One Speed

I came into the race today feeling a bit listless, tired, irritable, and stressed. It's halfway through the semester, and it's that time when things start ramping up, and the inevitable midterm exams arrive. I knew this feeling would come sooner than later, especially when I've been steamrolling through the 'cross season, and paying lesser regard to studying.

Still though, getting outside, thrashing my legs, and gasping for air during a 'cross race does something to revive my mind and spirit. It was literally an afternoon break from exam studying today, and Chris and I drove out to Golden for the Schwab Cycles CX #3 race. It was held atop South Table Mesa, at the CSP test track. Not your typical stopping grounds for 'cross, and more than a few people were disgruntled by the extreme presence of tire eating goatheads. I was glad I was running my tubulars, but was still wary during the warm-up... there were even goatheads on the pavement!

With my legs feeling a bit sapped from the last few weekends of hard racing, I aimed to make this race a "hard workout." While I always race my hardest (and get my money's worth), I knew today was a day to focus on the small details and technical aspects of the race that will pay bigger dividens down the road.

I got my front spot on the line, but when the gun went off, my legs just didn't have their usual snap. I was immediately engulfed and sat mid-pack for the first couple laps.
I got into a groove and passed people back as the laps counted down, but I had only one speed today.
My focus on the details paid off as I cleared all the barriers efficiently, cornered well, had no crashes or major technical errors, and no mechanicals.I finished 13th overall, and 4th in Cat 2. With one month of the 'cross season remaining, I know there is still room for some big improvement. The best thing I can do from here on out is get some R&R (in between late nights studying of course), and be ready for the CO state cx champs when December rolls around.