A week prior to my heading down to Chicago to race in their Seasons Beating race I found out that a charity race was happening in town the following week and decided that I would be better off skipping Chicago and doing this race instead. Getting to
The race format was based off of the Cranksgiving format in that there were 2 divisions, A and B, the A being a longer race. You had to go to a set number of locations and purchase gifts for children that met a minimum price requirement. The toys were then to be donated to the Toy's For Tots charity. I showed up at the meeting spot for the start of the race, the large and ugly orange sculpture that was moved to line up with the Calatrava wing of the Art Museum after its completion, thus blocking what would be a great view of a cool building by useless crap industrial art. I figured that some people would already be there by the time I arrived at quarter to 4 as the race was supposed to start at 4. As time crept by and I was still the only person there I began to fear the races ultimate demise and my miss on the chance to finally race in
After a while of wondering if we would be harassed by a police officer who parked in front of the sculpture and started doing foot patrols in the area the people responsible showed up and gave us the run down on the race and the promise of more people showing up. By quarter to 5 the race was about to begin with no one else unfortunately showing up. We lined up and they stuffed our manifests in our bags and counted down to a Lemon’s start to our bikes. They shouted go and everyone took off running, except for me. I casually walked to my bike, pulling the manifest out of the bag and quickly examining it. There were 5 stops, after they had elected to take a 6th stop off of the A manifest. By the time I got to my bike I had a rough route mapped out, I pocketed the list and hopped on my bike, the first one to leave the start as everyone else was busy pouring over their manifests at their bikes. I rolled by the organizers and waved to them on my way down the sidewalk.
I pulled down the sidewalk, heading west on
A few blocks later I glanced back quickly and didn't spot anyone behind me, figuring I had lost them at National as they didn't make it through before the red and the traffic. Enjoying the lead I pushed harder and pulled onto
I quickly walked into the store and started to head back to the toy section, located in the opposite end of the store when I realized that inexpensive toys were usually kept at the cash registers as well in the impulse buy areas. I started scanning the check out lines and finally settled on a small doll/girl action figure and got in line. There was a woman ahead of me and the cashier was patient and slow. I remained calm and welcomed the wait if for nothing more than an opportunity to warm up more. I kept an eye out for other racers and didn't see anyone until I was almost done checking out when I spotted Dan. I mentally told the man to hurry up as I said that I didn't need a bag for the third time, accepted the toy, placed it in my bag and locked that all into place as I waited for my receipt and change. I put the receipt in the right pocket and the change in the left, wished the man a good night and rushed out, feeling the pressure with Dan close to checking out. I quickly unlocked my bike and headed off to the next stop, Toys R Us on
I pounded up and out of Targets parking lot and continued south on Chase, heading to
The parking lot was a mess, cars and people were everywhere and I had to dodge two inattentive pedestrians and a car to get to the bike rack. I quickly hoped off, fearing Dan was closing in and headed into the nightmare that is Toys R Us right before Christmas. The place was packed with people and I soon began to scan the nearby tables and end caps for inexpensive toys. As I passed by once Armahn showed up and we began to both search. We updated each other on our progress and he told me this was his first stop and I gave him general directions to the Chase stop. After deciding against the vast assortment of trading card booster packs I grabbed a relatively inexpensive Pokemon action figure and hopped in line behind Armahn. Shortly after that I noticed that the counter next to us was almost dead and bypassed him and quickly checked out. Armahn noticed too and followed suit behind me. I went through the same routine I did at target; pulled out my money beforehand, handed the toy to the cashier, swung the bag and opened it while waiting for change, told the woman I didn't need a bag, stuffed the toy in the bag, locked it back into place while waiting for change, put receipt in right pocket, change in left and wished her a good night. I headed out and got caught momentarily behind a slow poke couple and their young son. Once outside I dashed to my bike, double checked the next stop, unlocked it and headed to 27th.
I pulled out right ahead of 2 cars and quickly pounded the extremely short distance to the left turn lane. I pulled into the intersection right as I got the yellow turn arrow and was free of 27th and pounding west once again down Howard heading for 43r. The going slowed a little as the west wind was picking up a bit and most of the way was on an incline of varying degree. At 43rd I turned north and hit even more wind resistance. I tucked in and pushed forward, not as fast as I wanted too but still relenting. My legs were starting to get sore from the trek so far but I was warm enough from the exertion. It was almost too warm at some points. As I fought the wind I went over my route once I hit
I almost dumped my bike as I pulled onto the last section of curvy sidewalk when the poorly shoveled ramp from the street forced me to the right side, at which point a groove in the ice grabbed my rear tire and forced me dangerously close to the lip of the sidewalk. Heart pounding from the near crash I pushed forward, fearing I might have torn my sidewall.
