So...today was race #4 for me. Arrived and did a pre ride of the course. This was the most challenging of all four I have done. Long slow risers and many off camber 180 turns. Throw in some short steep rises in those off cambers and you have some fun brewing. Got staged 70th. Going down the main straight I see quite a few riders passing me. Must be in the wrong gear at the starts. Got to the first sweeping turn and a bottleneck developed. I swung wide and hammered for a short burst and passed 10-20 riders. That felt good. Group bottleneck again at the base of a climb due to a crash. Immediately I jump off the bike and ran. Gained on 3-5 more. Cool. Between there and the before the finish of the first lap, a few reeled me back in and I'm back 5-9 riders I passed earlier.

Then came the three off camber 180 steep sections. I took it too slow to begin with. I got through two and then seen a crash ahead of me. Again, I jumped off and ran. Gained 3-5 spots. I'm thinking "great, keep running". Problem was the section went downhill and I lost all rhythm and fell in to the course tape. No problem, it happens. Get up and start riding. Realize my chain is off the rings. Stop and put it back on. Took 30 seconds to do so. Unfortunately, 15-25 riders got by me at this time.

Now, I'm thinking I'm about in 90th position. Great. So I get on myself and take half a lap at pity speed. Got heckled "this is a race not group ride!". Got angry and chipped away. Did manage to run into the course tape one more time for good measure. This time the course stake got wedged between my crank arm and frame. Took another 20 seconds to get out. Not I'm feeling bummed. Rode the rest of the course and finally finished. Waited at the line to see how many riders cross after me. I counted 7. So I'm thinking high 80's or low 90's. Got home and checked the results. 67th. I was ecstatic. Funny thing is, I got 67th last week too. Moral of the story...Don't EVER give up, EVER. You never know what may happen.

I just love cross.




Thanks to Jeff Golden for the two bottom pics.

Here is a VERY nice video from the race I raced in Canby, OR a week ago...I am in the video about the one minute mark...


https://player.vimeo.com/video/51980891

As soon as I seen it was done by Burk Webb, I knew it was going to be good. He has a few of these out and they all rule!!

Found a rider video from that race. I am in the black & white kit in front of the camera for most of the lap.

http://youtu.be/SBdyBvUCfiQ

Race report. Pre rode the course and found the have five small climbs. YES! Since dropping my weight, I feel I climb faster and can definitely run faster than before. Was staged 68th of 89. Started ok. Got caught on the wrong side of a bottleneck and lots of riders went by me. Reminded myself, stay with it. Don't give up. Slowly started picking them off. Most of that came on the climbs and whenever running with the bike was needed. There was one hill that you had to right turn into it and dismount to clear a barrier and run / carry your bike up. I got a "nice job" comment from the hecklers for running past a rider who was ten feet ahead of me on the hill. Thought I would place 67th again for the third week in a row. Was stoked to learn I got 53 of 89. My stretch goal for this season was to crack 50 once. Getting closer. Moral of the story, don't EVER give up. You never know what may happen.

I LOVE this crazy sport.