« Packed House for Adventure Racing Talk | Main | BAOC: The Presidio in San Francisco »
September 24, 2006
Tam's Hill Climb, a climber's paradise!
[RACE REPORT] September 18, 2006.
This was my second year at a classic that's existed for more than 45 years--the Mt Tam Hill Climb! (I plan to hit this race as long as my climbing legs will churn.)
This year I was out to better last year's time of 52:28. A far thought was breaking 50 minutes. Lofty--but doable.
I started with the Cat 5 group from Stinson Beach and headed north on Route 1 for about 4 miles. Basically it was a pack ride. Everyone stuck together to efficiently get to the meat of the race--the climb! During this stretch, though, I thought the pack traveled relatively slowly. Looking back, I would've made the break with a few guys that broke from the pack early. But would that move have come back to hurt me later on? Who knows. I plan to give it a try next year, if it feels right.
We then get to Bolinas-Fairfax road and the pain--I mean climb--starts. That tight pack was now shattered by Madam Tam. It's at this point I put my head down and...HAMMER!!
My heartrate boils (my AVG HR for the race was 180)! Luckly the air temp was manageable, so I wasn't boiling. For the next 40 minutes I delicately managed my pain, HR, and the course itself.
Most of the climb was a steady--sometimes steep--climb, until you hit the ridge. Then it's rollers known as the Seven Sisters--some refer to them as the Seven Bitches. Either way, they will tease and hurt you like the best of 'em!
Finally I roll over the Sister #6 and hammer up Sister #7--a short climb to the finish.
I finish in 50:17--bettering last year's time by more than 2 minutes!!
Good times.
Madam Tam, see you next year!
Posted by Brian at September 24, 2006 11:22 PM
