Scott's Right Of Way

Squadra Coppi Tacchino Cyclocross 2009 -- Vincere Insieme

This weekend was the big Tacchino Cyclocross race, presented by Squadra Coppi.  This is a lengthy entry, but it will have photos, podiums, and inside dirt.

First, the dirty little secret is that the Tacchino CX was a hair's breath from not happening this year.  The fine folks at Ida Lee Park in Leesburg informed us that they weren't interested in our having our event there this year, and we were having a hellava time finding a new venue.  Then Jim McNeely stepped up, big.  Jim single handedly brought victory from the jaws of bitter defeat.  Jim did serious work to develop a relationship with the folks at Rosaryville State Park, which is a well known mountain bike destination (remember Jake and I went on New Years Day this year).  Jim also stepped into the position of "promoter" which means, he's in charge.  He did a super job of laying out the course with Ken (I couldn't get out of work to go help them) and really put his heart into developing an "Event."  He got some teams with tents to set up around the course; he scored a band and Belgian-esque food vending.  So we're were back in business. 

So, Saturday I went out there and helped set up.  The course was clearly "Classic Tacchino" -- fast, swoopy, with fast turns that dare you to not touch your brakes, while testing your fitness.  It's really interesting how the same set of people end up creating the same basic "type" of cyclocross course regardless of where they are.  Very cool.

We had a record number of registrants.  Last year we were in the upper 200s, this year we had nearly 350 preregistered, and that's with an unknown course.

As usual, the club as a whole stepped up.  For those of us who live for cyclocross to get the support of our teammates who are no so enlightened ;-) is a beautiful thing.
The officials had some last-minute changes for our course, so we're making changes as the Cat 4 race starts.  Causing Jim some headaches.

Ok, so my race, the 3/4 35+.  First of all, it was hot, damn hot for November.  Luckily, I had my short sleeve skinsuit stashed in my "race bag" because by 10am the sun was STRONG.  Unfortunately, someone was seriously injured (broken ankle) in the 9am race, so our race was delayed by 30 minutes (and I was the one who arranged for the EMT so I was running around a little making sure he was there).  But we lined up, 100+ strong (these photos by Joe Metro). with my series points I got a front row call up.  After DCCX I felt like I could stay with the front group if I could get a good start, and so I did.  I jumped off the line and slotted into 2nd behind series leader Jay Morali. I stayed on Jay's wheel for the entire first lap, much to the surprise of the announcers, I think. as a result I won a "Preme" for 2nd on the first lap...Ommegang beer (which I'm enjoying now; it's very good) thanks to them for the sponsorship  .  We had a pretty nice gap developing.

I was comfortable and felt like I could go faster but it was too soon to do so.  On the second lap I went to the front on the uphill on the "Back 40" and led for a little but then sat up on the gravel road to let someone else pull.  This was very "Euro" cyclocross, with real group racing at the front.

From them on it was a group of 6 or 8 but I tried to stay in the top 4 or 5 for positioning.
  We weren't given a lap card until 1 to go, which candidly took us a bit by surprise I think because the hammer dropped hard then.  Jay was driving it hard. 
I was in 5th behind Jeff Anderson and Scott Stahl.  
  After the barriers Stahl let a gap open to Morali and Sapp.  Jeff and I needed to close then but it was a bad place.  Instead, after the down/up in the back woods, Jeff accelerated by Stahl and I knew it was time to go.  I followed Jeff and shouldered past Stahl.  Essentially the first one to the maze by the pavilion would get to the line first, but Jeff was going all out and short of an all out sprint up the grass toward the pit I wasn't going around him.  I threw it in the big ring just before we hit the last turn.  I tried to launch down the hill but as I had predicted yesterday during set up, the first guy around that corner pretty much was guaranteed the sprint. 

So I was 4th, a bike length from 3d and 5 seconds from 1st.  My highest result in a MABRA 3/4 masters race.  I hate to miss the 3rd, but Jeff is a good friend and a tough, smart racer.  
 
