Folsom Rodeo Race Report

[E2theD]

Velogirl and I headed out bright and early Sunday morning to our first race of the new cyclocross season. I was all nerves, being a racing virgin and all, but velogirl was great company the whole way which was an amazing help. We arrived and were surprised by the number of women at the event. I think we had 10 women in the C class compared to the 2 from the year before. Maybe girls are catching on to cross? I'll definitely be jumping on that bandwagon. So we got dressed and took off for a few exploratory laps of the course getting back in time to watch the Men C group start. After they took off we fixed a few mechanical issues, got hydrated and took one more lap. They started the Women C group 15 minutes after the A & B's. It was a Leman style start over a mountain of wood chips. Pretty fun but very unstable. On to the bikes and the race had really begun. We had a slow start but luckily I was able to catch up and hang behind velogirl as she passed most of the girls who had gotten a better start. Stayed that way for the first 2 1/2 laps until velogirl had a fall before one of the barriers. Silly me was still not really in a "race" mentality and was about to stop and help her up but she urged me on with a forceful "go, go, go!" So away I went. At that point I was out by myself with no one I could see in front or behind me so I pushed as hard as I could. By the last lap I had a side stitch and was pretty much hyperventilating but once I heard the magic words "one more lap" I continued to give it everything I had. The finish was right after a nice fast descent and it couldn't have come sooner for me. Our group represented with me, velogirl and another velogirl Kim taking 4th, 5th and 6th respectively.

The course was a mix of barriers, fast fun single track, a little pavement, some grass, one very tight squeeze through a gate and a very muddy "creek" crossing. Great race, great company and an all around fantastic time. I'm totally hooked now and am ready to go for next race. I've attached the pic of all three of us velogirls during the start. Here's a link to more pics.

http://www.racemtbikes.com/FlsmCxWmn&Jrs/index.htm

Erin