#toomuchsuper

     Actually, as difficult as this weekend was, I had a blast and there wasn't enough "Super."  I went into the weekend really expecting a top 15 for both days.  I did not get it.  Neither day.

Bib # 15 represented my goal for the weekend.

     Saturday was an exceptionally beautiful day for the weekend before Thanksgiving.  Mid-60's with crystal clear skies.  The field was 45 deep, and everyone was fast off the line into the first corner and onto an off camber followed by a few more off camber 180's.  Every corner was followed by a climb that was longer than I wanted it to be and the downhills were shorter than I had hoped.  The technical features were few and far between.  Even the stairs that were in the middle of a long climb, did little to help separate those that rode them from those that dismounted and ran them.  At least that's how I looked at it.  Everyone around me seemed to be riding up these climbs without great effort and I was struggling with every pedal stroke.  I finished 16th on the day and was trying to find reasons for me not to be too disappointed.  I decided, though, that Sunday was a new day.  And if the weather forecast was correct, I would be getting a chance to play in the mud (which I love to do)!

Snow-capped mountains while driving to the course.

     I was pretty excited when I woke up Sunday and the ground was saturated from the rain (and snow) from early that morning.  However my dad (travel buddy and pit crew for the weekend) and I got to the course and the sub-freezing temps and howling wind made it a little less exciting than I had initially thought.

I kept reminding myself that Nationals are in Connecticut in January! #crossishere

I actually had the best start on Sunday that I've had all season.  On the same off camber as Saturday's start (except extra slick) everybody in the first 10 spots took the high line one after the other after the other.  I was the first person to take the low line, and found myself 6th wheel after a crash on the high line held a few people up.  The first few turns I felt great.  I was certain I could maintain the effort and get myself another top 10.  The next few turns I found myself spinning tires and going backwards.  It didn't matter who's wheel I followed, I couldn't stay on it.  I handled my bike in the corners well, but through the straights I was losing time.  There were people sliding out all over the place, but I still wasn't making up ground.  I changed bikes every lap and kept Dad busy with the pressure washer.  Two laps to go I had him drop the pressure in my tires and when I changed bikes half a lap later, it was night and day.  I finally felt like I could get somewhere.  Maybe it was mental, I don't know, but I managed to make up two spots after that.  Had I still had another half lap I could have maybe gotten another one or two; there just wasn't enough real estate at that point.  I finished Sunday at 19th place...barely squeaking into the top 20.

Post-race pic with my pit crew.

     Dad did a great job as my pit crew keeping my bikes as clean as possible for me every bike change.  And considering we never practiced bike changes, actually pulled it off fairly seamlessly.  Supercross was not my A race for the season (actually not any of my B races either).  I was not training for this race specifically, and I can't expect to have a great race every time I toe the line.  Yes, I'm a little disappointed in my results, but for me not to take anything away from the weekend would be a wasted trip.

  So a few things I learned on the weekend:
-13 psi is not too low for some conditions.  Its really important to experiment with different pressures more during my pre-ride.  Especially when the conditions are the way they were.
-I raced with leg warmers for the first time in a UCI race and they didn't get in the way at all...extra clothing is not necessarily a bad thing when its warranted.
-Having your pit crew make changes to the bike in the middle of the race is something that should be done without hesitation.  If it will help then do what needs to be done.
-The race is not over until the line.  Keep making adjustments until something works and keep pushing.
-Longer toe spikes are a must for conditions like Sunday.
-Being able to feel your toes and the bottom of your feet is crucial, even more so when there is a lot of off the bike involved.  I should really keep that in mind when putting my kit on before a race.

I know I've learned more just by being there and getting the experience, so to come out of the weekend completely disappointed is not logical.  I'm going into a rest week and then I start looking towards Nationals.  Capital Cross, NCGP, and the final, Rustbucket Race, will be leading me into it.  Here's to looking forward!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

#ucicx #supercrosscx #toomuchsuper #mermaidwinery #mermaidwinecx #tradewindsracing #procx

2016 Cross Season - 2 Months In, 2 Months to Go

     I'm two months into my 2016 cross season and I can't believe that there's just under two more months until Nationals.  The sad part is there are much fewer races that I'll be able to get to in the last two months than the first two.  This season has definitely been one for me to remember.  And as bad as my memory is, I'm kicking myself a bit for not doing a post more often.  If no other reason than to help me remember!  So without further adieu, here's a brief recap of my cross season to date.

Kicking off the season at Nittany CX.
#cxishere
Photo: Marci Fulton

Nittany Cross

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

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

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.  

