Today was the Capital Cross Classic at Lake Fairfax. Yesterday we got 2-4 inches of wet snow, and the temps dropped below freezing. Jake wanted to try the Men's "C" race instead of the junior race, so I had registered him for it earlier in the week. There were 110 pre-registered racers in his race.
Riding on snow can be fun, but when we got there it was VERY icy. After one lap Jake was saying he did not want to race. He was not alone, as I heard others say the same. It looked like this:
I did another 1/2 lap and things were getting better. I went back to the car and with 10 minutes before Jake's race he said he was racing so I pinned his number on real quick and we rush over to the big pack of people who were already lined up. Jake headed to the back. I was very nervous for/about him. He started conservatively, riding with the people at the back. This picture gives a very minor sense of the massive crowd he was in
The deep snow was taking some power, which wouldn't be his strength at only 12. I watched a bit when I should have been warming up. He was holding his own among the last group of guys. Clearly riding a bit gently, but everyone was. I tried to watch a bit while I rode my trainer. It looked like he was staying with the same guys. He apparently crashed on some ice on the first lap. I was worried about him, but I had to warm up for my race (that didn't happen very much). But he finished in one piece, and he said he had passed some people! We didn't see full results for his race until later in the afternoon. He was 73rd out of 79 finishers (and another dozen or so "did not finish" behind that). So he beat at least 6 adults! Awesome. I was and am really proud of him for even trying and overcoming his fear before the race.
It's hard to tell, but he is the 3rd racer on the road in this picture.
My teammate Jordon Cross scored a solid 2nd (he needs to move to the 3/4 races next year)
My race was weird. First, I was very burned out for the past 2 weeks. Work and life and 14 cross races had just worn me out. My motivation to fight today was not high. I was having thoughts about not racing last night. Never good. Second, my warm up was poor. But I lined up on the front row thanks to a fast registration finger, sandwiched between Jay Morali and Steve Robinson. There was some bumping in the start but I slotted into 6th or so. Between the ice and the mud that was developing as the snow melted, there were lots of places where there was only one rideable line, for example the pavement across the dam was sheet ice. I had to ride that ice to pass 2 guys on the first lap to stay with the front group, but I was with that front 6 until 2/3 through the first lap when deep mud threw me into a course stake. It didn't brake and then suddenly my leg is literally wrapped in the tape and I'm screwed. I lost half dozen or so places with that stupidity. I didn't feel like I was cornering too badly, everyone was having to creep around the corners, and anyone that tried to go too fast crashed. But I felt ok, even strong in the places where I could pedal. (photo by Jordon Cross)
The comedy of errors however just continued. My shoes were clogging with ice during the run up so I couldn't clip into the pedals for too long, so I would lose space, but then make it up once I was clipped in. Andreas of NCVC came by at one point. I could have should have stayed with him but I got trapped behind someone slow on the dam crossing as Andreas motored away. I didn't want to try the icy ride to pass again. With 2 laps to go I was riding with Bill Scheiken of "In the Crosshairs" fame (www.cxhairs.com), who has become quite the specialist in bad conditions. He passed me in some deep mud, but I was able to fairly easily catch and pass him on the road as we took the bell. We went up the run up together (he was walking and I wasn't going any faster despite "running"). On the downhill, he suddenly unclipped his left foot and dropped down the hill like nuts (he showed me later that he had a broken brake cable...no brakes). I used my brakes and a gap was created. on the next downhill I tried to let it loose to catch him, but again I went into the course tape and got stuck. As a result I lost 4 f'ing places. Just obscene. I ended up 20th. Steve Robinson apparently rode away from the field, only to suffer a dropped chain mechanical 700 meters from the finish. He got it fixed and came in 2nd. God that sucks.
Me, I'm embarrassed by my performance. I can rationalize that work has gone nuts over the past month and I'm just suffering the consequences (even if not physical, then mentally tired). But that doesn't help when you have certain expectations based on your past performances. The repeated trips into the tape were unacceptable. I need to learn to drive my bike in thick conditions. And I need to work on the running because the long run up was really hurting me.
Jake and I went home and got Liam and went back. Liam brought the sled and had some fun (I took a few runs too)
While we were there Lindsey rode to a dominant win in the women's B race
Things got even more messy by then.
Got home and watched the Redskins lose
Seasonal Wrap Up:
I could do a long rambling wrap up, but I'll try to sum it up:
1. Super proud of the Coppis. From the first race to the last, Coppis were in the mix in the front. Steve Robinson, Andrew Welsh (can't say enough), Lindsey Hillsheim, Jean Woodrow, Kevin Burke, Jordan. The list could go on. Practices went to a whole new level (I told Ken at one point that we had gone to the heady land of big ring the entire lap).
2. I'm also very proud of Jake. He won some smaller races, but he really stepped it up as the season went on. Guys like Noah Bell were not riding away from him. He still wasn't riding during the week (although he did hit the trainer on Thursday), so imagine if he actually "trained." Next year. But he was having fun, and we had fun travelling together. Today he said that he was sad that cross season was over.
3. My season was a mix of highs and lows. A few weeks ago I was delirious. If I had stopped then I would have called the season a complete success. After a slow start, a build up of races around the top 10, to 7th at DCCX, then my first podium with 4th at the Tacchino. Work started to really drag me down, but another podium 5th at Rockburn after 10th at Schooly Mill (where I struggled) was super. The start was a low, and the last 2 races were a real disappointment.
But there were a lot of good memories. I really enjoyed Winchester and Hyattesville as cool new races. I look forward to them again. I just need to try and focus on the good times. There were lots of them. I just wish I hadn't let myself and everyone else down at the end.
4. Jake finished 2nd in the MABRA Series. I finished 7th in the stacked 35+ 3/4 series, which was an improvement over last year, despite having skipped Urban Cross in Charlottesville (when I was flying).
5. Cross season is really hard. It's really hard on my family, particularly my wife, who suffers from our selfish disappearances every single weekend. It's hard mentally to focus on training and getting all packed up and leaving every sunday for long hours. I appreciate Loren's patience, even if it is patience that is stretched thin and threadbare by the end.
So, that's the end this year. Next year we'll do it again. Which category I will do is up in the air. I'll be 45+ for cyclocross purposes. Unfortunately, all those old bastards are really fast too ;-)
On walking. The body may not have responded, but the brain did say "run." That last run-up was brutal.
Posted by: Bill | December 07, 2009 at 11:31 AM
Bill, note that I was "running" the same speed as you were walking. Is it true that you've started watering the Hyattesville course for next year? Mr. Mud! I'm going to build a mud bog with a turn in it in my back yard and just ride through it over and over all winter long.
Posted by: Scott | December 07, 2009 at 11:37 AM