Sept. 21, 2008 -- Consistent with my approach today, I won't do a lengthy blow by blow of the Charm City Cross race. None of the dramatic "pain caves" or "suitcases of courage." for various reasons I don't know that I can put my finger on, I went into the race a little down and not "laser focused" to use a phrase I heard today to describe Chris Huhn. I did a good warm up with 25 minutes on the course then 10 on the trainer. it was nice to ride the course and talk it through with teammate Mike Schiavo, then Seph and Chris Mayhew.
Long story short, I came in 20th. Consistent with my mindset, I was not aggressive at the start (for the first time in 3 years at this race). I should have been more aggressive at the start and particularly during the 1st and 2nd lap, but that was as much mental. I ended up with a couple of guys, going back and forth for the last couple laps, including Matt Michael of NCVC (who was very good last year, and who I mistaked for Thor Engblom of NCVC) and Johnny May of C3 (who I don't know, but I heard people saying his name). This is me and Matt last year at the Tacchino
The usual back and forth among us. I heard 2 laps to go but we didn't see any card. On the last lap, I was following Matt, and we caught someone from Adventures for the Cure just before the Sand (which they changed up to make all run -- very leg draining). I attacked and got a pretty good gap, but that meant I had to try and stay out there by myself the last 3/4 of the last lap. I went all out the whole last lap, which I was happy about. Matt said that May worked really hard to try and pull me back but I don't think he made it. Matt said every time they'd get close I seemed to surge again. I started sprinting up the road and thought I had kept the gap when I got to the top and turned right for the last 100 yards, then I heard someone yell "go Matt" and realized he had just caught me, so I had to drop a bunch of gears and sprint hard; he passed me by 4 inches at the line. He said he had just caught me that second when someone yelled.
Oh well.
It helped to get my juices flowing again; get me thinking about what I need to do. Coppi looked good. David Battan and rookie Joaquin rode very well in the Cat 4 (fka "c") race riding together to get 12th and 13th. A picture of Joaquin making the pain face (behind him David Battan can be seen -- pick up that bike Dave)
ken Woodrow looked good but for some mechanical issues. Seph and George among the 2/3/4 "killer Bs" riding well.
Thanks to C3 for a well run event
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