Unlike past years, the sand pit was one of my favorite elements of the race.
#ucicx #charmcitycx #playinthesand
Photo: Jason Calderon

I finished with a 13th place Saturday and couldn't have been more pleased.  Sunday was much drier, and definitely more power oriented.  Because of the C1 status, more UCI points were on the line, and the field was stacked a little deeper than Saturday.  I finished with a 20th place, but still not disappointed one bit.

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.

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.  

Women's 1/2/3 start at Bennett's Creek.
#vacx #rogueveloracing
Photo: Erica Cline

I left Bennett's Creek Park with a 1st and 2nd place in the women's and men's races!  Sunday, Alex came down again from DC for the State Championships.  She came into the race at a disadvantage after racing earlier and winning the Women's 35+ state championships.  That gave me enough of an edge to pull away from her in lap 3 to bring home the state championship for the Women's 1/2/3!

     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

Vivication Venture

I want to, this year, see if I can revive this thing.  I keep thinking how I need to post just a small something on here occasionally, but I've had so many things happen since two years ago that I'm never quite sure where to start.  The only thing I can think to do is with my most recent news.

#MermaidWinery #MermaidWineCX

I went down to Asheville, NC for the 2016 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships.  After much debate about which race to do (Elite or "Baby" Masters), I decided to go for the more motivating goal of a podium for the Masters Race.  After a mechanical 50 yards into the race put me through the first corner in dead last, that goal quickly faded.  However I managed to stay focused, switch bikes in the pit (thanks to my awesome pit crew Christopher and Michael), and ride my way back up to the 3rd step of the podium.  That was the hardest thing I've ever done on a bicycle.  The course was an awesome, epic, technical, course with so many fun, demanding elements.  I hope this can become a race that makes it onto a regular calendar sometime in the future.  #cxnats #ashevillecx16 #babymasters

USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championship
Women's Masters 30-34 Podium

This past cross season I had more UCI races on the calendar than I ever have: twelve.  I traveled to Pennsylvania, Maryland, D.C., New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Tennessee.  I raced against some of the best women crossers in the country, and came away with twelve- top twenty (including two- top fifteen and one- top ten) finishes.  #ucicx

I only did a few local races.  The Road World Championships were here in Virginia and that skewed the schedule just a bit.  A lot of the early local races were cancelled or rescheduled to weekends where there was a conflict with a larger race that I had planned to do.  I know the #VACX series and race promoters work hard at putting on good events...I wish I could make it to more.  The VCU guys did a great job with their Richmond race, I had a blast at the State Championships in Charlottesville (finally got my first top step at a State Championship race), and the Rogue Velo Racing guys/gals always do a good job with Mt. Trashmore.

The one regional race I made it to was Tacchino CX in Upper Marlboro, MD.  That was the first time in a while that I went into a bigger race with the mindset of winning.  I went in thinking it, and came out living it.  Being able to visualize and then achieve that goal was a big deal for me...something I haven't been able to do for a while.  And something that I did, and will continue to, build on in the future.

My first W in a long time at a regional level race!

The past couple of road seasons I'v tried to focus my efforts to work for my teammates.  Every year my #TradewindsRacing gals become closer, and I want to work as hard as I can for them.  They're a great group of gals and I love having them next to me.  I can't wait for this season to get started.  Keep an eye out for us, we'll be at many of the local and regional races!

Most of the ladies at #MermaidWinery celebrating
Emily and Sally's babies!

So that's the 2015-2016 racing season.  Fun and very memorable.  I don't typically like to brag about my accomplishments (thanks for bearing with me), but I finished on a high note, and took away a lot from this past year.  I look forward to what the future is going to bring.  I'm also looking forward to making these posts a more regular thing again...

In case anybody didn't know, and because it's been that long since I've posted anything on here, 2014 had some big news for Chris and I!

The Smallest Nutshell I Could Find

     Okay folks.  This was my cyclocross season in the smallest nutshell I can find.  The season started back in September with Jamestown CX and Charm City CX.  Charm City was a decent weekend...I finished up 12th on Sunday, my highest placing in that race to date, but not feeling 100%.  I felt like I needed one more weekend to feel great.  Julie Hunter (who had an amazing season this year) mentioned that she wanted to go to Massachusetts the following weekend for GP of Gloucester, but didn't want to go by herself.  That left me wishing I could go and Chris askng me 'why not?'. So, I decided and by the time we got home from Baltimore, Julie had someone to go to MA with.
 
     GP of Gloucester the following weekend should have been great.  It started out with an uneventful trip up with 4 bikes, 9 wheels, tools, bags, and a trainer in the back of Julie's Honda Fit.  A large feat on its own!  The venue was awesome.  The course was right on the water in Stage Fort Park.  The water was just as blue as it is in Florida.  Small white sails scattered the harbor in every direction.  Beautiful.

This was my view while warming up on Day 1 in Gloucester, MA.

