Technically, it began about three weeks ago with my final cyclocross race, but I’m only now getting around to writing about it.
My base training for the year, as usual, was abbreviated. We were new to the area, I dragged my feet on getting the proper winter gear (I had only just gotten a nice setup for cold weather back in VA, but had nothing for rain), and then we bought a house, which absolutely killed my mileage. I was catching up from the very start and as a result, more or less missed road season.
By June, I was feeling somewhat fit again, but the season was winding down and all that was really left were the weekly series at Mount Tabor and PIR. I joined up for Mount Tabor, but this being my first year for having to put out real power (I’m more of an endurance rider), I was not at all ready for a constantly up and down race. In the middle of the series, I went on bereavement and missed a few races and training, but came back at the end with a focus of primes (prizes for being 1st place on a certain lap). In the final race I won a bottle of beer for blasting through the first lap. Most expensive bottle of beer ever and it ruined the rest of my race, but winning is winning.
It was now time to do a trail running series up in Forest Park. despite not running much at all and having zero trail running experience, things went pretty well until I severely sprained my ankle. I had to bail on the remainder of the season, saw more abbreviated cycling, and just barely had it back together a month later .
The cyclocross season began with a farm crit. It was my first time on my new bike and my ankle was still pretty questionable, but things went great. I finished in 7th place. Having wanted to get a race in at PIR before the season was out, I made my way over the Tuesday after the CX race and ground my way to 3rd place with plenty of gas in the tank. Things were looking bright.
I finished up the Gran Prix: Ryan Trebon series, which consisted of races across the river in Washington with two 10ths and an 11th place finish. Hurray for consistency! I was finally getting the bike dialed in and feeling quick leading into Cross Crusade.
Unfortunately, I took a little break from racing for a week or two to repair my beat up body (lots of soft crashes, but they add up) and did not do the races that were arbitrarily (I didn’t see them listed anywhere) selected as the call-up qualifiers. Despite finishing pretty highly in the only other series that had been run so far, I would be faced with starting far behind folks I had been beating.
At the first and second races, I started around 60th. They were held on a tight course that didn’t make for great passing. I would only make my way up to the 40s each time. At the third race, I started at the absolute back (80th), but it was more open so I made it into the 30s. Three races down, a bunch of worthless finishes.
I would finally get my chance at the fourth race when I started directly behind the call-ups. Except I was taken out on the first stretch and found myself in dead last (83rd). It was here that I found I was pretty skilled in the mud as I made my way past ~100 folks (there were other groups out at the same time) en route to a 16th place finish. 16th place granted me a single point. I assumed that would finally get me a call-up as I was “in the running.”
The fifth and sixth races were held three hours from home down in Bend. The call-up lists were published shortly a day or two prior and *gasp* I wasn’t on it. A quick e-mail to the race director later, and I was listed. I probably should have pleaded my case to him at the start of the season (he can add folks at his discretion and my results likely warranted it), but lesson learned. Had I not gotten the call-up, there was no way I was driving six hours across mountains to mail in a mediocre placing. But that didn’t happen. I packed the car at 4AM on Saturday and made my way down (Friday night was Halloween and I wasn’t missing that). Despite the grogginess, I pulled a 15th place out of my hat. Hurrah! More points. The following day, 12th. A successful weekend.
The seventh race was back home in Portland. It was a nicely muddy course for me and I was absolutely crushing it until I literally crushed it. I had a light dump on my drive-side, my derailleur seized up, and threw my chain into the spokes. I was in 7th or 8th when that occurred and reeling folks in. After five minutes spent in the pit, I got back out there to cross the line in 60th. This would prove my only mechanical issue all year. Given the conditions and the number of mechanicals I saw others having, I’d say that was a great success. Due to a cold, this would be my last race for the series. Seven out of eight ain’t bad. Due to the few throwaway races, I was nowhere in the overall standings, but I’m thinking I’ve got a real shot at the top next year.
I closed out the season just before heading east for Thanksgiving. CX would end right where it started, at Kruger’s for a farm crit. This time, race than being flat, dusty, and fast, it was cold, muddy, and slow. This race being it for a few months, I poured everything in and came out with a 4th place finish. I couldn’t have been happier (except for if I had gotten 1-3 spots higher).
I had been planning on continuing my training straight through the winter, but my bikes and schedule would have none of it. My road bike decided to explode, resulting in a $600 repair, and my cross bike needed a rest… Or at least that’s my excuse for not getting out there. Perhaps my mind is what needed the rest. I’m getting 4-5 hours in per week and ramping up my running again in preparation of my yearly May 5k and a planned Hood to Coast next year. My bike should be back in my hands within the next day or two and I’m also looking to get involved with an indoor cycling class so the miles will start accumulating again soon. Heck, I typically take all of December off so anything I’m doing this year is better.
Next year? Lots more road racing and about the same amount of cyclocross. I doubt I’ll bust through Cat 4 on the road, but an upgrade to Men’s B in cyclocross is looking like a strong possibility. Ride on.
