Barrie Cyclocross

I went up to the Barrie Cyclocross race this past weekend. We headed up Saturday night, and stayed in a hotel. Went to the pool with the kids and enjoyed the evening. We were about 20 minutes from the course, so we arrived there with enough time to sign in, and warm-up. It was very cold - around 4-5 degrees and windy. I warmed up on the course- a flat course, with differing terrains, one hard off-camber, and one run-up (well for me, it was a run-up). I did a few laps warm-up, not feeling to great yet, but headed to the start line. Not a huge women's field, but a good women's field. We started, I got off to an okay start -- I was in a bit too big a gear, settled in around 4th or 5th... headed up to the barriers. The barriers were a bit of a disaster as there were 3 of us going over them at once. The rider ahead of me, came to a dead stop after the barriers to re-mount. I ended up continuing to run around her, and into the tape a bit to keep moving and re-mount my bike without losing the leaders. I remounted and caught up to 2nd place. I was feeling okay and getting used to the course, then the first place rider passed me. I wasn't sure, how she even got behind me but she made a bit of a wrong turn or something. Anyway, we all knew the course now, coming to the first offcamber turn, I didn't ride it too well and was passed. Came through the finish line, then closed the gap back up to second place. There was a group of 4 of us riding together for most of the race. Myself and one other rider were doing the work at the front. The last few laps, I was doing most of the work at the front. I was aware of this, and trying to play it smart with respect to that. Coming into the last lap, I thought I would try to push the pace and see if I could get a gap. I attacked through the barrier section and the power sections, got a small gap on the other riders and kept pushing the pace, yet riding the corners safe through the last lap. I ended up winning the master's womens race, and second overall for the women. Definitely happy with the day. After the race, warmed up in the car with the kids, cheered for my husband, got some hot beverages and hit the road home. We had a great weekend, although we were very sleep deprived due to the hotel with the kids- we are planning on going again next year.
Other notes of the week- CF clinic with the kids. A very long day, driving to Hamilton, getting prescriptions, see the team, waiting for the doctor, entertaining the children for 2.5 hours in a doctor's office.... Good news for my son, who is 4 and can now swallow his medications whole. He can swallow his enzymes before meals which is great, as we used to have to open them and sprinkle the capsule in applesauce. Being able to swallow 6 pills before meals is great!! I am proud of him.

The Week After ...

What a week after cyclcross nationals... I have been pretty tired, and with the time change definitely making training harder. I was thinking about ending my season a bit early, well I am glad I got a good ride in on Thursday and decided to race at Kissing Bridge Cyclocross race. I had raced this race last year, and won. I liked the course and it was similar this year. There was not as much mud this year, and the course was a bit different but not a whole lot. Anyway, I wasn't sure how I was feeling in warm-up riding the climb thinking ...uughhh. Got to the start line and lined up, I had a good start, took the whole shot and kept the pressure on from there. I felt good, and had a good rhythm of hard on the road section and the climb, recover on the downhill and the twisty stuff at the bottom. I opened up a gap on the women, and caught some of the masters men ahead of me and raced with them a bit, I would pass them on the climb, and then they would descend pretty fast to catch me. I was taking it easy on the downhill and there were a few potholes that I didn't want to hit, and wanted to ride smart and not crash taking a risk like that. I won for the women, I am happy about that. It is always nice to win a race.
The men's race was next, Nathan ended up with 2 flats, trips to the pit and coming from behind. He ended up 5th. I was running my bike over to the pit to get a rear wheel off, and thanks to the guys who were working the pits. It was a nice day and a good event.

