We barely made it to One Mile Lake in Pemberton in time for Lumpy's Epic. Dre drove at top speed and the words flew out of his mouth as we careened along the highway. Dre ruminated on his XC racing Career: "An XC race for me begins with a number of variables, starting with over extending at the beginning, or if I'm lucky, getting that huge effort close to correct. Once the elbows have been essentially put away and you are settled down with a group, then it's about managing the razors edge, and mentally assessing what's in the legs for that day. That is always relevant to how the year is going and then pushing yourself like a dog, digging deep and sitting in the pain cave for as long as you can. We all have slightly different strengths: Flats, steeps, descending, technical, altitude; the list goes on. So playing to you own strength, knowing the personalities around you and their abilities is important. It's quite mental in the finesse and chess required, not as calculating as road racing, but it's there. What I like about the longer stage races is the increase in mental gymnastics, as they say the strongest doesn't always win. When everything comes together and your year is supporting already good legs, then you can smash on your legs as hard as you want and feel nothing, it becomes all about the pain cave. That is such a rewarding feeling to know that all the work you have done in the rain, snow, gym and the sacrifices given up will let your legs fly and give you wings. Those golden days are few and far between but like a gift you wait patiently for. Another issue is what level you are racing at, whether it's Provincial, National, North American or World Cup, the pacing changes and it takes a long time to figure out your body and how to maximize it. Racing a BC Cup or Test of Metal, I knew I'd be running at the front, at the National level top 5 and World Cup I'd have to battle my way through the season to get positioning in the top 30-50. To have a crack at a top World Cup result, that takes years to position for and achieve, so patience is essential. I always felt like I was like going into battle, a Spartan Warrior from 300, and I would spin each weekends race into an epic saga and regale my friends at home with how each chapter or lap unfolded, right down to the exciting climactic sprint at the end. XC Racing for me is absolutely an experience, a process, there may be a reward or a podium at the end, but that isn't the essential goal."