My plan from the beginning of the season was to sacrifice Charm City and Sander to be strong at the end of October and November. So far that is coming around nicely.  At DCCX I got 7th, but felt like if I could have been in the front 5 at the start I would have stayed with them.  Today I feel like I proved that.  Podiums are fun.        

Now, for the rest of the day.  Loren brought Liam after Sunday school.  It was nice of her and great to have her there.  

We had some sausages and listened to the band before the Lil Belgians.  

JAKE'S RACE

Jake also had a great race.  His usual competitors, Noah Bell (who's dad races for NCVC) and Tanner Brown (his dad Bill Brown was a cat 2 master for Bike Doctor, good guy) were there.  Noah (13) jumped out to the lead, with Tanner about 50 meters back and Jake another 50 meters behind him.  When they got to the barriers on lap 1 Jake got close 
but lost ground on the grind back toward the pavilion (although passed lots of women)
  He was solidly 100 meters behind at the end of lap 1.  Tanner connected with Noah at the finish and I thought that was the end.  But when they came back out of the woods, Jake had closed the gap and passed Tanner, moving into 2nd and was moving fast.  Noah is a year older and always beats Jake and Tanner, but Jake had the bit between his teeth. 
Coming out of the woods from the back, Jon Seibold noted that Jake appeared to be closing the gap to Noah,   (that's Tanner down the end of the field behind Jake). But they were all balls out at that point so it wasn't to be.  So Jake was 2nd with a very impressive ride.  All 3 of them were flying and lots of people noted how fast they're going.  Expect to see them in a Cat 4 race near you soon.  (I'm not sure what the hats are).  Jake and Loren after, note Jake's helmet hair and the fact that he is damn near as tall as she is!!!!!


A nice day.

Halloween 2009

A rainy night on and off; we carved pumpkins inside so we could watch Florida beat Georgia.  We started out with Charlie and Mike Schiavo then continued on just me and Liam and Jake.

Jake carved his own

Liam's costume (which he picked in the store) is identical to the one that Jake picked when he was 8 (or 9)

  Jake's last-minute costume (a "Mortgage Collector" -- scary)

Candy must be sorted, audited, and accounted

my costume: Scottish Highlander? Soccer Hooligan?

DCCX 2009

Before the Racing, on Saturday a few shots of Liam's soccer game; they didn't win and he didn't score, but they played hard. 

Sunday, DCCX 2009, always the same day as the Marine Corps Marathon, which means road closings in DC.  I convinced Loren to let Liam skip Sunday School and come with me and Jake.

10 AM Cat 3/4 35+ race: 125 starters! This was my first race on the new Blue Norcross that I just got on Tuesday night.

I got a so-so start from the second row, but was in the top 15 mid lap (need to get through the damn traffic).  I put in some efforts to get across some gaps to move to the front-ish group.  Pete Lindeman surged on the road into the wind on the first lap and I had to cover the gap.  I was moving forward ok.  On the second lap again Pete surged on the road but I would lead heading back into the technical bits on the back side.  We were in a group with Scott Cernich and Bruce, who had been in the front 5 but crashed.  The front 5 were not far ahead.  Maybe 10-15 seconds. I surged ahead of my group for 3/4 of a lap; Jonathon Seibold and Scott Stahl were just ahead and I could tell Jon was struggling.  The announcer said they were fighting for 5th and 6th, so the podium was very close to my reach and last year riding with Jon had done me well.  I came within 30 yards of closing the gap but found myself on the long road section into the wind alone.  I had to ease off and let the group behind come up so I wouldn't burn myself up.  It was Bruce and a guy from Evolution that I don't know.  Still Jon and Stahl were ever so close.  We were hammering around the place.  With one to go the Evo guy surged a little and Bruce let a small gap open.  He closed it as we hit the road.  I let the Evo guy pull out the road and as soon as we got to the turn around point, I threw it in the big ring and hammered hard down the left side where the ground was firmer.  This is where I had opened the gap earlier in the race.  I got a gap on Bruce.  It was all or nothing now.  I almost lost it when I got caught up with a lapped rider and nearly crashed, having to unclip and put a foot down to push on a little hill.  I thought Bruce would get me then.  I think he got much closer.  I was killing myself for the next 3 minutes.  I got very close to Jon and Stahl, but finished 7th.

