2 Races This Weekend in Missoula
This morning I am sitting at the Break Espresso with not one but two day olds and a cup of coffee. The day old selection at 6 a.m. is quite good. I scored a almond croissant and a lemon scone. If I wanted I could also score a patented Break Carmel Roll ... Yummy! On the way in I drove by the spot where someone was killed last week and to see all the signs and flowers gave me a somber feeling and I was glad that I didn't bike by this morning (Marcy wanted to go for a ride). It would be weird to go by doing the same thing that ended a life. So let us think about some good stuff; Cyclocross Racing this weekend in Missoula. Today at McCormick Park and tomorrow at Playfair Park .
I am now just finishing up the almond croissant :) .. The first race of the weekend will be at McCormick Park and Osprey Stadium. This will be an exciting event as there will be podium girls, beer, music, and an announcer to get the crowd going. Did I mention that the premier race will be under the lights. I will be in the Masters category (hopefully) and will be an hour before that at 6. This is good news for me as Wednesday nights have proven that I can not race cat A, although I like posing as a contender.
Ok now I am on to my lemon scone .... The second race is Sunday morning at Playfair Park, 3100 block of Russell Street, Missoula. This too is exciting because it is right in Missoula. There is no excuse to miss it! The hard thing about this race is that it is going to be run in under 15 hours from the day before. I like that! Like the tour!
Ok, finishing things up now. So there you have it a race weekend in Missoula Montana. I am hoping to keep my mind open and erase all the pain from the last two Cyclocross races and focus on some healthier barriers. Trying not to think that I am the slowest crosser in town I will explore the feeling deep down inside that I could be just as fast as the rest of the pack. If not ... well racing is just cool!
Race Report - MBRA #2 (Play Fair Park)
The course was completely flat with the only bump in the course after a 20 mph straight away. There was no cool run ups like the night before. It was interesting though. It was a longer course with less dismounts. The loop was about a lime and a half and wound through the baseball diamonds at the park behind the YMCA. There was a triple barrier run in the grass (Thank God), and a single barrier with a small incline half way through. The other running sections included a sand box, a playground pit, and bleachers (like big cement stairs).
The weather was a big story ... COLD! It was real cold but thankfully I was at a cross race. You never get cold Cyclocross! I figured I would do well considering most of the racers were out all night parting it up[ after last nights fantastic ride. So there were about 10 or 11 in the masters category. The turnout had more racers but less fans.
The grassy corners would be my downfall of the race. On about lap three as I was gaining on my opponents and even some "A" riders I found myself in a pile up. I came around a corner where an A rider had crashed I did the wrong thing and touched my brakes. I slid out of control crashing into him. Once again my derailleur was bent in and my shifters on the bars were bent. I sent a little time bending everything back before I jumped on to regain the chase just as I did the night before. My bike had new decor as grass was protruding from every crack. My body covered in scratched and my ankle bleeding.
I did finally chase down the guy that mentioned that yesterday's race as not a real Cyclocross course and I felt good about that. i also felt good that for the first time I did not get lapped. In the end though I ended up in 7th.
Race Report - Thunder and Lightening
The course was about a 3/4 mile loop that ran into the Osprey Stadium and then under a rail road track back into the start finish area complete with a beer garden.
The weather was a pleasant 50 some degrees with intermittent sunshine to brighten up an already bright spot in Missoula. This race, its course, and venue was awesome. There was numerous spectators and they made the little even seem like a big time cross race.
My condition was not as good. The Wednesday Night Race three days before rendered me with a pulled thigh muscle. The injury did not rear its ugly head until I went out for a practice ride. As soon as I went for the triple barriers I felt a tearing/burning sensational and within the hour I could barely walk. The thigh hurt like the dickens.
Just as I decided to withdraw from the race my friend Rb pulled up and I decided to continue on. He showed up and I had to fight the good fight for all the peaceful mountain bikers. I had to go up against the roadies. I would go down with a fight.
Go down I did! The race started pretty well and I was with the lead group. On the first lap I miss cued the course and fell back to fourth. Just as I was catching back to the first place position I had a mishap in the single track. It was just before the run up and I was dismounting. Just as I put my hand on the lower tube the back wheel hit a rock or something and taco ed. I fell back and my full body weight crushed my rear derailleur and bent the hanger.
I was able to pound the back wheel so it would turn in the frame and release the brakes. The wheel was wobbly but I could ride. I had no shifting so the rest of the race was a mixture of single speed and random gear changes. Ghost shifts.
I caught back up to fourth and just missed a podium finish. There were podium girls and it was my dream to go there. I could into be completely disappointed because the race was fun and watching with my friend RB was the highlight of my weekend.