Copper 09 from Carol H.

The race was short (er) for me... I made it through a lap + 5 miles and called it. I unfortunately have some sort of GI tract companion... It made my life difficult yesterday. I really liked the course, though, in a way that is very basic; it is definitely a course of attrition. There is no place that you can easily make up ground, or make a break, unless you are a mountain goat. I actually rode til I puked for that one lap, but I am glad that I got to experience it. I made a couple of friends on other teams, and hopefully the "karma" will come back to me down the road.... I do feel compelled to make a shameful plug about what I do for a living... I heard a lot of racers complaining of back, shoulder, and neck pain after the race. The course is relentlessly unforgiving, with the descent being a bone-jarring, white knuckle experience that can't be properly described... I didn't have any pain, even with my malady. I still feel nothing today. Granted, I only went around once, but some of the cyclists I spoke with after the race did only one lap as well. I firmly believe it is the core strength that I practice on a daily basis that is the key. That course was all core. I used it on the climbs, across the potholes, and most of all on the descent. I had one of the guys in the 4's comment that I descended "like a guy..." whatever that means. I'll be back next year... for sure. And thanks again to the DBC guys (and Anna F.) for being so supportive and just awesome.
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Ciao... Carol H.