So, last year, 11th at BCA, this year 11th at BCA.  Last year 7th at DCCX, this year 7th at DCCX.  Can we just give me the placings and not force me to suffer ;-)

Liam's race was at 1pm, so we were haning around a lot.  They had people from the Belgian Embassy making Frites and little pancakes.  Liam, Dustin, and Charlie waiting for the Lil Belgians race.  
 
Dustin was 2nd, Liam was 3rd, and Charlie was 5th....We're grooming the next set of Coppi CX juniors.   Jake's race.  The "kid" closest was too old.  Sad but he got DQ'd (after beating the entire B women's field in just 2 laps).  Strong kid, hopefully he will do the 15-18 juniors at another race.  Jake and Tanner Brown lined up together.  They've been going at it for 3 years now.  Jake got a poor start and had to get around a few people to get up to Tanner.  Tanner lead pretty much the whole race.
  In the Cat 4 women, Meg Schiffman did well after crashing in her first few races   On the last lap, Tanner had opened a nearly 10 second lead on Jake with ony 1/2 lap to go.  It didn't look good.

But Jake closed this gap on the back side, even though he says he crashed.  Great effort.  In the final turns leading to the finish he had a small gap, maybe 20 yards.  But Tanner dug in and surged to catch and pass Jake just before the final turn.  I guess Jake had burned himself up closing the gap on the back side and couldn't respond, so Tanner beat him.  It was a very close race and both boys rode really well.  They colapsed in a heap from the effort   Because the older boy was dq'd, Tanner won and Jake was second.  They both are talking about trying a Cat 4 race.  Maybe at the Tacchino.

So, a nice day had by all.  Andrew Welch did well in the 3/4 race (6th I think) and Lindsey podiumed in the Women's elite race (I think).  Crammed car.

Fall in DC is looking pretty and we played a little football in the yard after we got home:

 

Photos from Ken and Jean show opening laps

Here are some quick photos taken by Ken Woodrow that show the first few laps of my race yesterday (described in the full post below). 

Me, Judd, Steve jump at the start  then me and Judd leading in the first lap   then later the gap me and Chris McGill had gets closed by Steve   at start of second lap Steve has a gap but Ron Hubner is about to try and get him while McGill and I sit on him   later I'm chasing
  this is on the last lap I think

Winchester Apple Harvest Cyclocross

It has been raining and in the low 40s since Wednesday afternoon.  In other words, Raw.  The race at Granogue on Saturday, which I didn't do, was an epic adventure in ankle deep mud. See video.

I had registered me and the boys for the Winchester Apple Harvest Cyclocross race, a new event out in Winchester, Va (which is on the other side of the Blue Ridge).  Since my dad lives out there, I figured it would be a good event for he and Lee to attend and see the boys and the race.  This being a first year event, and having raced every weekend for over a month, I was going to be more laid back about this.  I registered myself for the "elite" (i.e., 1/2/3) 35+ race, which starts as 12:15 instead of my usual Cat 3/4 35+ at 10am.  The elite masters race is just before Jake's race at 1:30, so we wouldn't have to get up and leave at the crack of dawn then stand around for hours.  Sounded like a plan.  Until the weather went all epic on us.

