May 23, 2004 - INTERVIEW
Name: Andrew McDermott
City: Newark
State/Province: DE
Country: USA
Age: 53
Place: 3rd
Category: Expert
Class or Age Group: Master
Team: Wooden Wheels
Race Bike: Santa Cruz Blur
Tires: IRC SeracXC
Conditions: Rocks and tacky trails
Email: fud@udel.edu
How was your fitness level going into this race?
After doing hill repeats at Fairhill on Thursday evening I concluded I
was as strong on the bike as I've ever been. Certainly my endurance is
at a peak as I've done a couple of long races and rides of up to six hours.
Were you happy with your position going into the singletrack?
No, I was at the back of the pack feeling like I was going to puke and
my legs were made of rubber.
Were you strong from start to finish?
Fortunately the old guys were only required to do two laps (though I was
lobbying at the start for four). With the heat and humidity two laps proved
sufficient to drain my tanks but I kept a reasonably steady pace throughout
the race.
When did you put the hammer down?
In about the middle of the first lap I caught the 4th place rider on a
climb. I went as hard as I could go and not blow up from there on.
Did you have any unusual problems?
The bike was great and I stayed hydrated; everything went according to
plan.
Were you happy with the way the race was run?
The simplest registration I've ever been through, an on time start, an
excellent race course and accurate results. It doesn't get much better
than that.
Did you have any interesting experiences during your race (exchanges
with competitors/spectators)?
I cleaned a bit of uphill technical stuff that a course marshall said everybody
else was walking. I was pleased and I think the course marshall was more
excited than myself as she cheered me on. Of course I paid dearly the next
ten minutes for pegging the heart rate on that maneuver!
Anything you would like to add?
I would like to thank Marc Vettori for his assistance in helping me to see
The Way to my first podium as an Expert. Thanks Marc!
Congratulations to Bill Gentile for coming back from a first lap crash (man,
he looked wadded up!) to win the class.
Grassroots racing is alive and well in the mid-Atlantic.............I love
it.