PACIFIC

No other word in the English language holds greater meaning for me. I was born and raised and lived the first 33 years of my life in Southern California, not far from the Pacific Ocean. I spent a lot of my time at the beach and in the water. I have lived in the Seattle area for the last 8 years now, again not far from the Pacific Ocean. I lived in Virginia for 7 years, and been to South Carolina and Florida, and often visited the Atlantic, but that did not have the same feeling for me. I consider the Pacific as "my ocean." I feel like I have come home every time I step into that body of water.

Same goes for Pacific Raceways in Kent, Washington. Every time I line up and click in with my fellow racers for the weekly Tuesday night series I feel as if I have come home. I know every turn, bump, rut, pothole, curve and climb on the course. I have been racing it since 2004, and every time is new experience. Yet at the same time an old and comfortable one.

The sponsors, Rory and Deanna Mueller, do an excellent job. The series has a very low key but professional feel. No USCF license required. All 5 courses are rider friendly, and it is an excellent place for riders to be introduced to racing, and for experienced riders to practice. Families often come out to watch, and the young ones ride on the sidelines on their lil bikes and trikes. I take great pride in being the sole rep for 53x11 Coffee. I know my alter ego kit is well known in the peloton. I am the sole alter ego kit in a field of Starbucks, First Ascent, Cycle U, 4 Corners, Wines of Washington, Garage, Cucina Fresca and other teams.

I had been waiting for last night since the 2010 series ended in August. The weather cooperated and I was so excited signing in. I was early enough to get a low number for the year (#10). I got ready and reconnected with some buddies who parked next to me. I then did some easy warm up laps, checking the 2 mile flat course out for any new "surprises" (ie cracks and potholes). Fortunately the surface was the same as last year, though the drag strip section on the back stretch did have some dirt along the wall.

The 4/5s raced for 30 mins and I started at the back as usual, chatting with another buddy. I played around in the pack, getting used to the feeling of riding in a tight bunch at speed. There were a couple of obvious "new racers," but they did great-no squirlly riding and no crashes.

I almost attacked halfway through but I got pinched off as I was riding along the wall on the home stretch. I ended up in 4th place for the lap and held it for another lap. I then somehow got dropped (no real racing legs yet) but worked my way back (thanks in part to the pack easing up). I then recovered and played around in the middle of the group, again catching up with a friend I had not seen since 2009. I had fun in the final sprint, finishing around 15th.

It felt so good to be back racing at Pacific-good friends-safe course and fun competition-real "soul food."

Ty