With a continued forecast of 40 degrees and rain, I bought nice neoprene gloves yesterday and last night we packed multiple changes of clothes (all told something like 6 pairs of wool socks, 3 different cycling "kits," that's what we call the uniform; 4 towels, an empty plastic bag for wet stuff coming home, etc).  Packed, the car looked like this   with my pit bike up on the roof rack.  Indeed, at 7am when we woke up, Loren declared "you are forbidden from taking Jake with you today."  I said "get over it; he'll be fine." 

Well, the guys at Winchester Wheelmen did an awesome job first and foremost with the weather.  The rain had abated and was not making it to the western side of the mountains by this morning.  So it would just be cold and muddy.  That's cool.

The drive out was very nice.  While the travel can be draining, it is nice to spend time with Jake in the car, seeing the countryside around here.  We forget that it's so close.
Still a bit drizzly on the Eastern side of the mountains

We got there with just a few minutes for me to pre-ride the course before the 11am Cat 3/4 race.  My teammate Andrew Welch WON!  His first win.  He has shown real promise since last year when he would start literally at the back of the 100 man Cat 4 race yet finish like 15th.  Once he figured a few things out, he's been getting better and better, and he's really got the Cross fever now.  (photo stolen from Ken Woodrow)

Ok, so after a very short warm up on trainer in Judd's tent (thanks Judd), I quickly rode the course again, and then went to line up.  Well, I admit I was expecting to get crushed, early and often.  The field was full of guys that are bad ass Cat 2s or above (Randy Root, Steve Robinson, Chris McGill, Ron Huebner) and guys that regularly beat me last year and then upgraded (e.g. Chris Huhn (Evolution), David Blodgett (Ben's Performance Bikes)). Albert Green, of the "Albert Green Mid-Race Fly By" was there.  Based on pre-registration, I seriously was worried about being dead last.  My goals, as secretly revealed to Jeff Anderson (not racing because of his "anniverasary" -- pathetic excuse) were (1) survive the weather (done); (2) beat Al Green, and (3) not be Dead "f'ing" Last.  The final tally was 12 guys.  A small group making it even harder to hide mid pack.  I was on the front row based on registration and got a good start.  I shot to the front, I think right behind Judd, or at least Judd got in front of me within the first 30 seconds.  Candidly, I was wondering where the swarm was.  I kept waiting for Randy Root to go shooting by with 6 other guys.  But nope.  On the back side of the course, McGill went by and I jumped on his wheel.  I was in second place, woohoo.  There was a steep hill that I knew I could ride but others were running.  When McGill and I crested it, we apparently had gapped the field!  This was highly unexpected.  I was not killing myself, but the field was not shooting by us either.  The elevation changes, tight turns, and slippery conditions were playing to my strengths. 

Steve finally caught us near the end of the first lap.  I started thinking "teammate" so sat on McGill and waited to "impede" any rushing pack.  But again they didn't come. Ron H went by at some point early in the second lap, and I went around Chris to close up to Ron.  I didn't hold him for long, but again, second lap, and I'm in legit 3rd with a gap.  Randy Root finally went by at some point moving me into 4th.  Then on the 3rd lap I was starting to hurt a bit and Chris McGill and someone I didn't know went by. I dangled behind them and was joined by David Blodgett (he won the 3/4 masters series in 2008 I believe).  I held on to David for the 4th lap.  On the steep "ride/run up" he stalled but I was still just able to muscle over the top.  I noted this.  I also noted that "Albert Green was coming."  He was not far behind us.  On the last lap, after clinging to David, on the downhill pavement leading to the ride/run up, I attacked hard enough to get past him.  I knew if I got to the hill first I'd gap him, and I did.  But I still had probably 3-4 minutes of the lap left.  I dug in and held the gap.  I was 6th.  Well, knock me over.  Needless to say I was very happy with my performance.  I don't think this means I'm ready to do the elite masters every week, but it gives me a boost of confidence that I can hang with a lot of the guys at the next level.  Steve was caught by Randy Root but got 3rd.  I repeat that he'll be very competitive in this group.  Plus, he then did the elite 1/2/3 race later for more workout (and was mid pack last I saw, ouch).

