The first of 2 days riding on the Sunshine Coast. The Sunshine Coast can only be reached by ferry necessitating a 4:30 am start, 2 bus transfers and 2 ferries. I had been sleeping poorly since Day 1, especially Day 2 when a very strong ocean breeze collapsed our tent, so another night of 4-5 hours was par for the course.
There were lots of powerline climbs and logging roads in this course, and no single track sections really stand out. I think my road miles were paying dividens and the climbs were steep enough that Scott wasn't spun out. We were actually having a great day but I was enjoying the climbing a little too much. Scott's pace down a gravel road was beyond my comfort level, but we both stayed up right. He says it was out of his comfort zone too, but I had passed too many fast descenders on the climb and he wanted to avoid being that dolt who can't hang on the downhills. I have a lot to learn about racing! We rolled into the second aid station in 7th place, compliments on our climbing, and a flat tire. :( We took the time to eat and for me to fix the flat (no CO2 by my insistence) which cost us 3 places, but not smiles.
Day 5 - Sechelt to Landsdale, 60 kms?
The day we had been looking forward to!!! We know most of this route and most especially the last 12kms. The trails in the southern part of the Sunshine Coast are worth a trip to BC alone. They are more accessible to a wider range of riders, unlike the North Shore, but still technically interesting. Any mountain biker on these trails should be a happy mountain biker.
Again, we were having a good day, metally thrilled to be over half way done and knowing the trails that awaited the next 3 days. The course was shortened and avoided a boring 15-20 kms section of logging road which brought us to the first aid station within 15kms of starting. We pushed hard today so we could get a good postion for enjoying the sweet sweet decent. Scott took an endo right before the first aid station. When I came across him, he was laying off the trail checking his helmet for cracks (see his good race ettiqute? he cleared the trail of himself and bike). We spent the extra 15 mins to get him checked out by the medic at the aid station. We hit the trail hot again and it paid off. We had an uninterrupted 45 min downhill flow to the finish line. We finished 8th today.
Day 6 - Squamish, 55 kms??
What I learned about Scott this week. He doesn't complain, he knows how to suffer, he's got a turbo button when there's single track, and he gets stronger as the race goes on. Honestly? Who finds their legs 6 days into a 7 day race??? We know today's course and another singlespeed friendly start put Scott WAY up front. I don't have his race experience and am very scared of blowing. I fell behind early and it took a lot to get caught up. First up was the couple from Day 1 who does not like to ceede the trail. Got in front of them only to be slowed by the other co-ed team that had been nicknamed 'Push-Pull'. We were on a double track power line climb and she was struggling. There was probablt 8 or 10 of us stacked up behind her. She said one word (in French?) and he hopped off his bike, ran up and started pushing her up the hill at the same time as his bike!!! Fortunately, I did manage to get in front of them at the crest of the climb where Scott was waiting. And we were off. We bascially has a GREAT ride and easily rode into 6th position. The trails in Squamish are amazing. We rode some well established trails and a new one that was steep and long and yuumy good! Just writing about it makes me want to go back right now.
As if the single track wasn't reward enough.
Day 7 - Whistler, 29 kms
Day 7 smiles are as good as Day 1 smiles.
Short and hard starting with a nasty 300 m climb. It was just hard and fast today. Scott was in front and still strong. Again, who finds their legs on day 7? He worked me all day. After the first climb, called See Colors and Puke, I think, is a buffed, 15 km swithcback descent. The rest of the stage is hazy as Scott has me close to the redline. The final climb is a road climb culminating in a short staircase and then singletrack to the finish line. We hit the road climb just in front of another couple that we had been yo-yoing with all week. Scott saw them sit up on the road so we just kept spinning. On about the 3rd switchback, Scott looked back and saw that he was pushing her and the gap was shrinking. My ego took the hit as my singlespeeing husband, came along my left side and proceeded to push me up the hill! On day 7 and my geared ass is getting pushed up the last hill by my ss man! We kept the gap open and threw ourselves down the last singletrack to the finish line. The end.
No more of these for a while! 
After a few days of this race you end up knowing the folks you are riding around. I am very chatty when riding, probably obnoxiously so, and very much enamored with Scott. Since we don't see each other very often we were very affectionate even on the trail. Around Day 4 or 5, as we came up on another rider he asked if that was honey-sweetie behind him. :) It was a great week and a very different experience compared to last year. Last year I wasn't sure that I would finish. This year it was actually racing at times. Having shorter courses helped, having another year of riding and training helped, having an actually cross country bike helped. I don't have the desire to do this again. I know that Scott will help me come up with the next challenge.... yay.
