Chicago UCI race and Cross Nationals…

Chicago Cross – New Year’s Eve Weekend

Halfway through Holiday Break, I packed up and headed to Chicago for the last two races of the season before Cross Nationals.  I knew it would be good to get some races under by belt before driving to Madison the following Wednesday and a golf course in Chicago seemed like a great place to do so.  Both days of racing turned out to be incredibly hard days with epic conditions.  Who knew a golf course could provide such challenging conditions for racing?  The course was basically the same both days; lots of twists and turns, some sandpits, two solid run up/ride-ups and a TON of super deep mud.  I finished fourth both days, losing third place with a lap to go on day 1.  By Sunday night,  I was totally spent; the super deep mud had sucked all life from my legs.  We headed into the city of Chicago for a few days of fun and relaxation before heading to Madison.

Nationals –Masters Race

I headed to Madison on Wednesday to get ready for the Master’s race on Friday.  My goal was to make the top 3 and I knew I’d have my work cut out for me, with several of the ladies I’ve raced with all season contenting for the tops spots.  I had no idea what to expect but was really excited about the course conditions when I pre rode on Thursday.  The course was super muddy with lots of super wet sections and tons of greasy corners.  By the time our race rolled around on Friday, the course had tried out to a torturous state of peanut butter mud on many of the long straightaways.  I knew I was in for a challenge.  The gun went off and I got a great start.  We hit the first section of super thick mud and my legs felt like they were going to explode.  I was sitting in the top 3 but knew I had some racers coming for me hard.  I worked hard to ride smooth and composed.  With two laps to go, I moved into second place.  Andrea Smith was in first and pretty much out of sight.  I knew I needed to keep pushing hard, as Crystal was chasing me down hard and fast.  With a lap or so to go, Crystal came ripping by me like I was standing still.  As we headed into the last lap, I worked hard to close the gap between she and I but ran out of room to do so.  I finished third and was pumped to have met my goal.  Carolyn finished fourth and I was really excited that we were both on the podium!

On the Start Grid before the Masters' Race. Everyone's ready to tear limbs off.

Nationals – the Elite Race

The Elite race at Nationals would mark the last race of my season.  I’d worked hard all season and had shown improvement throughout and was hoping to finish the season with a top 15 result.  I felt okay warming up, but not totally fresh.  I hoped I’d loosen up once the race began and some of my prerace jitters subsided.  Not so much the case…. After one lap, my legs felt heavy and dead.  As  I passed through the finish area, I was praying I’d see 3 laps to, since we’d already been racing for almost 11 minutes.  I knew I was in trouble but tried to stay positive and hoped I’d only feel better as the race went on.  Sadly, the longer the race went on, the worse I felt and the further back I moved.  I had one big crash that sent my flying out of the top 15 and into the top 25.  I fought hard on the last lap to at least make the top 20 but crossed the line in 21^st place.  Not the finish I was hoping for by any means. 

After a bit of sulking and some time to reflect, I turned my frown upside down.  Even though the season wrapped up with a disappointing result, all of my other results were on par, or better than expected.  I have a lot to be proud of and have improved a ton this season.  I wanted to improve all of my finishes this year and I did that.  I’d hoped to finish in the top 3 at a UCI race and I did that… in fact I scored my first two UCI wins at back to back races in some epic conditions of mud and pouring rain at Beacon and Highland Park.   It seems fitting that my first UCI win be at Beacon – it’s by far my favorite course of the season and I count down the days until we race there each and every year!  I had no mechanicals all season (thanks Dan and the boys at Bicycle Therapy).

I had a TON of fun this season.  I loved every minute of travel and every ounce of racing and training this season.   I got to know some of the ladies I race with better and have some really fun people to travel with in the future seasons.  I am lucky to be a part of a sport that is so supportive and such a strong sense of family; the Midatlantic folks are always there to help each other out it makes racing so much less stressful and more enjoyable.  To everyone who worked the pit for me, cheered for me, heckled me, and encouraged me – thanks! 

Now, I get to take a few weeks off the bike and hope to track down a few piles of stuffed French toast, some Cinnabons, an ice cream cone or two, and accomplish all of the household projects that have been mounting since September.  Heck, I might even offer to make dinner once a week for a little bit.  (Let’s be honest… by this I mean I’ll order take out for Mara and I.)  Thanks for reading… see you in February!