Here's what my bike looked like just after the race, kinda muddy

I had to hustle back and pin Jake's number on, then show him a few key sections of the course before his race.  His race was over within seconds.  The two other boys were on mountain bikes and tennis shoes and were clearly just out to try and have fun, which is cool, but Jake is really starting to move to the next level.  He passed half the Women Cat 4 again after giving them a 30 second head start. So he won.  He wants to try the men's Cat 4 "c" race, and maybe at one of the smaller later races he will.  I think he may be able to hang with the back of the pack. 
In the women's Elite race, Jean got 2nd and Melanie came out of retirement and got 4th.  Here's a shot of the Coppi 1st, 2nd, 1st group hanging by the fire having some hot apple cider  

I tried to get some pictures on the way home of the mountains and wild flowers.  Today was a nice day, and it reminded me that these times with Jake (and Liam when he comes) are nice times.  We don't have meaningful heart to heart conversations, but we have fun and we're guys together.  I'm lucky.
A frosty Belgian beer in the Winchester Apple Harvest Cross pint glass to end the day.

Victory at Hyattesville Cyclocross -- presented by Route 1 Velo

Short Verson: Jake Won! 

Full version:

Me, Jake, and Liam loaded up the CR-V and drove through some of the nastier parts of DC to get to Hyattesville, MD for a new cross race put on by Route 1 Velo.  Because it was close, we got to leave at 7:30 instead of 6:45.  Yeah, that didn't help.

We carried all our stuff from the parking lot to a tent that Jean and Ken had set up right across from the finish line and Beer Garden.  The guys at Rt. 1 had done a nice job with the course, particularly given the area they had to work with.  It had nice flow and was generally really fast, and flat, pancake flat.  It was a nice day.

In the Cat 4 race at 9am, Kevin Burke of Coppi came ever so close to victory, but got double teamed by 2 guys from Route 1 Velo.  He finished 2nd.

My 3/4 Masters race was at 10am.  I had a poor start (not aggressive enough), then a series of bobbles and outright crashes on the first two laps as I tried to move forward but would screw up.  All the joy of my first lap was carefully filmed by my own personal film crew at In the Crosshairs on their helmet-cam (or the cam of embarrassment in my case as it captures me crashing). 

Check out the video at the link above or watch it here:

I was able to make some headway in the 3d and 4th laps.  The next half dozen guys were never that far ahead, just a few seconds, but it was a very fast course and with everyone at max speed it wasn't like I could just jump across.  I heard someone tell me I was in 13th (cue the foreboding music).  Photos by Joel Steen

I was catching some folks, when I saw Andreas G. of NCVC, racing cross for HPC, had gone down in a turn, so I was closing on him fast; when we got to the barriers, he went down, tangling with Dan G of Coppi, who was being lapped, but I went to their right side and ran past.  (photo was earlier in the race; I had jumped from a bit far before the barrier, huh)

Later I was closing in on Bruce Buckley and chasing Thori Wolfe (I think that's his name, of Rt.1).  Bruce tried to ride the short sand turn, but bobbled, I saw what was happening and had time to commit to run it, as I had for laps 3&4, and ran past him.  He was right on my tail but I was able to hold him off for the rest of the lap (2 minutes or so?), but we didn't catch Thori.  So, wait, I was 13th, then passed Andreas and then passed Bruce.......yes, I was 11th.  Again.  My teammate Steve Robinson ran away from the race like we all had swine flu, to win in dominating fashion.

