Jiminy Peak Road Race
Hancock, MA
May 7, 2005
By Ian Landau
Keith and I did the 4's. I'll give my neophyte's race report and Keith can give the more experienced side (if he's so inclined).
This was my first out of town race and I was admittedly nervous, thinking this would be a serious test of my fitness and improvement as a still-novice racer. It turned out to not be as serious a test as I expected. JP's description of the course was dead on, although I don't think the day was as windy as it has been in the past.
Our race was SLOW on the first section of the course. I looked at my computer on the 2nd or 3rd lap and we were doing 16 mph with 80+ guys! The 2nd section was a bit faster, but nothing crazy. From the start, it seemed everyone was lining it up for the finish.
Along with some others who were more willing to race the entire race (instead of just the final 2 k's), Keith tried to animate things by bolting off the front (a few times, I believe), but nothing stayed away for long. I tried my best to stay near the front in case things got lined out and gaps opened up. I mostly was able to do that, except for on the last roller up before the road tilts down and the sharp turn onto the finishing hill. I drifted back to the middle as my legs burned, made the turn and saw the lead group of 25 that made it through the turn earlier too far away to catch. I had hopes of catching the 2nd group of about 10, but gave those up quickly too as I huffed and puffed up to the line trying to pick off anybody I could. I finished 42 seconds behind the lead group in 52nd.
I saw Ed Nolan there as well, but no other Kissenas.
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