Jennifer Dilworth Hynes — mtbchk

“WHATAREYOUDOIN’?” 

It’s a phrase spoken by a now former co-worker every time she enters a room or sees someone.  It’s said loudly in a Cherryville (that’s “Churvull” for the locals) accent.  I’ve picked up this habit and can do a pretty good impression of her.  Now, when I do it, nobody “gets” it.  Oh well.  I’ll start a new trend.

Anyway, What have I been doing?  Here’s a very quick rundown.

The week after the Burn, I rode up at Tsali with the Divas for the Spring Trip.  I took the SS and geared it easy (32×20).  I didn’t really ride at all between the 24-hour race and the trip, and I could tell I was still recovering when I had a difficult time even keeping up with the “intermediate” group.  No offense to the intermediate group, I just usually ride the geary in the advanced group.  It was a really fun trip with some fun people, but my riding hadn’t gotten back up to usual.

The following week, we went up to Sugar Mountain for the NORBA National race.  I don’t have much of a report.  The course at Sugar has changed since last year, with a much more challenging singletrack descent than before.  It was tough, but worthy of a National-level event.  That wasn’t necessarily my problem, though. 

I’ve done this race for the last two years.  It starts with a tough 4.5-mile climb up the mountain and then a fast descent.  The climb hasn’t changed.  They started us (Sport Women) with the Beginner Women.  It was 3:30 in the afternoon and quite hot.  The climb is steep at the bottom and then becomes more gradual as you wind around the mountain.  It’s brutal for me, as climbing is not my strong point (OK, I’m still trying to find my “strong point”, but I know it’s not climbing!).  So, we started the race and I think I was in the back.  All the Charlotte folks were at the beginning of the climb cheering. (Thx, guys!)  At the first steep section, Brian was taking pictures and I told him to hurry up and take it because I was about to hop off and start pushing.

The rest of the climb was uneventful.  I rode with a beginner chick for a while.  It was her first ever race, and she had flat pedals, gym shorts and a big chushy saddle.  She smoked me.  I picked my way through the descent, tried to ride some, walked what I couldn’t ride, and finished out my lap in a less-than-spectacular time.  I was totally wiped out. 

 As I started the next round of climbing up the mountain, I bonked.  Badly.  I passed Patty at the start of the climb and proclaimed, “I really want to quit this one.”  She encouraged me to keep going.  I got to the point where the climb gets really steep and my body just wouldn’t go anymore.  Mary Beth was standing there and asked if I needed anything.  All I could say was, “a shoulder to cry on”.  At that point, I turned around.  I felt ill (physically and mentally).  I decided to put my health ahead of my pride.  I cried on the way down the mountain.  I’ve never cried in a race before.  On my way to the start/finish to DNF, I saw Brian and cried on his shoulder.  I let myself down.  I laid on the sidehill in the shade behind the Southpark tent and closed my eyes.  I couldn’t get my HR down. 

OK, so I’ve put this behind me.  The best I can tell, I wasn’t recovered from the previous two weeks’ activities.  At least, that’s what I’m telling myself.  I’ve done that race before and yes, it was hard, but not THAT hard.  There’s always next year.

The Monday after the Sugar race, I turned in my two-week notice, but only worked until Tuesday (took my remaining vacation days — I needed to get OUT of there).  I also needed to get to Atlanta to visit the family, my Grandmother, and my friend Lesley.  I spent the weekend shopping for wedding dresses and visiting Grandma.  (NO riding at all).  I found a kick-ass dress from designer Rivini.  It’s very simple, and looks really good on me — makes me look real skinny.  I’m stoked about this dress, and if you know me, I don’t get too stoked about any dresses.  But this one is the BOMB.  Trust me.  Good weekend.

The following Monday, I started my NEW JOB!  That’s right — after 10 years in the world of manufacturing and chemicals, I have taken my Engineering degree and love for the outdoors to what I think will be a great job at the US National Whitewater Center.  I’m the Engineering Manager, with responsibilities for the whitewater pump system operations and maintenance (pumps, filters, conveyors, gates, etc.), along with all associated facilities maintenance, landscaping, custodial, security, etc.  No, I don’t know any answers to “when are we going to open” and “what’s the road situation”.  I just work here.  But really, I’m having a blast.  It’s a great place with great people.  I’ve gotten more actually done in the last week than I did in three weeks at my last job.  And it doesn’t feel like work.  I actually look FORWARD to going to work.  OK, so it’s only been a week, but I’ve had enough jobs to know what feels good and what just feels like “a job”.  I’ve been really busy all week, and have had NO time to ride.  So — two weeks with no riding.  But, good things are happening!

Yesterday was the Cowbell Challenge 12-hour race at the aforementioned USNWC (my work).  It was held on the trails that have been there since the 90s, built by the Tarheel Trailblazers.  They are my favorite trails in Charlotte, and it was nice to finally get out there and ride them.  I’ll do a full race report later.  I’m still sore.