Nationals in Bend

I got my wish, no ice and lots of mud, my favorite. It warmed up today and created some good mud, not too deep but really messy and greasy. My start was at 3:30 and the sun goes down around 4 so ice can start to rear its ugly head later in the race, not today. Wet messy mud for 45 minutes of pain. I got my best start of the year and nailed it, came into the first turn in 3rd and off we went. I stayed with the leaders for a while but fell back. Halfway through the race I pinched my front tubular in a hidden rock and had to ride it flat for half a lap to the pits. I figured I was out of the top ten but went as hard as I could from there on. I had a he/she 20 feet behind me that I was not going to let pass me. I finished an astonishing 5th to take the last place on the podium. Without the flat, maybe top 3..but that is racing. Next year

Elites tomorrow which should be interesting..I'm 60 guys back. Then its white line fever back to the SLC. I miss my little ones