Half an hour and several bucketts of flem later and the officials began to move the goal posts, well the track tape at least, it also became apparent that a big chunk of the top and bottom section of the track was not going to be in the race. Instead of the two bus stop type pedally bits at the bottom, the course now turned hard right onto the fire road where it ended. This gave three options of line choice, the tight inside line littered with off cambre roots that would claim riders all day in practice, the middle line over a deadly hump that sent you airbourne to flat in an unpredictable manner or the slow wide line with a wet flat turn to the last straight.
Jen opted for the middle line, and as the trees made it get dark very early on the technical section of the track we decided to head back to the van and get fed and rested for the following day's racing.
The following morning after a freezing cold night and a hard frost we headed off to get a couple of last minute practice runs in and to find out if the track had been changed anymore. Luckily it hadn't and there was already a lot of riders on course practicing and lining the steepest section, it was clear that this race was going to be won and lost on the tecnical section. After a couple of practice runs we could see Jen was holding back and slowing down too much for the dodgy mound at the bottom of the track, so I told her to go again but this time brake less, as we stood and watched her final practice run she was deffinately carrying more speed into the last turn, but as she hit the mound the bike tipped forward too much and Jen nose dived badly which bounced her off the back off the bike and spun the bike round 180 degrees, somehow she managed to stay holding onto the bike straddled over the back wheel in spectacular style.
So no harm done then I thought, unfortunately I was wrong Jen had bruised her leg and twisted her ankle and when her run was up, which was first again it showed, and she looked slower than in practice, after the first run Jen was in last position and truly gutted about it, I could tell by the way I was being carefully avoided. To make things worse this time round there was some really stiff competion, Jess Stone 2010 english national champ, and Katy Curd 2011 4x national champ, not to mention the last round's winner elite Liane Bartleman. The times these girls put in was unbelievable beating many of the lads, and despite knocking two seconds off her first run time, it just wasn't to be for our girl this time, still Jen got some good advice from the pro's at the finish line that will certainly inspire her to push harder ready for next time, and that is the thing about Jen whilst I know that under performing this time has really upset her it will drive her to do better next time.
It was good to set off this time in the daylight, although all I could think on the way home was "damn we have to move house tomorrow!"
