bay area super prestige cyclocross #2
photo:julie [really big]
candlestick point, san francisco
2005/10/23
cat b
10th/40
teammates: joe, roger (ss), hans (a/v)
i still haven't mastered the 1:30 start time. tried to eat more throughout the day than last time, but again felt undernourished by the end of the race. got a pretty mediocre spot at the line. i had spun by the starting line about :15 minutes early and it didn't seem like the vultures had started circling yet, so i headed out for another lap around the parking lot. 3 minutes later, the vultures had all descended and claimed their spots. i managed to finagle my way into about the 3rd row after the callups but that's the best i could do. thankfully i was off to the left side, and avoided the pileup on the right. felt complacent in traffic through the first lap though. i wan't feeling much energy to assert for a better position and was still testing how stress affected my knee, so settled into my pace. the knee held up fine, so i think i can put that behind me.
by midrace i was slowly working my way back up to joe who had gotten a strong start, but i had a couple technical errors. dropped my chain once on the dismount before the flat barriers. i heard it come off as i shouldered the bike, and had to stop and put it back on before remounting. also tripped over the lower barrier on the runup. just didn't pick my feet up high enough, dropped the bike and landed on all fours. felt foolish. didn't manage to bridge up to joe. found myself on my own the last couple laps and rode in at tempo, finishing just hard enough to stay ahead of a sprinting threesome coming up from behind.
i'm not shedding any tears over saying goodbye to the 'stick for the season. i think pilarcitos has done a great job with what they have to work with there, but i just don't find it an inspiring venue. i was happy enough with 10th place though. after my 11th in race 1, i hope it will get me a call up at coyote point. a faster, better course for me. i will eat more (nervous stomach be damned), and will probably supplement some caffeine for the late start to get a little more spring in my step.
props to joe for his improving form and successful sprint for 8th. and to lauren for her strong start and authoritative 4th place. she has arrived.
and thanks to my cheering section, julie and jay.
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