Dirty (FOGGY) Dawgy

April Fool's Day saw the first ever Mountain Lake Resort 'Dirty Dawg' Mountain Bike Race. This was also my first event as a Race Director. My biggest worry as we first planned this event back in December was that we'd get snowed out. Fortunately the wx was in the 60's and though it was very foggy and wet, the course was in great shape.

92 folks showed up to race and from the comments I heard and emails I have received, it sounds like everything went well and people had fun. From a race director's standpoint I have to say my volunteers were the difference in the success of this event - my thanks goes to them.

I spent about five and a half hours Sunday night with my wife Ann (Registration & Finish Line Coordinator) writing down notes from our lessons learned. I look forward to implementing many of these things at our next race in October - 'Rowdy Dawg'.

Our goal at East Coasters with doing these races is not to put money in a bank account, but rather to nurture the sport of grass-roots mountain biking. This includes not only supporting the racing itself, but also the community of folks that make holding these races possible - including our HAM Radio support, SAR, and Mountain Lake's Wilderness Conservancy.

Next week I am looking fwd to riding sweep for the Dragon's Back XXC race that is part of the return of the Virginia Series. Maybe I'll get to race the Douthat XXC in May - we'll see. Trying to get in shape for the Shenandoah 100 - so I'll at least survive!
--dB