Jay Richards

Well the race today went about as I expected. No pictures since Jonell had my camera to take pictures of the wedding she was running today. Bless her heart. I wasn't running on all cylinders so I didn't expect to be able to hang at or near the front. Before the race I felt like taking a nap. I did have a good start but then lost a few spots right before the singletrack. Couldn't close down the 15 second gap to the O Bros. I was then in no mans land and kept looking back for Tom Miller and Chris Fisher. Finally Tom came and I rode with him but I couldn't match his pace as he went on to a solid fifth. Fisher came by and rode with him for a short while but same deal. So I rode most of the race by myself, hanging on to 8th and trying to close the gap to Eric O and keep in front of Barry Tungseth and Matt Muyres who had very solid races but it remained the same for the last two laps. I think I moved up to 4th on the overall. Going into the year I didn't think I would do enough races to be up there and had a goal to finish top 10 in the standings. When I thought of the riders that would be battling this year, Hall, Moore and O Bros, Fisher, Hanson, Rinehart, maybe Doug at a few races, Tom Miller and a handful of others that would be turning up a notch, top 10 sounded reasonable but still go for first in the old guy division. Missed the first two races so I was in a hole off the start. So happy how the year went, another great year of racing. Twice I was second in the series. Both times to Jeff Hall. Of course this year Jeff doesn't race the series. One year I wanted to win it. Probably won't happen now. Its all been good though.

Jake had a solid first Comp race. He said he had a good start, he and Lars riding together in the 3rd and 4th spots then the last lap Jake went back a bit and ended up 8th overall and Lars was 5th which is a real nice finish. Jake was 4 1/2 minutes out of first so a nicely done race for him. It will be great for Jake to ski with Lars this winter. Lars has been rollerskiing a ton and is going into the Fall with some good form. Anyways, on the way down I told jake to drink extra water. I think he only had 10 ounces before his race and I remided him at the venue but I don't think he got enough. He'll learn. He beat some guys that beat him earlier in the year. If he would of raced sport, it would of been challenging to move up since his age group started third wave so it was a good decision by Jake.

We rolled out a little late so Jon ended up racing Citizen. Jon is only 10 and the other kids in his age group are all 12 which is a big difference at that age. Jon had a great race as well. Just proud of him to finish.He was 4th out of 5 in age and in the 40's overall. He had no problem racing Citizen. Jon is getting into it now on his own. Of course Jake has been pushing him but we tell him it is good training for hockey so that is all it takes.

Nice job to Kyia, Kris and the rest of the gang that put on a great event. I like Kris's comment, among many, "and now for some fun related to bike racing" as he did a trivia question during the sport awards.

We made it home in time so I could help serve reception dinner, carving pork roast for 350 and help with clean up until midnight or so. Jake was babysitting and when I came home he said he was exhausted.

Kids don't have school on Monday so we are planning on camping out under the stars tomorrow night. Hopefully we don't get too wet. I asked Jens if we should go to the same spot as last year and he said no, deeper in the woods. Should be fun, marshmellows for breakfast.