The next driveway I pulled off into the parking lot of a townhouse subdivision and continued to head north. I pulled out of the division and back on another sidewalk, the next block I pulled around and pointed myself down the street and waited for cross traffic to clear. Once it had I waved on a van facing me that wanted to turn east and when it had gone I took off again, climbing a small incline then down again to Mitchell, once I knew the coast was clear I pulled into the sprawling parking complex that contained Target. As I wove my way through the parking lot I once again ran into slow and in attentive pedestrian impediment, not wanting to waste time I squeezed through two parked cars and pulled to the front of the store. The closest pole I could lock to had a large cement casing that went up to 4 feet so I picked up my bike and hung it to the normal pole portion by the lock and headed inside as I thought about the Hipster High Lock epidemic BikeSnobNYC talks about and grinned.
The same people who impeded me in the parking lot again slowed my progress getting into the store as they ambled slowly through the entrance. I cut around them once I was able and headed off to the check out lines, scanning for a good toy. After spotting one similar to what I got at the first Target I found another toy and hopped in the next closest line which was almost ready to take me. As to woman in front of me wrapped up someone pulled in line behind me and the cashier told them the lane was closed and grabbed my purchase. As I went through the efficiency steps again I apologized for hoping in line after she closed it. She said not to worry about it and I told her I didn't need a bag.
I wrapped everything up quickly and was out to unlock my bike in the quickest time so far. I hoped on and headed north to
I skirted through the rest of the parking lot to end up on
I pulled onto 13th on a red light and right ahead of a car trying to cross. Enjoying the carless lead I pounded harder north into the wind and only had to pause for a second at the street just south of
I rolled down the sidewalk to 12th and as I arrived I got the green light and safely crossed
As I neared the intersection with 6th I pulled to the north side of the street and was forced onto the sidewalk to head north at the last minute by a 80's Caprice making a fast and tight turn west on Walnut. I rode the sidewalk for a block and crossed over to the proper side of the street the next opportunity I could. I pulled down the side street and made my way for 3rd, hoping to avoid the incline between Walnut and North on 3rd as much as possible. as I pulled onto 3rd I noticed I didn't bypass it by much and humped it up the rise a few block before turning east again on my way to Holton. I decided to cope with the slight incline on Holton after North and would stick to a straight route now as opposed to zig zaging through side streets.
On my way to Holton down the unknown street I was surprised as I hit a large speed hump unsuspectingly and was thankful I didn't get complacent with the smooth pavement and go no-handed. The next speed hump was less of a shock and the next block found me on Holton. I pushed forward and up the small incline and was once again headed into what seemed like an even stronger headwind. As I crossed
I pulled into the parking lot of Wal-Mart off of Holton and quickly locked up at the front door. I noticed a guy duck into the cart entrance but I elected to use the actual door. I headed inside and began to scan the check out isles for a toy. I found one right away and started to scan for an empty check out. A worker pointed and I thought she meant to direct me; she was actually messing with a coworker and told me she was at a different register, I followed her to it and we both seemed to be in jovial spirits. I quickly checked out, wished her a great night and headed out, this time ducking through the cart door to get to my bike. As I unlocked it I spotted another racer and we both smiled knowingly. He headed in and I took off to the last stop confident in my lead. I pulled back onto Holton and headed to Capitol where I ran into a red light. Surprisingly cross traffic was non-existent and I was able to pull ahead of everyone and head west.
Thanks to looking at the route I did during Cranksgiving I knew a way now to get from Capitol to
Then the idea of
I pulled into the parking lot of CVS a block later and leaned my back against the wall at the entrance and headed inside. I made eye contact with a cashier and just as I was about to verify the address with him he told me to head down a specific isle for the toys. He said I was the fifth racer he had seen, which didn't concern me as most if not all of the riders were probably from B division. I scanned the shelves and after a bit of debating I choose a bag of army men, as all kids need army men and headed for the check out and the longest wait of the race.
Soon enough I was out of the store and on my way back to Riverwest and end of the race. I had the wind to my back and pulled into the desolate and poorly lit parkway, hoping I wouldn't flat in an unseen crack in the road. Halfway through the park I hit the freshly paved section and knew I had no more to fear. I pulled onto Capitol and the next intersection was Humboldt and I was into Riverwest with less than 5 minutes left to travel. I pressed forward, remembered the last time I had really ben down this stretch of road was the Riverwest 24 race. As I crossed in front of Alterra I feared the rough patch of road I hit would cause a flat but made it through safely and two blocks later pulled west onto Center. I should have sprinted to the finish, but was exhausted, heading into the wind and confident in my position. The last obstacle, actually getting into the space, cleared up as I hit Holton and one of the race planners greeted me at the corner and walked me into the building.
Everyone congratulated me and a few racers from B were already done, including Dan who had taken first. As I unpacked my toys and handed in my receipts I was told I was the winner of A division. I stripped down to my jersey and grabbed a water and bag of energy gels, happy to be done, happy to be flat free and happy to have won. After a bit I headed to Fuel to use the bathroom and get a Milky Way, I then headed back to the space and chatted with people while awaiting my prizes and wind down before the trek home. Next race...Stupor Bowl. I am still trying to pin down the exact weekend which it will take place. It's going to be a cold one...hope I can stay warm enough for that one.
No comments:
Post a Comment