Last week was a quick 2 nighter to NYC for Executive project reviews. I didn't even get to go for a nice dinner in the village or to magnolias, cause the day I coulda, I felt like crap and slept from the time i left the office till 8, Had some soup and went back to sleep. I did watch how to train your dragon. Felt better on Thursday am, met with execs, headed to JFK and got to sit on a plane for 5 hours. Got home, not feeling great, decided to sleep in Friday, felt better.
this is getting familiar sounding.
Friday evening I headed to Wheeler Historic farm and helped the UTCX crew remove goatheads from large portions of the course. It was fun hanging out with Matt, Seth, Bryson and others. I then decided I should head down to Merkin Fark to support Josh and his fledgling CX series. I was coughing a bit, but not too bad and I figured a good hard effort would blow the lungs out for Saturdays UTCX race.
Well the turn out was a bit small, only 2 B racers so they combined with the A's and we had 12 at the start, which was 9:30 PM. I was riding my geared bike, which I had just set up as a 1x9. The course was short, @5 minute lap times. A set of 4 Barriers, A single barrier and a run up per lap. This was not a good thing for me in the long 'run'.
I got a mid pack start and just tried to keep it steady. The 4 pack barriers ate y lunch the whole time. The longer straight aways helped me keep my placing. Adam flatted, Rick Flatted and Mark faded. And the 3 or 4 ahead me, after @30 minutes never gapped me more or never came back, so I was mostly alone, 3 laps to go, Mark was on my wheel, so I musta faded a bit, so i punched it a bit and gapped him again. Not sure where I place, I think 5th, no matter, I blew my lungs out. Post race I finally met the Rabid clan, face to face, which is always fun/awkward, right :) I then went to the truck to change and had a painful coughing fit. Oh great......
Of note is the fact we did 11 laps, 3 dismounts per lap, ouch, my legs were fried.
Got home @11:45. showered, went to bed, up and at em early Saturday for a Cross out Cancer at Wheeler Farm.
This event is about more than Cyclocross, it raises money for Cancer research (It also raises money for Livestrong, but I have a serious problem with Livestrong, I know they do good, but I think they also confuse their For Profit arm with their non profit arm, on purpose) So The Huntsman Cancer Foundation is my go to charity.
Huge Turnout at Wheeler farm, I set up the Team tent and basecamp near the start finish. My legs were super sore form the 33 dismounts the night before, so I set up my trainer and get a good warm up in. I talk Steven into letting the Single Speed category start before the B's, since we usually pass all but the top 5 B's every race and there were 50+ of them and only 20 or so of us. I am 4th in the series so i get a good call up and a good start, running, um 4th. Jess comes around me and a nopther rider on lap one and we are 4-6. Jess gets a bit slower in the tech stuff, so other rider and I get around him quickly.
I love the wheeler course, fast, fun singletrack, a sand section, that some can't ride, this year there is a downed tree at the end of that section, mandatory dismount for most, and it hurt a lot.
We did only 4 laps, casue the course was pretty long, half way through the race, Daren and Boffeli (who was riding his MTB and clearing that damned log) get by me and i am barely hanging on. I end up 8th and hold onto my 4th overall.
Lyna had a great race for 6th in the B women riding her MTB on a course that contrary to popular belief does not play to a MTB well.
Spent the rest of the day heckling and helping the crew break camp.
I was super beat, but Lyna and I then went to the Real Salt Lake game, which was fun.
Sunday was a planned team ride on the Mill D loop of the Wasatch Crest. Lyna, Jen, Sally, Erika, Shannon, Ken, Jake and I. I felt like crap at the start, of course, but kept going, slowly. The ride was awesome. very little mud, some snow, giggly good times. Likely the last Crest ride till July of 2012.
Sunday evening Lyna and I went to her co-workers apt for some Sri Lankan food, mmmmmmmm good.
I am beat, still sick and really, I don't care, it 3was a fun, Very Full weekend.
Next weekend is a Double CX weekend at wheeler, I hope to feel better before then.....
5 comments:
Way to battle. 33 dismounts? I am glad I was out of town. My only problem with cross is the dismounts/remounts. I know it is cyclocross and all, but it would be so much better if we could just stay on our freaking bikes. It is almost enough to make me want to try to learn to bunny hop the barriers. If I actually thought I could master it I would, but I don't have faith in my bunny hop skills and would most like crash more often than not.
I think your title describes most of us.
I wish I felt more confident about the dismounts. If I did I would have been there rather than doing trail work and making my hands and shoulders ache.
The skills park should be fun. Tall and Skinny is working off some community service hours with Bruce. He actually rode a bike for more than 5 minutes Saturday.
I asked at reg if it was possible to "route" my donation to one organization over the other. Denied, so I'll have to assume it went to Huntsman.
Glad you could make it friday. The line between fledgling and flailing is very fine.
Totally awkward! Smiley face; nice to meet you face; you're bigger in person face.
I find the whole Cross thing ridiculously entertaining. Especially the dismount part. It's as if the most coordinated of all coordinated ballroom dancers have taken up cyclocross.
Which brings up an interesting idea for reality tv: "So you think you can cyclocross." I think there's some money to be made there.
Bet that's the first and last time cyclocross will be compared to ballroom dancing. Don't hate me for it.
Post a Comment