So long 2012 CX

The 2012 Cyclocross season is over.  At least for me.  My way of filling some of the extra time that I am going to have, at least until the spring when road season comes around, is to start a blog.  Let's see how long this lasts...

Deciding to bring my season to a close after yesterday's VACX Finals took a couple of weeks debating.  I want to go to National's, but for a number of reasons I am deciding against it.  There are more races a few hours away in NC, but like National's, I am deciding against them.  Ending the season is bitter sweet.  I love cross.  I love that everybody can be competitive, but during the race we can spare a few words of encouragement.  We can open a beer afterwards and congratulate each other on an awesome race.  We ring cowbells and cheer for people we have never met before.  CX has a great atmosphere and racing is just as fun as spectating.  At least its fun when you're done.  Cross is hard.  For the most part you're not riding on smooth roads, but multiple imperfect surfaces: grass, dirt, gravel, roots.  Without any type of suspension on your bike, those surfaces will destroy your back.  Your legs burn from pushing so hard and your heart rate is maxed out for 45 minutes.  But as Chris (my boyfriend) says, its the most fun you'll have on two wheels.

The season was my most successful season since I started racing cross in 2008.  I have a coach this year and had a structured training plan for the first time in 14 years of racing bicycles.  My road season finished in June.  Mainly because I was starting to burn out.  And I LOVE cross.  I didn't want to burn out.  I needed to take a break before I started focusing on cross non-stop through December.  Once the season started though, I fell in love all over again.  Every weekend Chris and I would pack up the car, load Zuma (our 3 year old Basenji), and head to another race. 

The season started on a high for me, grabbing a 5th place podium finish at Tacchino Cross.  Something I was hoping for, but not really expecting.  My first ever UCI race at Charm City, I crashed and lost about 15 places after grabbing my pit bike.  But I finished.  I had 11 top 5 finishes, with 6 of those being wins.  And after 3 years of actively chasing VACX series points, I won the Women's 1,2,3 series.  My two memorable finishes, my win at Rocktown CX and a 5th place at Capital Cross.  I was able to follow an attack by Sue Haywood and battle it out for the win in Harrisonburg, and at Capital Cross I followed Kelly Fisher-Goodwin for a few laps before I had a mechanical and had to get off the bike.  Kelly ended up winning and I know that I was feeling awesome (I am not saying I had the legs to beat her, but I was comfortably sitting in 2nd place).  Even with the mechanical, Capital Cross is still a race I want to remember.  I see where I have improved to and see what I can do with tough competition.

I'm sorry to see the season come to an end, but I'm looking forward to my extra time next Sunday.  I'm excited to spend the 3 to 7 hours I would typically spend in the car, getting things done around the house.  And I'll admit that I'm looking forward to a couple weeks of unstructured rides.  Saying all of that, I hope I can keep this going.  I realize I probably should have started this in season so I have things to write about, but I know I didn't say anything about myself.  I'll fill y'all in later.