Wow.
Painful course, esp for those who crashed. Thoughts go out to Rob Hult who went down really hard in the transition to the finishing stretch. Rumor has it that his arm bone was nearly poking through his skin it was broken and displaced so badly. I hope Jonny Bold is okay. I passed him as he pulled the plug by the Cliff Bar sugar station and then heard the rumor that he crashed hard.
Jerry kept his shit upright, but maybe that's because he says he didn't have legs and wearing gloves he couldn't drive the bike. Curtis squeaked into the top 10, but a whole new crop occupied the podium. Okay Wilichoski, isn't new this season but he's new this year. Results here.
My personal race? Lined up somewhere (on the left behind Wade). And we started. It was brutally hot (for a CX race) but off we went. At least much of the course was shady and we were carrying a shit ton of speed through most of it. It didn't feel nearly as oppressive as White Park up in Concord, NH.
I didn't have the same snap as Sunday at gloucester off the bike. Hoping to find a bit of that tomorrow.
Start was fast, fast, fast and faster. And I hit cruise control and parked it just below the redline and followed wheels. A few dudes tried to get a bit douchey, but most of them ended up behind me w/in a lap or two. I passed more people than passed me once we hit the barriers, but then that is what happens when you wind up close to DFL. But pass drill it and pass and I worked my ass off and didn't slide too poorly.
Matt B found some crazy mojo and was hopping the barriers and putting time in to me through them, skilz that I don't have. Oh well. I worked my ass off. Screwed up a few turns here or there. Botched it big time with Todd Rowell sitting on my wheel, pretty embarrassing really.
Best part was reeling Gary David in, until two to go when he found a second gear or i just screwed up and he got slightly more of a gap.
It really hurt. Brutal pain, not much rest and if you did rest you were losing time big time. I figured most of it out about the same time Gary A did, it got me close enough to sit on his wheel until Sean rode through me and inspired Gary to pedal just a bit harder.
I made the first page of results. 50/70 starters and 61 finishers, pretty far behind the winner by "those who do not suck" standards but for me? It was good. I'm happy with it, esp coming off of this week of course set up, life stress, and not riding again.
Got my normal pre-ride routine down pretty well, but the whole parking challenge fractured the team pretty well and there was no cohesive gathering point. Not that we needed to hold hands and say a prayer before the race or anything. The whole not drinking beer at the race does certainly change the social dynamic of the event. That's something that I'm actually grappling with a bit. The trade offs are probably worth it but it feels different. Still pretty awesome to see everyone and hang out pre-race. Post race I've been so cooked that I just feel like taking a nap. So that's part of it.
Racing with the fast old dudes is pretty awesome and pushes me to stay focused and work harder to improve, it is all good and pretty rewarding.
Tomorrow is going to be pretty brutal, esp wearing a dark long sleeve skinsuit (i'd wear shorts and a jersey if either of them fit well enough - i'm too skinny for them). But tonight is a load up with salt night and fill the body with as much fluid as I can to keep everything lubricated for 50 minutes or how ever long it takes me to finish.
Again, thoughts go out to those who hit the deck today. Heal fast.
Heddwch
G
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment