I winned!*

This year is my fourth season of racing 'cross. I remember back in 2006 when my good friend Cris told me that I needed to "try" a 'cross race to see what it was like. I finished 14 races that season, and have been hooked ever since.

Despite wins on the road and on the MTB between then and now, I haven't been able to get a win on the 'cross bike. Last weekend at Green Mountain, that changed - finally! Of course, I had to race the "old ladies" (W 35+) to get the win, but I'll still take it.

I was excited when I saw there was going to be a Master's Women's field, and signed up for that category to support the effort, and in the hopes that more promoters would offer a field specifically for Master's Women. The only downside? We raced at the same time as the 3/4 women (same start time - no gap), but had to stage IN THE BACK ROW! DOH! It was a challenge to get past many of the women in front. I pulled a bit of a dicey move, starting in the middle of the last row, taking 3 pedal strokes, and moving immediately to the far right to move my way up the field.

I could see the leaders of the 3/4 race ahead of me, and put my head down to make as much progress as I could. Part way through the third and final lap, I looked and could see the 2nd place woman in my field behind. At that point, the race was mine to lose, and I didn't want her to catch. I buried myself, running scared, to the line - using the 3/4 field as rabbits (I passed my teammate, but she passed me back and I was too gassed to get back by her). I managed to cross the line ahead of the remainder of the 35+ field to take my first ever 'cross win! Wahoo!

Sunday's race wasn't as kind. I got stuck in some 3/4 traffic forcing me to come to a complete stop at one point, and the leaders were gone. Every time I would catch on, they would accelerate and I couldn't respond. I finished just off the podium in 4th place on Sunday, disappointed that I hadn't had a better race.

The next Verge series race is in New Gloucester, ME, and the promoter has also added a W 35+ field! Looking forward to getting out and trying my hand again. Before then, there is a lot of racing to do - starting with Suckerbrook tomorrow!

*Disclaimer - the grammatically incorrect title was written by an English major ;)

Awesome! Congratulations, SheFly! Great photo, too :D

Let us know how you do tomorrow and beyond!

kick a**! congrats!

Woohoo! Happy dance!

Veronica

Awesome!
DH laughed out loud when I showed him the picture... because you look so happy.

Nice work!! I hearby declare you Mistress of the Masters!

-- gnat!

You rock, SheFly! I didn't see you today, but heard you had another strong finish. Thanks for getting me hooked, too. I'm still lovin' it off-the-back!

Congrats, Shefly!

Congrats!You rock. My husband and daughter do cross and love it ,someday I might too. I gotta say you are inspiring .Next year Ill be 40 and that might be a good year to start if they have womens masters here.

Whooo hoooo! Congratulations!

I saw my very first cross race yesterday, and they only had two women. They were jokingly trying to talk me in pulling my LHT off the bike rack - LOL!

Woot woot! Way to go SheFly!

Good job!