Event: Blue Marsh

Name: Romolo Forcino

City: Exton

State/Province: PA

Country: USA

Age: 30

Place: 2nd

Category: Expert

CLASS +/or Age group: Senior 2

Team: Shirk's

XC Race Bike: Cannondale

Tires: Specialized

Conditions: Very muddy

Email: rforcino@hotmail.com

How was your fitness level going into this race?

My fitness level seems real good, but I do not seem to have the speed that I need.

Were you happy with your position going into the singletrack?

I was about 6th when we entered the single track. I had immediate chain skip and was unable to keep up.

Were you strong from start to finish?

I felt even paced the whole race except for the first climb which was an all out sprint.

When did you put the hammer down?

I tried to stay steady, but the second half of the race seemed to be my stronger half.

Did you have any unusual problems?

I tried to lift my bike onto my back going up the muddy hill and I could not lift it at all.

Were you happy with the way the race was run?

The race was excellent; especially considering the conditions.

Did you have any interesting experiences during your race (exchanges with competitors/spectators)?

I saw Mike Yozell come out of the lake like the "Swamp Thing" at the beginning of my second lap. I had never seen a mountain bike racer appear from a lake before.

Anything you would like to add?

I would like to say thanks to my teammates, Shirk's and Endurox for support. A special thanks to my teammate Derrik who handed me supplies.