Park City, Utah XC

So the road to Park City marked the first or a multi-part tour in the "Super Van" aka "Lula" which was the name coined by my friend and fellow competitor Kim. The van is awesome. Ray and I had quite the comfortable ride from Cali to Utah in the giant captain chairs of which Lula has to offer. Ray also made a fantastic stewardess, fetching me sandwiches and other such goodies out of the refrigerator. Aside from watching thousands of dollars worth of bikes bounce precariously on the rack in back, the ride went without a hitch.

My pre-ride of the XC course was great and I felt on fire! Ready to kick some serious butty the next day...however the altitude had other plans for me. The next morning I woke up with a nice headache and some nausea. Neither of which could be attributed to either dehydration...I drank about 5 gallons of water the night before and I have not suffered from pre-race nausea in quite some time. This was then proceeded by some nice dry heaving about 15min before the start. I believe it would of really entailed projectile vomiting had I eaten the proper amount before the race...

So I lined up for the start regardless and figured maybe it would all fade away, YEAH right. I had a great start and was up with the top 15 up the brutal climb out of the start line, this was followed by a nice solid descent, followed by a horrendous climb at which time my body decided it was time to shut down. At this point I did nothing but slide backwards, girls passing me asking me if I was alright? I must of looked like I felt. I came through the feed zone to the beautiful face of Ray..."I don't think I can take much more of this", "Give me one more lap Emily, you can do it." And I thought maybe he's right, maybe I was just not quite warmed up enough on the first lap...Not so. Again up the first climb, still being passed constantly, on to the second climb where I proceeded to be unable to navigate the switchbacks that I so easily maneuvered through the multiple other times I had road those sections. I was becoming a danger to myself. My Texas friends Christina and Kim come by me on one of the switchbacks where I am standing next to my bike and trying to gain some bearings. Not a pretty picture. So I proceed to cautiously navigate myself back to the start finish, I do the cutt throat sign to Frosty (the man in charge) signifying my race it over, there was no way in hell I was going to get through the third lap. He even helps usher me over to the water hander outer people, noticing that I am not in good shape. I find a spot in the shade, put my head in my hands and have quite moment...the first time I have ever DNF'd with it not being mechanical.

Although it was a very bad day race wise...One thing I learned is that I have the most amazing support group anyone could ask for! Thanks to all of you for you genuine concern, sympathy and just overall support. You know who you are!