We get to the line.  One of the largest mass start races I've ever competed in.  There were over 50 women in the Pro 1/2 field and quite a few big name pros.  I would like to say that I wasn't nervous at all, but I would be lying.  But my legs felt great and I was hoping for a top 25 finish.  Call ups took a little while and I had a spot on the left side a few rows from the front.  Not a terrible spot overall.  Twenty seconds after the whistle however, I thought otherwise.  Into the first S-bend turn, everybody bunched and my front wheel stopped.  Quickly.  And I hit the ground just as quickly.  My shoulder hurt and my head was throbbing.  Somebody ran over me and I curled up in a ball trying to keep more people from hitting me.  Everything got quiet and I took stock of what was broken.  I thought, certainly my collarbone.  F***.  900 miles to hit the ground.  There were people around me pretty quick.  Stacey Barbosa was the gal who went down with me.  She was checking on me (thank you!!!) when the paramedics - who were conveniently 10 feet away during this - told her that she could get back on her bike if she was okay.  The paramedics walked me off the course to the ambulance - again only 10 feet away - and sat me down.  The onsite Dr found us, did some field tests, and decided I needed x-rays on my shoulder and my cheekbone.  The hospital was 5 minutes away.  But I obviously wasn't there by myself and besides, I had to watch Julie finish here race.  I could at least yell at her to go faster...

It got caught on video if you haven't seen it yet...  GP Gloucester Elite Women's Highlights Day 1 by dirtwire.tv

     Small nutshell.  Right.  Anyway, the ER visit was quick and uneventful, and I was told that I didn't have to worry about any broken bones.  The grocery store, a shower, and sleeping were all pretty painful.  But, we still had made a 900 mile drive, one way, for this race.  And with that I was able to justify racing on Sunday.  My goal, don't get last, don't get lapped, and don't get pulled.  Check, check, and check.  And I took a dollar hand-up!  Wasn't able to do much for my results, so I may as well have a little fun!  So that's the weekend.  We got back at 3:30 Monday morning.  I crashed on Julie's couch and made it home to see Chris off to work, walk Zuma, and get to work myself.

     The following weeks consisted of doctors visits, a separated shoulder diagnosis, and the doctor saying I didn't need surgery and activity as tolerated.  So, I raced.  After all, I could tolerate the pain.  I'm pretty sure that's what the doc meant...  I couldn't imagine making any more big trips at less than 100%, so my new focus was trying to get enough points to win the VACX series.  I was doubtful that I had any chance.  It took a few last place finishes for me to finally take a weekend off of racing.  And then I decided to do 50+ miles worth of mountain bike racing the weekend after that.  Smart, right?

     But I couldn't miss the Tidewater Mountain Bike Challenge.  Its one of my favorite events.  The two 20-25 min Mountain Crits Saturday and the 20ish mile Single Speed race were wearing on me by the time the Pro/Expert race came around.  Four laps into my second race Sunday and I'm absolutely cooked.  But everybody was hanging around yelling for me like I was lapping the field or something.  That's weird, this many people don't usually hang out for the end of the Pro/Expert races.  Chris' friends are here, but they missed his race.  Weird.  Oh well, they're taking pictures... may as well smile like I feel great!  Coming across the line I feel like I should raise my arms with all these people cheering.  I need to be last more often apparently!  So anyway I got second for the Women's Trifecta (overall points for the Mountain Crit, Single Speed, and Pro/Expert). As I get ready to step down, here comes Chris in a coat and tie.  Well damn, it all kinda makes sense now.

 

And in case you couldn't hear, I said 'yes, of course!'

     So obviously, the proposal left me on a kinda high the next few, well months really.  I'm actually still on it...  I had a few more races until I finally had my first win of the season.  The race at Bennett's Creek was the closest I've felt to normal in a long time.  It was really a huge mental boost for me.

The jump at Bennett's Creek

An uphill sprint finish in Luray with Misty Tilson left me feeling good about taking a second place behind her.  I kept thinking then that I could actually have a shot at the series.  A muddy race at Trashmore the last weekend of the series left me feeling great.  Not great enough to go to Boulder for Nationals, but great about salvaging my season.  The win left me with the VACX series championship.

     So that's it.  My cyclocross season in what turned out to be a pretty big damn nutshell.  It was a good season overall I guess.  Just got thrown off a bit in the beginning.  Anyway, a big congratulations to Julie H for her phenomenal season.  And congratulations to Sally M for an awesome season as well.  For those who haven't seen me, this was how I celebrated:

A big thank you to Rosie at Shear Touch in Yorktown for helping me donate my hair to Locks of Love

     So long for now.  Thanks for reading even though its been a few months.  Road season starts this month.  Maybe I'll be a little more vigilant with this thing...