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| Kicking off the season at Nittany CX. #cxishere Photo: Marci Fulton |
Nittany Cross
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| There was a stair run-up, some barriers,and a couple off-cambers that made things just a little more interesting. #ucicx #nittanycx Photo: Marci Fulton |
Race weekend number one for me. This was a full weekend of racing, and also UCI level racing. Of course the first race of the season you never know where you'll end up. I've been much more focused with my training this year, but you still don't know. The race predictor shows what "should" happen (which for me was a 21st and 23rd finish for the two days), but you always want to beat your race predictor. I went in with a goal I truly felt I could accomplish, top 15 for both days. The course was pretty much flat with a few VERY small, punchy climbs, with a great mix of technical and power sections. I ended up achieving my goal for the weekend, with a 14th place both days. Something I was really excited about.
Roanoke GoCross
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| Those who didn't make the drive missed out on a very well balanced course. #vacx #gocross Photo: Marci Fulton |
This was my first time heading out to Roanoke for the GoCross race and I really enjoyed the course. Those guys from the Deschutes Brewery team did a fantastic job with that race. I wish more people would make the trip out there. We had some power sections, some technical sections, a small sand pit, a flyover, and plenty of beer to go around! It was a fun race and my first win of the season!
Richmond Festival of Cross
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| Alex kept me chasing her wheel on the pavement at Bryan Park. #vacx Photo: Oscar Ruiz |
Chimborazo Park and Bryan Park are two local races of the season that I have a hard time missing. They are two completely different courses that make for a great weekend of racing put on by Altius Cycling. Chimborazo this year was a muddy mess, but since I don't race in the mud very often, sometimes I have to welcome it with open arms! I decided to race back to back in the Women's 1/2/3 and the Men's 3/4 putting me into a deficit going into Sunday. Bryan Park, unlike the much more technical Chimbo, is more power oriented and over half of it this year was on the pavement. Alex Campbell-Forte came down from DC for the weekend and kept me in the red during the power sections. We ended up going into the barriers and last few corners side-by-side, I managed to squeak out the W after a sprint finish (I still think Alex felt bad when I kicked the barriers and almost fell face first!)
Charm City CX
I was really excited about my results at Nittany, but Charm City left me on an even bigger high after coming out of the weekend. I went in thinking that the power course that Charm City usually is was completely opposite of what I'm comfortable with. I was hoping for a top 20, but was expecting a top 25 against a stacked field. One that included the US, French, and British National Champions (Katie Compton, Caroline Mani, and Helen Wyman). The weekend started with rain, causing the course to be slick and much more technical than usual.
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| Unlike past years, the sand pit was one of my favorite elements of the race. #ucicx #charmcitycx #playinthesand Photo: Jason Calderon |
DCCX
Coming off of Charm City I was feeling pretty good about where I would finish. I knew top 15 was achievable, but I thought that top 10 was definitely possible. DCCX is one of my favorite courses and is definitely more appealing to anyone that has a mountain bike background. Barriers, stair run-ups, log crossing, off cambers all appeal to me as a rider. Both days I felt great, focused, and after mixing it up with some ladies I never though I could, left with an 8th place on both days. My best UCI results to date! |
| The 180 off camber turn helped get me my best uci result to date! #ucicx #shebelievedshecouldsoshedid Photo: Marci Fulton |
Tidewater MTB Challenge
I took the weekend off of cross for my favorite mountain bike race (although I may be biased because I've been doing this race off and on for 18 years, and Chris proposed to me there 3 years ago). Saturday evening I raced the Women's Short Track race while Sunday I raced the Women's Pro/Expert race. I ended up 2nd both days, behind an extremely strong rider named Andrea Dvorak. Haven't heard of her? Check her out! Thank you Steve for putting on an exceptional race every year! Looking forward to next year's 30th anniversary!
VCU/Sweet Spot Cross
The race at Richmond's City Stadium was tight and twisty with some different features including a short, but steep, climb with a railroad tie across the course. Sam Park did a great job as always putting the race together at a very unique venue. The Women's 1/2/3 race resulted with me on the top step of the podium and afterwards I beat up on some guys and got 4th in the Men's 3/4.
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| Plenty of technical sections to keep everybody focused. #vacx #vcucx Photo: Marci Fulton |
RVR Weekend of CX
Rogue Velo Racing put on a set of races at Bennett's Creek Park and Mt. Trashmore this weekend. I wish the overall turnout were better for this race because the courses were laid out quite well and the weather was just perfect. I got the case of the can't-help-its because I again signed up for the Women's 1/2/3 and the Men's 3/4 on Saturday, making sure I wasn't going to have anything left by the end of the weekend.
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| Women's 1/2/3 start at Bennett's Creek. #vacx #rogueveloracing Photo: Erica Cline |
Thank you everyone for the great support and encouragement this year. It's awesome when you realize that your hard work is paying off and I'm looking forward to the remainder of the season. In case you're curious, I've been training with Mike Stoop since June of this year and I feel more fit on and off the bike than I have in a very long time. I've had a coach in the past, but I'm far more disciplined than I was, getting my workouts uploaded and of course getting my workouts done. Imagine that! Having a specific plan and getting workouts in makes you feel fit and strong! I realize though, that I could still tighten things up a bit, and since the season is over halfway done, now is a good time to start.
#cxishere #tradewindsracing #mermaidwinery #mermaidwinecx #cutawayusa #ucicx #vacx
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