Priscilla’s Southridge Race Report

In case you didn’t see the video yet, I just want to say that “YEEEEA, YEEEEA, YEEEAH…I WOOOOONNNN!!!!!!!!” 😀 I am so excited about this weekends race. Southridge is one of the most technical and difficult trails for me to ride so I am so happy to have barely made it out of there in one piece!!

I actually had no plans to ride this race up until a month ago. I promised myself though that if I made podium at Mt Sac then I would have to ride this race for a chance at that Champion spot. It took a lot for me to muster up the courage though. The first time I rode this trail (which was about a year ago), I literally ended up in tears because I was so terrified out there! No kidding!

For the most part I felt pretty good out there this past weekend. I keep thinking back on all my what-if moments. My regrets – not hauling butt quick enough on the first big climb. I ended up stuck behind some riders that rode a little sketchy and slow on the singletrack. And I ended up munching it on a downhill section as I was trying to avoid my competition that had crashed in front of me. I took a clean fall but it really cost me some time. The mom in me – I had to make sure she was okay before I could take off! This gave me the opportunity to get in front of her again but not by much as the climbs really kicked my butt.

Through the majority of the ride I knew I had been passed by two other women already in my category. So I was riding hard for that 3rd spot. And my competition was never too far behind me. Near the end of the race as I was flowing through some sweet singletrack, I took another bad fall. I really can’t recall all that it entailed but I remember my rear tire hitting something and I immediately was thrown to the side of the hill. It was bad. The wind was knocked out of me. My head slammed on the rocky hill side and my backpack saved my back. I couldn’t say the same for my knee or the right side of my body though. My right hand was used as a face saver…I really thought I had sprained my wrist. It took me a minute to gather myself and then it happened! My competition passed me and I was in 4th place again. There was no way I was going to lose that 3rd place and I had to finish anyway so I jumped back on my bike after her. I was frustrated because I found myself on her tire most of the time…but on a singletrack there is no where to go! I lucked out when we came to the downhill portion of the singletrack. You have an option to take a steep gutter pavement down the hillside or some dirt. She hesitated, so I dropped down to the gutter…and pedaled on down past her and hauled butt to the next climb. My wrist was fat and throbbing by this time but I was determined to finish 3rd place.

I think the pain in my body motivated me to haul butt to the finish line….I was in some serious need of ice and pain killers! I was happy to finish in 3rd place after all that. And my 3rd place secured me the Champion Spot for the Triple Crown Series. Lucky for me there were only a few of us that had competed in all three races. ;D

And I think I am healing well. I felt like I had been hit by a car when I woke up yesterday, but I only have one oozy boo boo. The rest are bruises and surface scrapes. My doc gave me a tetanus shot and she threw in a flu shot for kicks. 🙂 It’s all good.

I am loving my jersey!!! So proud of everyone out there. Kim did awesome as well. She took home her Champion jersey as well as 3rd place for XC and 1st place for Super D. That girl is amazing! I am actually looking forward to more rides and maybe more races out in Fontana. 😀 Good times!!!