Chicago Cyclocross Race #1

Sunday was the first race of the Chicago Cyclocross series. It's only 4 races, so not much of a series, but it will do.

We drop Chris off at my mom's place so she could watch him and spend some time with him while we went to the race. It was a pretty uneventful trip to Carpentersville and we got there with plenty of time to register and get ready. The weather wasn't nearly as nice as it was before we left the house though.

Gina and I registered and changed. Then rode around the park for a bit to check out the course while the current race was going on. The course was pretty flat with several barriers, drainage ditches, and a sand pit to traverse. After cruising a round for a bit, we headed back to the car to drop off our jackets. That's when we realize the course was now open for pre-riding. Cool, I figure that I better check it out. I started riding to realize that I need another layer on for this race. So back I went and grabbed my wind jacket. Ahhh, this is much better. Time to check out the course a bit. The first set of barriers were 3 of them followed by a short but steep up hill. No chance anyone actually can ride up the hill after the barriers. There was absolutely no room. Gotta hike up that sucker and jump on at the top as you go back down. I decide to skip a bunch of shit and mainly get a good look at the barriers. As I begin my way back to the start, I hear them calling out to line up. Damn, they are all the way across the park. I make it to the start line and take my spot in the back. I figure that I might as well start where I'm going to end up anyways.

The races starts and I realize the the field is pretty huge. I think we had over 60 guys. I'm out of shape on my singlespeed mtn. bike, so I mainly concern myself with just pushing it for the duration of the race. On the first set of barriers, we get a bottleneck as some of the lead riders crash and trip over the barriers. The field was a little bit stretched out, so it wasn't too bad I got there. I slowed up a bit, but it wasn't too bad. I cleared the first set of barriers and ran up the hill. Hop back on the bike and ride down the other side. Hey, not too bad I think, but the field is stretching out even more now. I decide to settle in and just concentrate on my riding. I'm not beating a bunch of people that have been racing and riding all season long.

The race continues on pretty uneventfully except for the fact that I felt like I was at my AT while easy pedaling. WTF?!?! I DIDN'T HAVE THE BABY! With all the heavy panting I was doing, I was getting thirsty quick. I reached down for my bottle, only to find that it had abandoned ship without me knowing. Hmmmm... I better keep an eye of for 'em. Around I go, panting, jumping, running, but mainly panting. I lap through again not having any idea which lap I'm actually on ( it was probably 3 or 4 or 5, but felt more like 300 or 400 or 5oo). It says 4 laps on the lap counter (which was supposed to estimate how many laps we'd do based on the times from the first lap or two). BUT IT SAID 4 LAPS LAST TIME. God damn, does time stand still during these races?!?! I'm not superman going so fast that I'm going back in time. I get to the barriers and notice my little friend that had abandoned me. How do I get my bottle that is off the course next to all the barriers? I decided I could make it another lap without him while I try and think of a plan.

Up the hill I run (or did I walk), trying to figure out how to get that bottle. I think I really need it. I'm getting thirsty, like Russell at a PBR plant thirsty. I clear the next set of barriers and hatch a plan. Did I mention at some point I passed someone in my group? Yey me. There had been someone I was riding right behind, but at some point, i fell off his wheel. Apparently, he passed this guy too, because I thought we might have a fight for last place. Oh, back to my plan. See the bottle's contents were badly needed in my belly. I decided that I'd hop the barriers and run up the hill. Then I'd drop the bike, run back and grab the bottle and head back up the hill. Sounds like a lot of work for a measly bottle, but I really wanted something to drink now. Blah, blah through the sand pit, up the hill, back to start/finish. Hey look, it doesn't say 4 laps anymore. I look confusingly at the officials area, then notice a girl sort of ringing a bell. God I hope this is the last lap. See there were a lot of people ring bells and it would be just my luck for her to be one of them.

Well, I take the chance and pick it up a bit. It is the last lap after all. Got to the barriers and eyed up my water bottle real good. I'll be back my little friend. Don't have the time right now. Over the barriers and up the hill for the last time. Boy, this gets tiring. Through the fields and next barriers I went. Half way through the lap, I noticed the guy I had been behind for a chunck of my little race. He's almost in striking distantce. I picked up the pace a touch more and managed to not pass out. I'm clearly gaining some ground and catch him right after we ride through a drainage ditch. Picked it up a little more. The sand pit is just ahead. I had a clean dismount, shouldered the bike and jogged/meandered though the sand. Hmmm... if he didn't catch me in the sand, maybe I have a chance. I hopped back on the bike for the last time (didn't injure the boys once) and gave a good effort up the short steep hill (same hill with barriers on the other side). He STILL didn't catch me. Down I go and pick up my cadence. As I make the final turn, I hear someone coming up behind me. Picked it up yet again. I can't get passed here. I spun my way to the finish and held off who ever was behind me. I'm not sure, but I think it was actually someone lapping me and not the guy I was trying to beat.

I finished. Dropped my bike and headed over to my little friend. See, I told ya I'd be back. Ahhh, cytomax never tasted so good. So I did my first cross race and wasn't DFL. In fact, I don't think I wasn't even second to DFL. God those guys suck.

Things I learned at the race...
1. Cyclocross hurts
2. Don't lose your water bottle
3. Cyclocross is fun

We plan on hitting the 'cross race in Milwaukee at the end of the month. Anybody going?