In the 3/4 race, Rob Sheffield was in the lead group of 5 but was crashed out on the last lap, 
but finished 6th (I think).  Andrew Welch then came in 7th or 8th

For training, since our race was only 35 minutes long (they mis-calculated; we should have done another lap), I signed up for the "Elite" Masters race an hour later.  Ken, Steve, and Peter all did the same.  I got Jake and Liam all registered and generally wandered around enough to make my legs tight and heavy ;-)  I generally didn't intend to finish the Elite Masters race; I went hard to stay with people, but my legs were in knots.
  I stuck with some people for much of the first lap or 2, and tried to hang on to another guy (photo in the sand) for another lap or two.  When I couldn't maintain race intensity I shut it down at the 30minute mark.  Still a good workout with another 30 minutes at 180bpm heart rate.  Steve went on to finish 7th.  He'll compete for the win in that group when he hasn't tired his legs by racing with us earlier in the day.

Liam did the lil Belgians race (he says he was 3rd, that may be right), and had a grand time  

In other news, on Saturday, Liam's soccer team finally won.  Indeed, it was Liam who started things by scoring their first (and his first) goal.  I almost ran out onto the field.  He did a great job the whole game, hustling after the ball and being part of a constant offensive pressure.  Unfortunately, no pictures.

Jake's race

This week, there were no 13 or 14 year olds in Jake's race (well, one but he was only doing his second race and he was on a hybrid bike).  There was another 12 year old boy on a new Fuji Cross bike and about half dozen kids.  This was Jake's big chance.  He jumped away from the group immediately (I mean he accelerated away within the first 100 yards).  By half way through the first lap, he had a 10-15 second lead on the boy on the Fuji, and he was passing his way through the Cat 4 women that had started 30 seconds before the Junior race.  By the end of the first lap, Jake had closer to 25 seconds and growing.  I encouraged him to try and catch more of the Cat 4 women that were ahead of him, which he did, passing one woman, that I've met and who is on some of Loren's knitting chat boards, going into the spiral-of-death at the back corner of the course.  I told him he just had to ride clean from there and victory was his.  Which he did. 

Ken, I hope, got a picture of Jake crossing the line, although we need to work on Jake's victory salute (he didn't throw his arms up, just sat up and unzipped his jersey in dramatic fashion).  Unfortunately, so far, no good photos of Jake's ride.  I'll add if they come up later.

KAX Photos

Kevin Dillard always gets good pictures of me (and others).  Here from Kelley Acres

Improvement, Consistency, Didn't I Do This Last Year -- Breast Cancer Awareness Cross and Kelley Acres Cross

Antietam Velo Club Breast Cancer Awareness Cross

Last year I eased into cross season; not trying to be flying for Charm City or Sander.  This year has been similar, but worse, as I didn't crack the top 20.  But I was feeling better during cross practice this week.  I can feel my legs are getting stronger.  Plus, the BCA Cross race in Hagerstown suits me better than Sander, being basically up the hill, then slalom down, several times.

Last year, I got 11th at BCA, just unable to out sprint my friend Jeff Anderson.  This year, I went up to Hagerstown by myself (Jake had tennis and Liam had soccer, more on that later).  I got a decent start, but wasn't in the top 5.  I was just off the front group, along with Jeff and Bill Browne (Tanner's dad), among others.  Early in the race, Jeff crashed and fell back.  Then Bill crashed, and fell back.  I started riding in a group with Bruce Buckley (see report on DCCX 2007 for our intro to Bruce), Pete Lindeman, and Scott Cernich of Rt.1 Velo.  Pete tried to attack and crashed.  Bruce seemed to be hurting at times, and was yelling at Scott and I that a group was catching us.  I could hear people telling Bruce that we were in the top ten.  I was riding pretty much the entire lap in the big ring, except for the climb back up the hill.  On the last lap I was behind Scott.  In retrospect, I should have passed him because I was faster through the turns.  In the end, he led me and Bruce through the final turns.  I put in a hard sprint, and if it were 15 feet longer I would have gotten him.  So, I went to the results and ..... 11th.  Just like last year.  Out-sprinted for 10th.  Kinda funny.  I was happy with how I felt.  Definite improvement.

I tried to "recover" through the day.  But me and the boys still did some wandering around (I tried to sit whereever we went).

