Date: March 12, 2000
Event: Spring Series #1 AMBC/Gainesville, FL
Class: Master 50+
Category: Beginner
Length: 10 mi
Time: :56:37 / 10.6
Conditions: Sunny - 60 to 70 degrees
Bike: Klein - Mantra Comp
Tires: Front: Bontrager Revolt  Rear: Bontrager Revolt

Did you do anything special to prepare for this race?

No, I just love this course and it's very easy to race on for me.

In the last two months how many hours a week have you trained?

Cycling and everything else I do:
1 1/2 ride Mon thru Fri.
Race walk Tues. and Thurs. at the track.
On Sat. I do a 40 minute run with a friend.
Wed. morning run 30-40 minutes with a friend.
Sunday it's - whatever happens. I do something just about everyday and I do a lot of sit-ups, and crunches, push-ups and stretch. A lot of stretching.

Were you strong from start to finish?

Oh yeah. In fact I felt stronger the second lap even though I was a couple of seconds slower. I felt strong the whole race. Really, really good. Smart pace at the beginning.

When did you put the hammer down?

When I passed the first place guy about halfway through the first lap - we came out of the woods and his friend was saying something to him - and I said come on let's go and let's work together. He just said, "Bye". At that point I just went all out and left everybody behind.

Did you have any unusual problems with the race?

No, not one. It's a beautiful course.

How do you rate the course?

I think this is one of the best courses in Florida. It has wide open areas, it has singletrack, good downhill - it's got it all.

Yeah, I am. A great start area, a good finish area, they did a great job. Made a few changes from last year so that made it nice.

What was your prize for first place?

A nice little polo shirt, a bottle of champagne, and I don't know what University Bike Center has for us.

If you could do the race again, would you do anything differently?

No. I felt that I rode an excellent race. There was a couple of times on the second lap that I slowed down in a couple of areas that were a little tricky in the single track. I slowed down only because I knew I was ahead. If I pushed hard in those areas, I would have had negative splits. That's always cool to have negative splits. But didn't have to worry about that today.

Is there anything you would like to add?

It was great. Berger does a hard job and doesn't get as much appreciation as he should.