We weren't technically supposed to race this weekend. But our camping/climbing partners canceled, I had a baby shower to attend and, oh yeah, it POURED. Therefore, climbing probably wasn't too possible anyway.
So go to the races we did. And it was good. The sun even shone upon us. I mean, really, what more is there to want?
The report is this: Barkernews started at the back due to an unlucky number. Cross racing is very much about getting to the front as soon as humanly possible since there are so many bodies on the course at once (as in, 180-ish.) and you don't want to spend your whole race trying to get around people. Alas, he did just that and finished in the top 50%, so he passed a good many guys and had a great race on a very tough course.
I, on the other hand, had a call-up. Having never raced cyclocross before, this whole call-up thing is a little foreign to me. If you have ever placed in a series race in the top 20, you get a call-up. This means the announcer calls you up to start at the front. And if your spouse saying "good job" isn't a big enough self-esteem booster for you, then call-up will cause you to cancel your Prozac prescription. As someone who has been racing road bikes for 4 or so years and on a very very very good day, MAYBE places in the middle, hearing my name, albeit briefly, over the intercom is the justification for suffering in 30+ road races this year. I realize that road and cyclocross racing are not really related, but just let me have this one thing, okay?
I have a habit of shooting off the front as quickly as I can from the get-go and today was no exception. I just KNOW that 80 other women are on my tail and I have to work like hell to keep them away. Also, I am really not that fast. I just try to pass the slow women from other categories who started 1 minute before me and then let them slow down the women in my category behind me.
So there you have. That's my whole strategy. That, and ride really fast up hills. That strategy apparently works well too.
How do I know? I, um, placed 6th in a field of I don't know... many, many women (maybe 80?). This was after a Wednesday night race where I placed 3rd.
Things are not going according to plan.
This being my first season of cross, I expected it to go much like my road races do- SLOW. This was completely unexpected. After placing 15th in a field of 92 two weeks ago and 13th in a field of 62 last week, I'll admit that my goal was to place top 10 today. But deep down, I kind of doubted it could happen.
Crap, it did. On a very bumpy, very hilly course, I gave it everything I had and holy shit, did I have fun. The 6th place was kind of a bonus.
But, WOW, do I really want to place top 5 now. This stuff is addictive.
Barkernews shows his game face.
Getting out in front as soon as possible, as quickly as possible.
My "GRRRRRR" face or my "I'm in so much pain, I want to die" face. Take your pick.
