Carpenter Park Cross

[Sheesh]

Today was my second cross race - and I almost didn't race!

I don't know what I did on Friday, but I must have done something to hurt my back. Friday night, my lower back started hurting and it was worse on Saturday. This morning, the left side was no longer hurting, but the right side still hurts when I bend in a certain way (or when I look down). Thankfully, when I did my test ride this morning to see whether I could race, I didn't hurt at all doing any of the things necessary to make it through the cross course.

The weather today was beautiful! It was about 70 degrees, but very windy. The 1/2/3 women, then the 4 women, then the juniors all raced together. This time, I was lapped by some of the 1/2/3 women and 2 of the juniors, but I don't think I was lapped by anyone in my own field. There were 10 women in the 4s, and I finished 10th. But, as I explained to my husband, I'm not really "racing", I'm just out there doing my ride. I think it's a huge accomplishment just to finish the races during my first year, and maybe next year I will be able to actually "race".

The course was described as "fast", but I had trouble going anywhere near "fast". I think there were three sets of barriers, two of which were followed by a jump over the creek-bed (thankfully there wasn't any water in the creek-bed!), and a sand pit. It felt like every time I started getting up some speed, I had to slow down and jump off the bike, just to repeat the process all over again. At least I didn't hit any barriers this time! I finished without any scrapes and just a bit of a bruise on my shoulder from carrying the bike through the sand pit.

Not a bad way to spend a Sunday!

[SheFly]

Congrats! Sounds like fun. I especially like the "jumping over a creek bed" description - we don't have anything like that here!

You will learn that bruises are a part of 'cross. If I were to go to the DR for anything right now, I think she would call the police on DH....

Keep at it, Sheesh! You will improve over this season and then look out for next year! Great job.

SheFly

[cycling_sarah]

Congrats on finishing your 2nd race! I hope your back feels all better soon!

[wavedancer]

But, as I explained to my husband, I'm not really "racing", I'm just out there doing my ride. I think it's a huge accomplishment just to finish the races during my first year, and maybe next year I will be able to actually "race".

Not a bad way to spend a Sunday!

Congrats on your second race Sheesh. I know what you mean by just doing the ride. I have felt that way for all three of my rides. It is creeping up on me, though, this competitive spirit. I'm thinking about what I need to work on, how to get faster. I obviously need to work on the mounts/dismounts/barriers. There are still way too many Monty Python moments for me! I also need to push myself more on the fast parts to make up time. I have never done any racing at all before so I figure getting out there, having fun, and finishing are good enough goals for now. And maybe not getting lapped by the women in my field

[Sheesh]

Wavedancer - My thoughts exactly!