheel the whole race but couldn't make a pass on the back half of the course. When we came across the finish, Khi beat me by less than a second.
Race #10 6/11/14 - I was super nervous about the last race of the series. I was also excited about the last race. When we started, Khy got a horrible start but caught me on the second start stretch. We battled for 1st until I passed him. When I did, I came unclipped and he passed me back for 1st. Khy pulled a lead on me about halfway through the race. I didn't feel good mid-way through. Three quarters of the way through, I had to battle with third to keep my second place position. Me and third sprinted through the second to last section before it went down to single track. Down the last stretch, I out sprinted 3rd. Khy beat me by 11 seconds and I beat third by 1 second.
Awards Ceremony 6/15/14 - At the awards ceremony I got second in the series with 345 points. Khy beat me with 349 points and there was a three way tie with Josh, Leo and Walter all getting 333 points. I won a $50 gift card at the raffle and had a lot of fun this series.
I would like to thank Mom and Dad and Roseville Cyclery. I would also like to thank Brian, George and Big Rick for announcing and setting the courses.
You can see a race video my mom made here:Prairie City Race Series 2014