While I was racing, Jake had won his two tennis matches, which is great.  Liam's soccer team isn't too good just yet, but Liam supposedly looked good.

Kelley Acres Cross

I did not do Kelley Acres last year, but since it's a MABRACross series race this year, I went for the double up weekend.  I had heard that it was a bit more "mountain bik-ish" and definitely had a long climb.  Good!  This works for me.  This year they built a "fly-over" like are seen in some European cross races, where the course does a figure 8, going under the fly-over then you have to go up stairs and down a ramp. It looked like this. With my 11th on Saturday, I moved up to 18th in the series, so with absentees I got a call-up, but still was in the 3d row on a narrow, downhill fast starting stretch.  It was pretty argy-bargy at the start, with some rubbing and bumping.  I was never in the front group, but was immediately with Jeff.  We ended up with a group of me, Jeff, and Bruce, and also Scott Stahl and another guy I don't know.  Behind us were some chasers.  Eventually we caught up with Joel Gwadz and a few others and moved through them.  There was a long-ish climb on the back of the course that was taking its toll, and then more climbing coming up from the low point of the course at a creek crossing.  Here's video of Jake crossing the creek 

We were riding together, which was good, as it kept us all pushing hard so those behind couldn't catch.  We did ultimately get close to those in front of us.  On the last lap, Jeff was leading me and Bruce when we caught a lapped rider at a tight spot right after the fly-over.  Jeff slipped by him, but then Bruce and I were blocked.  Jeff got a decent gap that he held for the rest of the lap.  I passed Bruce going down toward the climb, but he passed me on the hill.  We were going all out.  Bruce put in a last attack on the climb up to the final road to the finish, I was gapped and couldn't close, but Jeff had enough left to surge again and hold off Bruce.  We were 9/10/11.  So I 11th again.  Consistent.  I would like to crack the top 10, and I'm sure I will, as I'm definitely improving.  I was happy with my ability to keep the intensity high both days.  I never cracked physically or mentally.  I could have done some things different that would have moved me up a place, probably, but given where I was last weekend, I'm ok with that.  We'll work on those. 

In side news, for some reason they have me as 45+ at BCA and today at Kelley Acres, and I would have gotten second yesterday and 3d today, so that's something to look forward to next year when I am qualified for 45+ ;-)

Friend and good guy Jonathon Seibold won on his single speed.  He's a great guy and congrats to him.  My teammate Steve Robinson was second after starting near the back (he hasn't raced since Charm City so had not call-up points).

Jake, Jeff, and Jean "Wouter" Woodrow hanging out before the afternoon races.

A couple of Liam's friends came by to do the lil Belgians.  The Schiavos and the Goodwins had camped at Greenbrier Saturday night and stopped by the race. 

Dustin and Charlie did the Lil Belgians race, then they hung around to see Jake's race.

At 1:30, i.e. hours later, Jake raced.  There was some 14 year old kid who was as tall as me.  Technically his cross racing age was 15, but he was on a mountain bike and had never done cross.  He won, needless to say.  Noah Bell, who is 13, pulled away from Jake on the first lap, and was second.  Jake rode a steady race for an uncontested 3rd.  I got some good videos of him and a few photos. 
  Here's video of him going over the fly over

Podium boy with the Podium Girl(and boy)

More photos from Sander Cross

Just a collection of additional images from the Mud at Lilypons Sunday from an assortment of sources:

Here's the start; I'm in good position here.

This is the last lap.  I just passed Pete Lindeman.  He pushed me a little from behind just after this as I crested the hill. Class act, even though I would have made it (he said of himself later "I wasn't going anywhere").

Next photo is from Kevin Dillard, a sequence running through the mud (I stupidly tried to ride and stalled, losing valuable time).  Look at the look of disgust on my face.

Also a few new ones of Liam

On the podium

NCVC Ed Sander Cyclocross -- How Deep Is Your Mud

Sunday Me, Jake, and Liam made our way up to Lilypons Water Garden (at 7am) for the annual NCVC Ed Sander Cyclocross race.

