To Dash for Cash or Not?

(See attached file: dash.jpg)
Not much racing lately but had to make a tough decision between the Dash for Cash and the Mohican 100. The Dash won for several reasons not necessarily in this order cost $30 to $150, drive time 20 minutes to 3-1/2 hours, wake up at home or in a tent, rush to pack and leave Friday night or not packing and sleep in on Saturday, give my hard earned cash to someone I really don't like or give it to a local fire hall, show up at a local race in hopes they have more or go to an over hyped 100 miler, hangout with some cool people drink a few beers and eat some good grub (this would be the case at either race). If I would have only wrote this down the decision would've been some much quicker and painless.
Anyhow about the race I was stoked about the a new record turnout of a 126 racers. I thought with the crappy weather the days before and the crappy projected forecast not many people would come out. Image that I was wrong good think that never happened before. They use a TT format for the start 2 racers at time at 30 second intervals. The reason is to prevent bottle necks but I'm not so sure it really works to avoid that but the TT format is always cool. Do to my lack of paying attention and not realizing how many racers there were I got started in the near the back of the pack, It didn't take long to realize it was going to be muddy also I got caught up in the allot of bottle necking that the TT was supposed to prevent. It was all good everyone was pretty cool about passing and stuff. The mud wasn't to bad in years past the mud used to get to me but riding in the mud is all about attitude. You need to embrace it and think realize everyone else is out there in it to so how bad can it be? Then I got to the first deep creek crossing and it was so freaking awesome they put ropes across it to hold onto so no one got swept away. (The one in the picture is the small crossing sorry that's all I could find) Along with everyone else I had some bike issues and finished second. Anyhow some awesome trails and great food afterwards what more could you ask for. So if you ever get the chance be sure to give the Dash for Cash a chance you won't be disappointed. Thanks to Jarvis Lindsay and family, all the volunteers and sponsors plus the Buffalo Riders. Next time the my decision will be allot easier.

See you next year
J