My family decided to hit the Thomson Day Festival this year, since they have been so incredibly supportive of our cycling community for so many years. Saturday was pretty cold and we knew it would rain, so we slept in a little later...love staying in my warm spot!
We got to the festival at about 10:30 and the 420 race started at 11:00am. So, we registered for the festival, race and renewed our subscription to Dirt Rag magazine. This left us with 10 minutes to change. Well, we weren't in the Hippie Van, and it took way more than 10 minutes for the four of us to knock elbows and finally get on all the layers of clothing that we needed to stay half-way warm.
All four of us missed the start of the race, but it was for 4 hours and 20 minutes, so we figured we could make up some time. Shey started first, then J and E about 10 minutes after him, then I was about 5 or 10 minutes after that.
It was pouring rain and very, very cold. The trail was SUPER cool. Very flat, but with lots of fun turns and twists, so sliding through those in the mud was very exciting. Of course my brakes started to become weak about half-way through the first lap and there were enough rutted and muddy downhills to make that a bit scary. I adjusted the brakes, but still they were not working so well. I completely expected this as I've raced so many muddy races, where you end up with your feet as your brakes. Well, I finally realized I had had a total BRAIN FART and was adjusting them the wrong way, so mid-way into my second lap I corrected them and wahlah....my brakes are back!! (this was after I slid a good ways through the forest after blowing the turn and finally bailed off the side of the bike to stop. Of course, this was VERY entertaining to the guy behind me!)
The feeling in my feet would come and go. They would go numb after the creek crossing, then would come back a bit on the climbs. As long as I kept moving, I was fine. It was funny to listen to the grown men grumble about the trail, their brakes, the rain......man, we are outside!! What could be better! I would take that over fluorescent lights in an office ANY DAY!!!!!
Shey lapped me twice and laughed at me the second time, because he couldn't believe I was still out there. Jansen also lapped me once and he was having a great time and was in a very good mood. Everett was waiting for me after the first lap, with a "you've got to be crazy to think this is fun" look on his face and he headed to the car to warm up.
The bridge washed away by the fourth lap and was laying sideways further down the creek. I put my bike on my shoulder and jumped onto it, then to some wood that was only a couple inches under the water, then on to the shore. Numb feet for 15 minutes after that little ballet number, each time!!! 
The voluteers RAWKED and screamed every time we came through. All the ladies out there did a great job of playing in the mud and riding their best. I was very impressed with them all!
So, for our family entry fee we got: four Thomson certificates, key chains, Firehouse sub sandwich packs for lunch, yummy spaghetti, salad, garlic bread and cheesecake for dinner, and sweetwater and Nike shirts. When we subscribed to Dirt Rag we got brake cables, too. 
Pretty good swag! Now, hopefully that will all cover new brake pads we have to buy....I'm off to wash the mud out of our spandex......
Kari L.
