2007 State CX Championships, B1/cat4 report
I finished 34/95 in the B1 race, 23 for the Cat 4 field
This was my first race in 3 weeks, and my first after a bout of
pneumonia last month. I felt well-recovered, but a little unsure of
how i’d feel, having ridden only once in that 3 weeks, and not at all
hard. As it turns out, i was fine. My lungs weren’t any worse
afterward than any other average ‘cross race; ie., not happy, but not
on fire like when i got sick.
There were a couple of interesting changeups for this race. First and
biggest was the re-arrangement of race waves. I’ve been doing
30-minute C races, but this time the C race was only the cat 4 women
and juniors. I was in the B1 race, 35 minutes, with only cat 4 men and
singlespeeders. This was interesting because i was riding with a few
cat 4s who have been doing mostly B races. Between the extra
competition and being a little cautious pacing myself, i finished
lower than usual as of late, but i’m still happy with it. A nice side
benefit was being able to cheer for people i’d otherwise be racing
against.
The second difference was the course itself, which was a lot different
than the last couple of years. The hilltop usually used for the big
finish line was consumed by giant dirt piles, so course wound around
the park very differently; twistier and more technical, and without
some of the sheer pain (hill climb) and fitness (1 less straightaway)
sections from previous versions. This was probably good for me
overall, given my condition going into the race.
I got a respectable start, in the mid-20s as we came around the loops
for the finish line. I lost a couple of places most laps on the long
runup, but otherwise held steady through the typical reshuffling
through the first 2 laps. The next pass of the finish line showed 4 to
go, which is my longest cx race of the year for me by lap count, but i
was able to pace it ok. By the last 2 laps i found myself leapfrogging
with 2 other riders and getting increasingly annoyed with their
hesitation and sloppy technique around barriers and a couple of the
course sections. Not that i’m a prime example of buttery smoothness,
but i was almost taken out a couple of times when i was trying to
pass. I can’t complain too much as they obviously had a fitness edge,
re-passing me on the straights. I finally had enough though and caught
them both for good 1/2-way through the bell lap and getting almost
within grasp of the next group.
I was really impressed by the strength and speed of the SS racers this
time out. There were 11 of them ahead of me, 3 in the top 5 for the
race. I don’t know if they’re just that good, or if the course was
particularly well-suited to it, but i think i gotta try me some of the
singlespeed racing action.
I didn’t get to hang out for the festivities because my girls were
along to cheer and it was a little cold for them, but it was a lot of
fun to have them to a race. Thanks to my fellow rodents for the
support and another really fun ‘cross season.
–
Bill Connell
St. Paul, MN