Going out with a bang...

This past weekend was my last race weekend until the Spring. I attended the Jingle Cross weekend in Iowa City, IA and had the time of my life. It was a rather tough course, but not too tough.

On the trip to Iowa City, I was contemplating on signing up for the 3/4 race on Sunday, this in addition to the two races I was already registered. Hey, it was the last race weekend for quite some time and I wanted to have some serious hurt going on.

Saturday morning arrived with temperatures in the mid twenties. To make it even more intense, my race was the first race of the morning at 9:30AM. I arrived at the course around 8AM to pre-ride and get warmed up. Since this was the beginners race, the course by-passed Mt. Krumpet, which disappointed me a little bit. I was glad I signed up for the other race on Sunday because the 3/4's go up it. There was one run-up on the first half of the course and it was a little steeper and longer than Hooligan Hill. Though, thankfully, the beginners course had a smaller run-up than the other races; theirs was twice as long.

Anywho, it was time to race, so we were off. I think this was my best race to date. I ended with 5th place out of 38 and in the money. woo-hoo!!! I stayed and watched the other races and helped cheer everyone on. It got a little warmer, but not much. As the races progressed the course got juicier and juicier, and created some nice ruts in a few spots. Then it was off to Donneley's Pub where the Punk Rock Cycling Team had reserved it for an official Jingle Cross Party. A good time was had by all.

Sunday morning arrived and this time my race was starting at 9AM and the temp was 22 degrees. I really hate the freaking cold. I got a couple of hot laps in, this time Mt Krumpet wasn't really by-passed. The run-up was now up the main slope. Oh know, why did I sign up for two races on this day? I wasn't going to let it deter me, I was going to make today better than the prior day. Also, the ruts created from Saturday were now frozen over, not fun if you didn't pick a good line, which was almost impossible to accomplish.

We were off, I was feeling really spry. Two of us broke away from the main group and we were trucking along. Then half way through the second lap, my curse reared it's ugly mug. After leaving the Grinch's Lair, I was turning around a manure wagon in the gravel and went down. Not only did I just slide out, I landed on my chin. I tasted blood and my teeth were hurting. I should have just gotten back on the bike to keep my second place but I just felt stunned. I got back on and started to pick off the people who passed me. Then on one of the turns on the grass, I slid out again. This time no injuries, just plain frustration. Went back after the people ahead of me. Up the climb on the side of the hill I slipped out again. This time onto my right side. It wouldn't have been much of a deal but I couldn't get my foot unclipped to get back up. I eventually got it and was back in the race. I wound up ticking off enough people to end up 9th out of 42. I think I could have at least gotten 5th or better if we had one more lap.

I got to my car and looked at my chin. It was a tad bloody, so I put a band-aid on it. Then Syd and Marc said I probably had too much pressure in my tires. So I dropped 10psi out of them and prepared myself for the 3/4 race. After watching Saturday's 3/4 race I realized that to have a chance in that race you need to be a high 4 to even have a fighting chance. These guys were monsters. Anywho, after two hours resting and thinking it was time for my last race. I pushed myself, but I did it conservatively. Everything was going good, I knew I wasn't last which was good. Then on the next to last lap disaster struck. I'm not really sure exactly what happened but on the barriers, as I dismounted and picked up my bike, either my foot didn't clear the barrier or my tire clipped it, or it could have been both, but I crumpled on top of the barrier and my bike. The wind was taken out of me but I was determined to go on. However, as I remounted my bike, my shin and knee screamed at me and I knew I was done. So I walked off the course and ended with a DNF. I ended up with an charlie horse the size of a baseball above my knee, my shin ended up with two large bruises and abrasions. Not to mention the bruise to my chest which looks like it was the barrier I landed on to create.

All-in-all, it was a great time and everyone who raced and worked the event did a great job. It was even fun to watch the little kids race the Grinch on Sunday. Of course the Grinch tried to cheat and was disqualified. He did end up being a good sport and gave all the kids a present. I am looking forward to doing this race again next year. At that time I am planning on doing much better, there will be no excuse for not having a podium finish.

As you may have noticed, the racing calendar has been removed. No more races for me until the Spring. This means some serious working out to increase my power. Though with the extra times on the weekends now, I can catch up on my movie watching. hehe