As a part of a 4-woman relay team, Go Go Girlz, I raced my first lap, 12 very hilly miles in thick, sloppy mud in the late afternoon. My second and final lap of the race was at 1:30 a.m.

I generally pack too much, but since it rained nearly non-stop Friday through Sunday, I was happy to have lots of warm, dry clothes with me.

The rain stopped for a moment to let Henri, Kate and Jill show off their hula hoop skills.

Go Go Go Girls Team Founder made the race weekend a lot of fun by helping out constantly, despite her shoulder injury.

A long line of traffic slowly snaked in on Saturday morning before the noon race start. Those of us who were hardcore camped out the night before in the pouring rain!

A highlight of the weekend was a delicious dinner provided for us Friday night in the lovely Cool, California, home of our friends Renee and Kent.

Jen, Henri, Karen and Winona ready for the race.

Alex and Pat load up on calories at Friday night dinner in Cool.

Henri and Winona show off their G-Girl Bling.

Lovely Renee is a new mom to Kody and Kent is the proud papa.

Canine friend!

Go Go Go Girls past and present, plus solo superstar Melanie, gather Friday night.

Bike racing makes for good bonding: Winona and Alex.

Go, Henri!

Karen goes blonde - for a few hours, with a wig.

Hoop it up, Jill!

The race course is lovely, through woods and lush green fields.

18 of us packed into 2 tents during the rainy race weekend.

Tracy looks the part of the costumed Go Go Go Girl racer.

They are off! Race started at 12 noon Saturday. Ended at 10 a.m. Sunday. Called short due to terrible, rainy weather.

Dan, Erik and Pat helped a ton!

The mud made spectating very entertaining.

Alex looks clean in white shirt before his first lap.

Lindsey and Rita, Go Go Go Girlz, hang out in our tent.

Alex Anderson is mud-covered during his 8-hour solo race at Cool.

Miss Melanie D. made this race her comeback in the solo division.

Farewell, Pat. He headed back to Idaho after helping all the G Girls with race support.

The mud wont' come out of my clothes!

Hello, Hank! Post-race, I drove to Sacramento, Sunday, planning to return to Santa Cruz Monday. Hank was so generous that I recovered at his place til Tues. night. Thank goodness for dear friends!