Cyclocross thus far

It's taken me a bit to write this post because I don't quite know how to fit everything I want to say into one blog post.  I have a lot to say, a lot to process.  Lets put it this way:

3 years ago when I first started racing cross if someone told me I would be where I am right now, I would have dropped my jaw.  Let me tell you about my first cross race...ever.  It was at Maris Farms (for those of you who know the course...yuck) it was at the beginning of November and I had no idea what I was doing.  I showed up to the race with my stock tires inflated to 60psi, with 10 minutes of practice on how to dismount and mount my bike (practiced the night before), but boy was I ready to race that cross bike.  I lined up in the back row for the Cat4 women's race nervous as all heck, there were pumpkins lining the course, how was I supposed to dodge those????  Well to put a rough 30 minutes into a couple of sentences...I didn't know how to turn my bike, I crashed in a corn maze, I crashed going straight in the grass, I fell on my face on the "run up", I think I crashed 10 times, I could hardly mount my bike, but man was I stoked on life.  Even with my lack of ability and knowledge of the sport I finished 5th.  I didn't think that was too bad!  I think I fit in about 5 races that year and then I went to collegiate nationals and finished 5th!  After those first 5 races I knew I was hooked, and there was nothing better than cyclocross.  The rest is history.

Rocking the Mad Fiber wheels at Labor Day CX

This year, I decided it was time for a new bike.  I bought a new Redline in August, and I LOVE it!  It's fast and carbonliscous.  Then my dear friend Dave (last name not listed to protect the innocent) told me I needed fast wheels.  He hooked me up with Paul (last name not listed to protect the innocent) from a Seattle based wheel company Mad Fiber.  Paul set me up with a sponsorship for a set of wheels, especially for this big race I signed up for (CrossVegas).  I have never had fancy equipment before, this was BIG for me.  Since CrossVegas was September 19th I decided I needed to practice my CX skills before the big race, so I did some early races (even though I didn't really want to).  I certainly didn't want to embarrass myself in front of a lot of spectators and Pro CX racers.

I raced the Labor Day Cyclocross Championships, and that was quite a fun course for a dry fast September course.  I finished 1st in the women's race, and decided I wasn't tired enough that I decided to race in the Cat3 men's race, and finished 3rd!  The following weekend was MFG's first race of the season at Big Finn Hill.  I won again!  I felt really comfortable on my bike and with those new Mad Fiber wheels, I was FLYING.  I was accelerating out of the corners quickly, and I felt confident on my bike (and wheels) with their abilities to carry me through the turns and the straight sections.  I didn't feel like my wheels where going to going sliding out from under me (unlike my bike from last year).  I could rail the turns (given it has been bone dry) with a HUGE amount of confidence.  The dry courses always tend to be a bit bumpy, but with those wheels I hardly noticed ANY bumps.  They absorbed it all, they seriously ROCK, and they look cool too.  Did I mention how awesomely light they are?  Basically, I am one lucky girl to ride those wheels.

Lets talk about CrossVegas.  I hate Vegas (the city), it's not for me.  If I can't ride my bike out my front door, I'm typically not a happy camper.  I can't ride my bike out the front door there...well I could, but I think it would be suicide.  So for about 2 days I was stressing.  Then race day came.  The morning of the race we pre-rode the course, which doubled up as opening up our legs AND getting to know the course!  Chris was racing the USAC category race, so we had to get to the venue extra early and soak up the sun rays.  Chris raced at 5pm in the blazing heat and finished in a whopping 13th place!  With a start close to the back.  Good job husband!  After his race I started getting a little nervous, and as the night crept on, I started getting REALLY nervous.  This race would be the biggest race I had ever done.  Did I mention the best part about it...my last row call up.  If you have UCI points you are called up based on how many points you have, if you don't have UCI points then it's a random order.  Lucky me I was given number 55...of 60?  Yes folks, that's a last row call up.  To say the least I was a bit nervous, disappointed, and anxious, but there's nothing I can do about it but try to work hard to get to the front of the race.

Once the race started and we went through the start lap I found myself in the top 20.  I then found myself vying for spots with the top riders at the race.  Within the first 2 laps I realized I was riding with the pros, I was number 55 amongst a sea of sponsored riders.  I realized at that moment, that I could keep up, that I belonged there, that I could do this.  I fought for my placement in Vegas.  I fought for my 13th place, and I couldn't be happier.  13th place out of 46 starters.  What?  I'm still trying to soak this in.  The week after Vegas I had a huge out poor of support from my community, from my team, from people I hardly even know!  I feel like a celebrity, at the races people know my name, they know who I am, and I don't even know if I have ever seen their faces!

Lake Sammammish GP Cat3 Men

With the support I have received from my team (and others)  I will hopefully be able to race all the USGPs, I will hopefully be able to get my name out there, and I will hopefully find my spot in this crazy bike racing scene.  The only love (besides Chris) that keeps me going, that gives me reason to keep riding, to keep moving every day, to wake up early every Sunday and drive for 4-6 hours total to race for 45 minutes, this is Cyclocross and for 4 months of the year I devote my life to this silly sport.