Cyclocross Nationals

Saturday, November 6th was the Canadian Cyclocross Nationals. I raced at 9AM- masters women, the first race of the day. Let's just say that is very early. My husband's race was the last race of the day starting at 3:30pm ( I think). Not a great schedule for us, and with my son's hockey school Saturday morning as well, we decided to take 2 cars up to the event. I left really early around 5:30am, got to the race just after 7am. I don't think I have been this early yet this year, I got a great spot in the parking lot, and prepared for the race. I think I was the second car there, it was still dark and they were still taping the course. The thermometer on the car read 4 degrees. I was trying to figure out how many layers to wear, gloves, etc. I registered at 8AM, then headed out for warmup. They were still taping the course at 8:15, and I was told I was going the wrong way.... as that section wasn't taped yet. Trying not to worry about it, I rode the other sections of the course and tried to keep warm. I felt okay after the warm-up, and decided to keep the handwarmers in my gloves for the race-- as being able to brake is important for me. Got called up 2nd row to the start. Was ready to go, and the whistle went. I didn't have a great start, missed my pedal and then got going, difficult to move up on the start. I moved up a few spots and tried to move up across the barriers, I settled to my pace with some other riders around me. After the first lap, I was around 6th or 7th with 3rd place only being 10 seconds ahead. Anyway, I was riding well, and moved up to 5th place a one point. The long climb, I was running, which was okay as I was going the same speed as the riders around me. So of the riders were riding part way up the climb, then running. With 1.5 laps to go, I couldn't clip in at the top of the climb. I managed to clip in but lost some time that I had gained on the climb. With 2 riders close behind me, then after the barriers I couldn't clip in again. This time I was scrambling to get both feet in, down the hill with no feet clipped in.... this lead to a not so great uphill and having to stop for a second at the top. The two riders behind passed me, scrambling to try and clip in. I finally got clipped in and kept going. With the race being so early, there was still frost on the ground, and with running the big hill, alot of mud was stuck in my cleats. I finished the last lap of the race, so closely on 6th place but not able to catch back up. I finished 7th, I was happy with the race, a bit disappointed with my start and not being able to clip in- but those things happen especially in cross. After my race, I watched some of the other races had a bite to eat with my husband before his race. Then I went home to pick up the kids from my parents house. Nathan had a great race and finished 8th in elite.... WOW!!!

Kelso Cross and Hillbilly Hustle

A few weekends ago, I raced the Sunday race of the Kelso weekend. I couldn't make it up for the Saturday race due to activities with the kids. Got to the Kelso race.... it was mud, mud and mud. Did one lap warm-up on the course, then the rest of the road, as I didn't want to get my bike totally full of mud. Felt alright, nothing spectacular. Lined up at the start-line, good start, and first lap. I was riding with the leader, for the first lap. We started the climb up the hill on the second lap and rode through the grass section at the top. Rode into some of the mud sections, after the second climb. Going into one of the muddy sections, the leader crashed. I got around her and was leading until this tough 180 degree turn where I slid out. I was a bit slow getting going, as I realized that my seat was loose. 1st place and 2nd place rode by, and I was still trying to figure out what to do with my seat. I got back on my bike, and rode it for another lap. Then I decided to switch bikes, and use my spare bike. I got settled back in for the last lap, and finished in 3rd place. Got a 6 pack of beer for a prize....that is a good prize!!

Went to Hillbilly Hustle on October 31, went up the night before and stayed at the Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood. It was nice to get away for a night, and go in the outdoor, heated pool and hot-tub. Got to the race, a bit late... only 20 minutes before my start. (not really sure how that happened, only one elevator working in the hotel didn't help that). I signed in to find out that I had new numbers issued to me...uggh, as I already had my numbers pinned on. I didn't ride the course, just went to the start line. It was snowing, and really muddy. My son was loving the snow, making snowballs, etc. Not sure what to think on the start line, started conservatively, as I didn't know where I was going, saw the riders ahead of me dismounting for the off-camber section and running. I dismounted and followed the riders ahead of me. Got settled in with 2 riders just ahead of me. I was gaining on the riders, then I slid out on a corner just past the start finish. I lost some time there, then I got back on my bike and kept going. I was slowly catching back up to the riders, and passed on of the riders in the running off-camber section. THen the next lap, I caught the next rider and passed her in the same section. With 1 lap to go, I just tried to ride clean and push it on the flat sections. I stayed ahead of those riders, and finished 2nd place in masters women. I was happy with the day, and enjoyed the weekend away.