Senior Games

I really did not know what to think as I signed up for four cycling races for the Idaho Senior Games. All I knew was that I would be doing a 40K road race, a 20K road race, a 10K time trial, and a 5K time trial over two days. The nice thing about it was that Steve would be doing three of those events with me. He didn't do the 40K road race since his road bike was in several pieces.

Representing PBR and the
University of Idaho at the
Idaho Senior Games

The 40K road race was an interesting start to the weekend. They combined five age groups for this race and there were three people racing in my age group. I started out in the lead group and took many turns on the front of the pace line. Once we got close to the second lap I started to feel like I was ready to be done. We had a pretty hefty climb to make to get to the start/finish line and once we got there I lost contact with the lead group. I ended up riding alone the next lap and I came in second but got a gold medal for being the first finisher for the state. The winner of the my 50-54 age category was from Wyoming and he ended up getting first in all of the events.

The 5K time trial was the next event for the day and it featured five riders in the 50-54 age category. It was an out and back route with the out being down hill and a nice little climb back up to the finish. Steve was in this race and he ended up getting a silver while I got a bronze. The turn around was interesting since the road had been chip sealed a while before the race.

The 20K road race was a little more animated at the start with about eight or nine of us getting out pretty quick after the first turn. I was pulling along when a freight train of seven cyclists went by me. I tried to catch a wheel as they went but I was unable to. I ended up riding alone for a little bit before another rider came up and we started working together to see if we could catch the break. We got close but the other group bolted again leaving a lone rider for us to catch. We did a three person pace line until we got about 3 miles from the finish where the lone rider decided to save himself for the time trial that afternoon by slowing down. I ended up getting a silver in this race. One of the racers was still out on the course after everyone had crossed the line so a couple of us decided to go out and ride back in with him. He really appreciated having someone to ride with to the finish.

The 10K time trial had a course change since the original course had a lot more rock on it from the chip sealing that happened the week before. We ended up going on a course that used part of the 5K course for the finish. I ended the day getting the gold which totally surprised me since I thought Steve gained on me and the guy in front of me got farther away from me.

I had a great time at the games and I look forward to doing them again next year. I think I might even do the ones that are held in Lewiston.

The MS Ride is coming up in a month and I am really getting excited about riding my bike in support of raising money for finding a cure for MS. You can donate money on my MS Society page to help me reach my goal.