Cross Racing Wrap Up

Yeah, so I went to Kansas City and did this little race thing called Cyclocross Nationals. Good times that. I guess it warrants one last race report before closing the door on 2008.

Standing on the start line at nationals is actually pretty cool. All year I've been at start lines and it's a pretty casual deal. I don't really get overly stressed given that I've been at this for awhile and in the local elite women's races it's pretty clear the general finish order.

I wasn't exactly nervous on the start line but it does have a special feeling and every time I stand there I really do wish that I had the fitness to be in contention. The first year I went I was just starting to get sick, same thing the second year. Last year I was just getting over a horrible case of the flu. This year I just didn't ride my bike or train for cross. I always stand there wishing things were different as the officials line us up, the announcer is getting everyone pumped and the music is going. It makes you want to be a contender for a podium spot even when you're hopelessly ill prepared.

I got a bad start and I feel bad for whoever was lined up behind me. Luckily Sydney Brown was right next to me so hopefully they all jumped on her wheel as I was at the back of the field immediately. It was obvious that I hadn't raced in a few weeks as I didn't have that burst you need to get off the line fast. That wasn't really the end of the world though. That came when I got over to get out of the way for the 45-49 year olds who started 30 seconds behind us and integrated our field in probably within the first 2 minutes of our race. I got over just as I was making a tight turn and I knew that line was dangerous as it was rutted. However, I wanted to get out of the way of the podium contenders and in the process I snagged a stake with my handlebars and went down. By the time I extricated my bike and was back up and going not only had all the 40-44 year olds passed me but also the entire 45-49 year old field. I also had to do the whole race with my brake/shift lever all askew (luckily it still worked but it was awkward). Not really the way I had hoped things would go. After getting up and going again I focused on a woman I know from MN and started chasing her. I knew if I caught her I wouldn't be last as I knew she was in my age group (and racing to not be last is what I know best).

To make a long story short I did pass some gals and two of them were in my age group so I made my goal of not being last. I raced in very muddy and slippery conditions which is usually good for me. Unfortunately the vast majority of the race course was a very long, very muddy uphill that required a lot of power which I'm lacking this year due to too much skiing and running. However, I would say that I was really strong at the off bike running sections and could really make time there. Too bad for me it was a bike race not a running with your bike race. I even had random people in the crowd comment on my awesome running.

It was a good race though as there were a ton of people cheering for me and it was hard to tell I was at the back of the field as there were about 70 women on course at the same time as we had the 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-65 and 65+ women all out there. That was super cool!

Will I go to Nationals next year? I had been saying that I was done after this year . . . . but it was fun and it was so awesome cheering on all the Wisconsinites and we had lots of them. Including podium finishes from tons of people including Diane Ostenso, Sarah Huang, Anna Young, Kaitie Antonneau, Kristin Wentworth, Ashley James, Sarah Lucas, Sam Schneider, Emma Swartz, Jordan Cullen, James LaLonde, and, of course, Jonathan Page. Plus just hanging out with all the other Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois riders. Everywhere you turned there was someone you knew.

I'm including a couple photos of me running as I might as well show off the parts where I was doing well. The photos of me riding are not nearly as impressive.

Photos by (appropriately enough) Lanterne Rouge