It had rained all afternoon Saturday and through the night, so we knew it would be a muddy mess at Lilypons.  Indeed, it was still drizzling when we got there.  Not much to report on my race.  Lilypons is a flat, slog of a race even on dry days, which doesn't really match with my strengths, but 6 inch deep, sticky thick mud in many places and soppy grass in others made for slow going.  I got a decent start but ran into a pile up and then made a tactical mistake trying to ride rather than run a muddy uphill during the first lap.  You can see this clearly in a helmet cam video taken by the folks at In the Crosshairs (you'll see I'm well clear of him until the 7:15 mark when the second group catches my front group as we have a pile up and then I stall and they all run past me).  I made some more mistakes like that, and generally am still not where I want to be physically, although I did put in a strong final 1/2 lap.  I finished 25th.  My friend Jeff Anderson did real well, finishing 9th (and 1st in the 45+ sub-group).

Here's a picture (not of or by me) that gives an example of the conditions (this is not the really deep stuff)

I thought about jumping into the Elite Masters race later for training, but decided that the potential damage to the bike was not worth it.  So me and the boys hung around a bit, waiting in line to clean my bike at the hose and watching some other races.

Liam did the "Lil Belgians" race at 1pm (my race as at 10, so we were hanging around for a while).  Unfortunately, my camera batteries were DOA, but Jeff snapped some pictures for me.

Liam had fun, but his bike is too small so he had to stand the whole time, which was tiring and other kids on better bikes were able to ride faster. 

Like I said, he had a grand old time.

click on the small pictures to see larger versions. 

We'll need to work on the barrier technique. 

See how his legs are too bent and his butt is practically on the back tire.

Jake's race was at 1:30.  The course had dried significantly by then, but it was still very slow deep mud in many places.  He was in the 10-14 race, which is 2 laps and run at the same time as the women's races (they send them off 30 seconds after the Cat 4 women (i.e., beginner women).  Jake and I talked about him needing to go out faster than he did at Charm City, and stick with Tanner Brown. 

 

He got a good start and through the prologue section, it was Jake, Tanner, and Noah Bell (who also raced last year; and won some last year, remember Urban Cross...look at the picture of Jake's podium here). 

They were together until Noah started to pull away through the thick mud.  Out of the mud, Tanner was a few seconds back and then Jake was a few seconds farther back. 

Here's Jake on the gravel road after the mud (photo by Tanner's Dad Bill Brown).

There are some steep muddy climbs and muddy drop-ins on the back side where I expected Jake to make up time.  I learned after that he had to dismount and run down the second drop in.

Here's why, this happened just before Jake got there (and Jeff was there to capture it all)

When they came through at the end of the first lap, Jake was about 5-10 seconds behind Tanner and I yelled to him that he could catch Tanner.  Jake really dug in, was clean over the barriers, and ran past Tanner in the deep mud around the lily ponds (Bruce Buckley got a picture right after the pass HERE

I'll have to get the original from Bruce.  Jake had a 5 second gap when they came out of the ponds and he drilled it onto the gravel road. I rode my bike to the back side of the course, and he arrived with a 10+ second gap on Tanner (about 100 yards), which is a good gap.  He rode the muddy uphill that I had stalled on earlier to the cheers of the crowd and the announcer, Joe Jefferson, and I yelled that he was clear.  All he had to do was ride clean the rest of the lap.  He ran the drop in again just to be safe.

Jake did really well powering up the steep step up hills that led to the final down hill (he and Tanner and Noah passed a lot of the Cat 4 women)

He bombed the downhill and came across second, one minute behind Noah and one minute ahead of Tanner (who we learned crashed in the technical turns back by Joe Jefferson). Jake was destroyed.  He dug very deep.  A super effort. 30 minutes of hard work.

So, other than my funk over my dismal condition, we had a good time.