Breck Epic 2015 - Breckenridge, CO 9600 ft. in elevation

Breck Epic 2015 - Breckenridge, CO 9600 ft. in elevation

Stage 2: The ColorRADo Trail [Insert Fanfare Here]: 36.4 miles and 5,012 ft of elevation. 

Second stage of Breck Epic 2015 is one for the history books - it's over. And it was pretty epic. 

Loving the pull you have when you wear a Tarheel blue leaders jersey…no guilt backing in to the front  of the start line with those on.  

The primo posse here, love lining up with all these boys.  

 Stage 2 was more epic than stage 1 in my opinion.  The Colorado Trail downhill was flowy, fast, fun and just plain A-mazing.  The uphill section was a good test on the lungs followed by a punch in the gut, never ending, road climb for the last 5/6 miles.  This is where I thought I might lose it.  And then Dax asked me how I was doing…I paused…and he replied for me, "like a million bucks, remember, that's what you answer no matter how you feel".  This was Dax and Nate Bird's strategy in Canada during the Transrockies race and I had told him I loved it - well used today.  So I just told myself "I feel like a million bucks" and the effect is similar to my "rule of pretend" in the classroom;  if you don't want to do or don't like what we are doing, just pretend like you do and eventually you will!

Some sweet "in action" riding shots captured by our welcoming host, Ffej Knar (Jeff Rank) of Breckenridge.  Pictured above (these photos go in order of who came rolling by first, left to right/top to bottom).  Our fastest contender (of our crew) Coach Miller upper left came in 7th again today - quality consistency against ridiculously fast people.  Ezekiel Hersh taking it up a notch and finishing 9th today - nice work moving up in the rankings against these stupid fast 3 day competitors.  

And below our smokin' fast ladies.  Marley Dixon on the left, a well known local, stepped it up a few notches from yesterday's 4th place finish to 1st place in todays stage! She rocks.  Dax and I actually rode parts of yesterday's stage with her and she is an incredibly humble and sweet ripper.  And our Steamboat Springs hometown rep in the open field Kelly Boniface keeping it consistent in 3rd place again today…she is a smart, experienced, and fast rider…oh and she has two incredible daughters. 

And how can I leave this sweet shot out - Ffej scored on this timing - who has the energy to pull off a wheelie mid-stage? This guy.  

And last, but not least, Dax and I.  I love riding with this guy.  He encourages me not too little, not too much, but just right.  I feel like Goldilocks who nailed all the "just rights" in finding a partner.  

You want the good news, better news, or bad news first? Ok, always start with the worst - it was raining after the race today so our fun river fiesta was a flop, no funny face shots of Kelly or topless white t-shirt shots of Coach Miller. Dax and I made it to the river for a necessary recovery soak but it was just us and it was brief as the grey clouds were looming and threatening and maybe it was raining a little bit.  The good news - we won again today.  The better news - we widened our leading gap by a bit more than yesterday…for the GC we now stand 9ish minutes ahead of the 2nd place team and 12ish ahead of the 3rd place team.  Send us good "no mechanical" energy please!

And the mandatory podium shots: Kelly in 3rd for the day and 3rd in GC - general classification for the 2 days combined.  

I know, it's so cheesy, but I love the way Dax is looking at me and how excited I am!

We get to keep the leaders jersey.  

Ok, no cannonballs at the trailer park, but here is what post recovery at Ffej's looks like! Whether bike racing or playing table hockey, the intensity is still there. 

And my personal favorite of Ffej's game collection - the hoops "hotshot" game.  Good times on the bike and at home.  Looking forward to another epic stage tomorrow.