Sterling

[Sheesh]

Congratulations on finishing! It sounds like a tough race.

So with all that, why do I think this is so much fun???

Funny, I always have the same thought! During the race, I never seem to think it's fun, but after the race, I realize that it really was a blast.

[SheFly]

Congrats on finishing a tough race! Those conditions were brutal - I completely lost my footing at the top of the run-up on the last lap as I was passing someone, and went down on my side. I didn't get ahead of her, and she ended up besting me in the end.

As Wavedancer has said, this was a tough, but fun, course! Tom Stevens is great at designing a challenge. And FWIW, My 5'10" self had trouble with the horse barrier, so I can't imagine how you managed it! I loved the up, 180, down section - the times that I was able to ride it without getting caught behind traffic, or slipping out on the frozen ground. That was the one time I was really cursing the single chain ring up front...

Yup 17 balmy degrees waking up yesterday, followed by a great cross race. I downloaded my stats last night, and saw that my HR average was 178, but hit 192 twice . Guess I worked for that finish - best Verge/UCI placing to date.

Interestingly, many people are at the breaking point with the cross season. I have a number of teammates and friends who have decided that they aren't heading to Nationals, despite being registered and having plane tickets. It's been a long season for sure.

I think I will head to the MRC race in Wrentham next weekend - you going? That will be my last one until Natz.

Congrats again - I thought you looked great out there (and thanks to Brian for not heckling me this week ).

SheFly

[wavedancer]

SheFly had a great race! I only got to see you at the start and when you lapped me going up the run/slip-up. I plan to go to Wrentham. That's the first race I watched last year. It looked like a fun course and I would like to give it a try.

Here's SheFly in her excellent finish:

[SheFly]

SheFly had a great race! I only got to see you at the start and when you lapped me going up the run/slip-up. I plan to go to Wrentham. That's the first race I watched last year. It looked like a fun course and I would like to give it a try.

Here's SheFly in her excellent finish:

Thanks for posting the pic! Yup - I had a good race, but it was all dependant on start position. I was in the front row, so missed all of the pile ups! Gave me a great start (finally) that I managed to maintain for a 5th place finish...

Wow - we really met a year ago already? Where has the time gone???

SheFly

[Voodoo Sally]

I did Sterling, and I felt my worst this season. I wiped out in practice, falling flat on my face over the barriers. In the race, I had a nice start, but, um, then I wiped out at the bottom of that first run-up, and caused a huge pile up. Sorry. I wiped out running up on the ice a time or two. I was overdressed, and had one too many tights on and one too many hats. That horse barrier was the only time on the course that I excelled. Somehow I flew up that thing every time. Alas, I felt like I had nothing and I wanted to quit near the end, but at the last lap line, the official said I could stop - being the first one down one lap.

Nice racing, SheFly and Wavedancer!

Palmer went much better yesterday. I also am planning on Wrentham and Easthampton next week. Before this year, my record number of 'cross races in one season was 9 (last year). This year, it will be 16, possibly 2 more if I do the RI races. The number of 'cross races offered in our region is growing every year, and this year had far and away the most since I started doing 'cross 5 years ago. Also, in my first 3 years, there were usually 8 of us at the start line. Then two years ago, it jumped way up.