unOFFICIAL TMWC '23 - RACE REPORT
TODAY WAS THE DAY so many of us targeted to crush our local ride, the annual unOFFICIAL Tuesday Morning World Championships. We fondly refer to it as Just a social ride...
... but, not today.
We rolled on time, 630am.
Normally, it's a gaggle of geese the first few miles...
... but, not today.
Previous winner, Nick Bishop, lit it up asap.
Normally, it's 25-30 stalwarts...
... but, not today.
Doubled out numbers.
Normally, the pace is consistent...
... but, not today.
Jumpysurgy.
Nothing was normal today, which makes it extra
- fun
- fast
- frenemyish
We hit a few timely lights, keeping us mostly in tact until the transition to the El Toro Bike Trail.
- 7 miles,
- no lights,
- no stop signs,
- lots of power climbing.
Normally, we are pretty burnt at this point...
... but, not today.
Which could only mean one thing...
... something abnormal was on the menu.
In the entire history of all the unOFFICIAL showdowns only 2 people have managed to...
... breakaway and stay away.
The great
- Robert Freeman broke away on the bike trail
- Bret Bylund went in the first mile
We'd already seen Nick take a swing at Bret's move...
... would someone be gutsy enough to try Robert's move?
Yes!
Young Rayan.
He goes when we first hit the trail.
I'm thinking, dang, wish he hadn't done that now I have to suffer.
We pull him back,
I suffer.
Within 60 seconds he goes again,
and is gone.
The gap keeps growing and growing.
Now I'm thinking, go Rayun go!!!!
I love this.
Few try it during the year,
nobody makes it,
hardly ever.
The pace lifts, and I know the 4ish minute power climb is gunna hurt.
It does.
Not enough for me to get a PR,
because I was dropped...
... still, faster than I'd gone all year.
Would young Rayun make it?
The leaders were over the top,
our second group not far back.
I thought we might catch.
Got close.
Then, the final corkscrew and finishing straight aptly named...
... Robert's Rage (and Robot's wheelsucking revenge)
Where the great, 2019 Champ, John Janneck flew outta the pack...
... caught young Rayun at the line.
So, epic.
So, valiant.
Congrats to the winners...
- Lori Hoechlin - Ladies
- Issac Gould - U20
- John Janneck - U35
- Matthew Rhodes - U50
- Ken Lynch - U65 (most improved rider of the year)
- Mark Christopherson - U100
... much thanks to all who participated in the 2023 unOFFICIAL TMWC.
If you're digging the kit, you can save 20%...
... with this promo code: TMWC2023
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165.1 <- that didn't help
6.5 hours <- nor that
Push Ups Pull Ups Squats Nordic Curls
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling