It was good to get my first cross race of the season under my belt. Now I kind of wish I had raced some of the earlier events. Even though Blair and I had preregistered early, I started about 7/8 of the way back and Blair started almost all the way in the back of the 75+ strong fields. Ron gave us all the prerace official instructions and finished with 30 second to the start. The horn sounds and we are off. We power up the long starting line rise/hill gain ground on some and losing ground to others. I see Blair go by and I put a bit more effort to try and stay close to him. I stay wide around the first turns to make out ground on the outside and to be able to stay off of the brakes.
During the first lap I think I was riding well, closing gaps and passing riders. On the back side of the course I catch Grisvard on a flat section, a right left off camber rise, right, right and I'm too aggressive into the corner. Grisvard back by, Tighten my right shoe buckle that loosened, more riders by, back on the bike only the realize that my chains off. More riders by, chain on, leg over and now to chase all over again and within minutes I am back on the wheel of the last person that got by me and I am by easily before the narrow single track. I fly through the woods and see the next target about 20 seconds ahead on the course.
The next several laps continue this same way. Get by one....scout ahead for my next target....get by another, find the next target. On the final lap I passed a guy who started on the second row and I can see three riders not far in front of me. Over the barriers and I lose ground, back on the bike and power down the rise into the a right hander, then left, back into the finish area, through the sand pit, right hairpin on to the pavement and through the line. I needed a little more time.......
Like I said, good first race and I had fun. I know I was 45th out of 75+ master's 35 & 45+ field combined and 23rd in my Master's 45+ age bracket I am forward to see how I did just in my age age group. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT CHEER ME ON TO DAY, IT MADE A DIFFERENCE!
