RR: CCCX Finale

Today was probably the most fun I've had the entire cyclocross season! Having tweaked my back last Friday and then being in serious pain over the weekend and holiday, I was just hoping to be able to finish the race. I didn't race yesterday in order to be able to race today and felt pretty good when I got up.

All the women started together and before the start, they had a call-up. Since I was in 3rd place in the series for the Women Cs, I got a call-up!! First time ever!!!!! WOO HOO! All of the CCCX races seem to start out going uphill, no matter the course, and today was no change from that. The start was a good half mile or more climb, up a dirt road. With all the rain we've had, it could have been really muddy, but down at Ft. Ord, they have very sandy soil, so not a lot of mud, just wet and mostly packed sandy soil. The start up the hill got everyone strung out a bit and two of the C gals jumped out ahead of me and I stayed ahead of Katy and Debbie.

At the top of the climb, there was a barrier and then you had to run it up a little more and around the corner, then it was off down a long, gradual hill, coming out on the flat through some loose sand and then onto the road. Zip about a quarter mile down the road and then it was off the road and up a short, but steep hill. Of the three times in the race that I hit this hill, I never made it more than half way up before having to get off and run.

It was then through the trees and on some nice track with an out and back where you could see who was ahead or behind you, then a downhill section that curved around and made my heart rate rise (but I didn't stop!) It was a little muddy and curvy, and on the second time through I didn't quite make the curve and almost took out the fence! A foot down averted that little catastrophe!! It was then another short, steep downhill and across the field and a short, steep uphill and then onto some of the same route we'd done the last race here. Another section of road and then back onto the trail and a natural barrier of a tree trunk, then past the parking and the crowd and another double barrier and another curve around and down, then another barrier and down past the finish line and around and another barrier and a carry up the short hill and 180 and down the hill (lots of cheering/friendly heckling fans here) and past the start area and back up the long hill to do it all again.

Yes, it was a REALLY long loop!!!

#1 and #2 C gals got a pretty good gap on me and I knew I just had to finish in order to stay in 3rd overall, so the last lap, I rode pretty controlled. Besides, I was pretty tired going up that darned hill yet again! And Tim and Paul and some other guys had beers in their hands every time we went by and that beer looked GOOD! Since I got lapped by most of the A gals and some of the others, when I came across the finish line the third time, Rod said, "You're finished." YEAH! I was pretty happy to hear that. 3 laps and about 47 minutes.

3rd place today; 3rd place overall in the series (having raced 5/7 races).

After our race, we drank beer and watched the elite men race, then it was time to collect the winnings (t-shirt; nice big plaque; two tires) and then hit the road for a very late lunch and a drive back to SF. This was probably the last cross race for me for this season as it's now time to turn to the road and start tri training. I had a BLAST this first season and am really looking forward to next year. Thanks to Keith and Rod for a super fun CCCX series!

Comments

[velogirl]

congratulations!