Single Speed Open and Masters 55+ 1/2/3
In the single speed race I just kept falling down and in the masters I was ready to quit halfway into the first lap! So I was very pleased to end up with two top 10 finishes and only a small bruise on my knee. First I got to watch my friend Meredith Peterson Turany ride away from the entire masters women's field on the first lap to take the win! Way to go Mere. Next she lines up again for the women's pro/1/2 race along with Angry Monkey Laura Andrews. At the same time Muse and I are lined up for the single speed race, our start would follow theirs more than a minute later. I let fly cheers for Laura when the women's field got the whistle. My own start was okay but the pace up front proved to be too much for me instantly. I fell back a bunch of places and then I crashed. A rider from behind and I tried to make a pass at the same moment -- even though I was in front of him, he tried to push past, got caught in the tape and took three of us down with him. Brilliant riding. All the bikes and riders seemed okay so off we went. It probably helps that we were all on single speeds. I managed to pick off a few riders, when I wasn't on the deck that is. One time the straight bars on my commuter caught some vines and sent me flying. Other times I just lost my front wheel in corners. I finished, got to the car and put on the next jersey number just in time to line up for the masters race. I was called up to the front row and got a good start off the line but my legs seemed to have seized up. In an instant I was at the back. Apparently all the lactic acid from the first race had pooled in my thighs. Ugh is the only word that comes close. I managed to recover and pick off a few riders but started to fade toward the end. The course was taking it out of me until I finished with nothing left. Once again I saw handups but could not partake. I'm just too focused on killing myself and that I did. Not that placings are on the agenda but I was pleased to finish 10th out of 18 in the SS race and 7th out of 10 in the masters race. Today in the single speed race I was reminded of my first ever podium back in 2005 which was finished attempting to hold the wheel of a young Abby Strigel. Today she caught and passed me on her final lap which inspired me to hold her wheel as long as I could. She disappeared as soon as we hit the twisty section through the trees. What an amazing rider and what better vantage point to appreciate the power and grace of a pro. Just another reason to love cross. --joey |
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April 2019
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