NECCS #5 @ Sterling Report 11/24

Elite

27th/37

You know when I don't post for a while after a race I'm not too keen on the result! This is no exception, but with more meaning. This race marked the end of my race season so writing about it really brings closure. The result was expected, but not wished for. My internal alarm clock went off earlier in November that said its time to wake up and take time off. I was mentally and physically ready to get off the saddle for the winter. Thus, I was fairly ambivalent about the event, yet wanted to have a good showing and have fun.

The whole fam was on hand for the finale as we had just spent Thanksgiving at my mom's on the Cape and we were en route to Maine. It was the coldest day of riding yet, with temps around freezing which made for a very hard racing surface. The course was unique in that it included a gravel running track, giant 2 log step up, a super steep run up, and many off-camber sections. I felt pretty comfortable with my bike handling, but I could tell I hadn't practiced fast mounts and dismounts for a while as I was pretty slow there.

All photos by racer/photographer extraordinare Paul Weiss

I lined up at the back of the pack and after 2 laps around the track to spread things out I realized just how not into racing in the red zone I was! I quickly found myself DFL and shifted my mind to survival mode with the hope of not getting lapped. To summarize 60 minutes worth of racing: I settled into a groove I felt comfortable sustaining, rode in a mini-pack of 4 or so, passed some guys, got lapped, season over!

DFL

Babs and the boys were troopers as they withstood the chilly temps as long as they could, then ended up sticking their heads out of the Sequoia's sunroof and cheered from there! I wish I took a picture!

I hung the bikes up and haven't touched them since, although I'm starting to get the desire again which has probably led me to write the report. January 1 training will begin in earnest as I prepare for the 2008 campaign racing semi-pro mtb and Cat. 2 'cross. Until then, its time to enjoy a life not structured around training. I'll be posting random stuff from here, so tune in if you're wicked bored!