Coldspring by Michael Haney

Coldspring Road Race, May 5, 2012

John Bartle, Rick Hall, and I drove to Coldspring Friday afternoon, stayed in a very nice "Sunday house" about .5 miles from start, and showed up bright eyed and bushy tailed, which has not always been my experience going to Coldspring. Bartle continued demonstrating his good form, getting second in the 60+ race (and 7th on the 50+ 60+ race).

Last half of the last of 3 laps, I got into what seemed a promising 3 man break (I thought there was another 6 man group up the road). It turned out the earlier break had been reabsorbed, so we were brought back by the main field maybe 5 or 6 kilometers from the finish, as they were not going to let us stay away for the first three places. I tried to recover as well as I could; 500 meters from finish there was nearly a pile-up, field scattered across the road, and I started my finishing effort too soon, hitting the wall, pedaling squares, and being passed by half a dozen guys in the last 50 meters. I still think the break was worth a shot.

I had a little correspondence with Andy Hollinger about distance for 50+ RR championship at Ft Hood: tentatively, 2 laps, unless the temperature is over 92, in which case 1 lap.

Old Haney