What a perfect fall day for a race in the park on the lakefront! Huge race fields, super enthusiastic spectators, fast course that's good for me, what more could you ask for? Well, I was kind of nervous about all the glass in the parking lot and on the paved trail, but it didn't turn out to be an issue, at least for me. And I wish I had gotten to chat with a few people that I missed, but that's the way these things always go. I had a great time!
Thanks to the promoters, volunteers, and officials who put on the race.
Looking through the race results tonight, I was thinking how it was kinda cool that, with a few exceptions, I know many of the race winners. And quite a few of the others close behind them in the standings. I mean that in a living vicariously sort of way... I may only be mid-pack this year myself, but I can be happy for all of them - it must feel great to get the 'cross season off to such a good start. Congrats to everyone, no matter where they placed, who raced their heart out! Congrats to race winners Lou from the Pony Shop (masters 30+), Ben P. (Cat 3, but not for much longer!), Devon H.(Cat 1/2/3 women - she killed us all in Cat 4 last year and now she's winning Cat 1/2/3!), Debbie P. (Cat 4 women), and Mike S. from the Pony Shop (Cat 1,2). Holly (3rd, Killjoy, rocking the new hot pink jersey) and June (2nd, Active Endeavors) both had awesome rides in a strong field in women's Cat 1/2/3. It was great to see long-time mt bike teammate Tim B. take 3rd in the masters 40+, and catch up with him after the race. Tim used to do alot of mountain bike racing, but now we only get to see him at 'cross races! Goat had a strong ride in Cat 1,2, (coming oooh so close to the cash), especially considering he was traveling in a "foreign country"! I also noticed several Turin guys out there - Chris D., Christian, and possibly Joe. Evanston was well represented, I think.
Pete R. had some bad luck with his seat in his second race, but because he dropped out, we got a chance to catch up. Pete has a wonderful idea - he is donating $300 to the top two juniors in the series. Thanks to Pete for his generosity. We should all be thinking of ways to get young riders involved and help them with the various hurdles they might face (financial, transportation, etc.) Kevin K. toughed it out for a good result in the masters race and even entered the Cat 1,2 although he felt absolutely terrible from a cold. Hope you feel better soon, Kevin. Thanks to June and Jennifer G. for giving me some tire deflation advice (and literally letting air out of my tires) before the race. It helped. I joked with them that if they had been in my race I wouldn't have trusted them to let the air out of my tires, in case someone just happened to let it ALL out (ooops! sorry, did I do that?).... Like me, Gina K. also skipped the WORS race in Iola to go to the cross race. I saw Brad M. and Sara on bikes rolling around, but needed to warm up and didn't get to talk to them. I got to briefly say hey to both Tom F. and Fran of Killjoy and their son who is growing up so fast! I was glad to see that Chris McN. was looking alive and well at the race after having been almost run over (intentionally) by an angry driver in an SUV on a group ride on Saturday.
Thanks to everyone who cheered me on! I couldn't always tell who was yelling, but it made all the difference - it got me fired up when I felt like backing off and giving up. (Not the dropping out kind of giving up, but the not trying very hard anymore kind of giving up.) Julie and her crew at the Pegasi tent were radiating cheer and enthusiasm for cross, it was refreshing. Thanks, Julie, Ben, and Goat. Goat was riding around the course and cheering, which was just what I needed - no slacking off in the back stretch by the bushes, there's Jeremey cheering, have to keep moving! And thanks to Julie, Ben and their teammates for their tent hospitality. I also got to "officially" meet Julie, Ben, and Julie's WEMS share-a-bike teammates Amanda and Kisha, who I often see at WEMS races. The women do 12 hour races sharing one bike! Mike and Britt were cheering at a barrier, thanks, that barrier and uphill was hard. I am probably forgetting someone, and I apologize.
As some of you know, I had a tough time deciding whether to do cross or go to Iola. I do think maybe I should have gone to Iola. I loved being at the cross race, but I realized that the Iola course would have actually been easier on my back than the cross course, given that I would have had full suspension at Iola. After doing every WORS race but one in the last few years, it felt really really strange to be missing one.
I am falling asleep at the keyboard, so the actual race description will have to wait.
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2 comments:
I'm so glad you didn't go to Iola. C'mon, you can ride trail any day. How often do you get to ride through a city park like that??
I find it silly that people think sharing a bike for WEMS is odd- we just think of that as the way things are.
True, a race in the park in the city is special, that's one of the reasons I stuck around!
But I did still go through WORS withdrawal. I haven't missed one in a couple of years, it felt VERY weird not to be there.
As for the bike sharing, it's pretty cool. But remember that many racers are the type of person (myself included) who feels much better if they have two of everything along at a long race like a WEMS, in case something goes wrong.... two bikes, two pairs of shoes, etc. etc.. So they are probably mystified by the idea of three people getting by with one bike!
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