end of CX...

So its been nearly a month....I am pretty sure the few people who get this in their email have survived... if not, we need to talk! There has been Xmas, New Years, illness, ind0or soccer, gymnastics meets, and cyclocross races. Before going continuing I have to pat Marja on the back:

Yesterday (last weekend) was the Sac CX Series finale out at Granite Bay. Marja was excited but also ready for the season to be over....it's been a LONG one. I was on the far end of the course at a nasty little sand pit that had a hairpin turn with a drop into it....I was hoping to see some good carnage. The Women's race started, and I could see a great distance down to the women's first turn.... A big bunch hit the turn followed by several stragglers. THEN I SEE MARJA???!!!

I was trying to figure out what happened to her bike. I had ridden around shifting and tuning before she started warming up, oh crapp what did I miss???? Marja's Mom had made it down so I was really bummed to see her already minutes behind the lead group. Turns out she got slammed at the start from her left shoulder and hit the ground, with her left shifter/brake lever turning parallel with her bars. After she tried to straighten them, Rich (race director) jumps in and beats on her brake lever to straighten it out and sends her on her way....

Marja comes through on her first lap

to the pit and she is so out of breath she couldn't really tell me what happened. She is 2:50 down on Joan and Emily leading the race. Thats about 1/3 of a lap. I can tell she is pissed and pushing really hard. Her face is totally expressionless. Next lap, she has made her way past a few riders and is now 2:20 down on first. I just keep telling her to not give up and just bury herself.... she didn't need me telling her that, she was doing it.

Each lap she made up more and more time. With 2 to go, the pit is 100 yards from the finish, she has caught 3, 4, 5, and 6th place. She is trying to pick her way through the girls before dropping into the pit. The leader of the group won't let her by, and as she drops into the sand another tries to cut under her. She wisely hops of and starts running the pit to the barriers and gets over the barriers shoulder to shoulder with the gal in 3rd. Keep in mind I am screaming at her that this is the last lap and and its now or never. Marja loses the sprint to the line in the distance when I notice that two of the other girls are still racing...

HMMMMM??? One more lap....Oooopppsss

I am either going to be dead, by Marja's hands, or the other girls will crack! Lucky for me the other girls couldn't hold her pace for the bell lap and she held on to 3rd overall, only 1:38 behind second and 1:55 behind the winner. Marja put on a serious show of strength in that race after what happened to her at the start and trailing by so much. It was really fun to watch!

For me, well I did the Folsom Rodeo Cross race on December 19 on my single speed. The single speeds started at the back, 40 seconds behind the Men B and 20 seconds behind the Masters. The first lap was chaotic with traffic but I was feeling pretty good. As we are finishing lap one, dropping into the parking lot from the grass I get a little "confused" with the white tape....long story short I start sliding into the tape on the inside of the corner dropping into the asphalt and have to re-enter the course after the group I just passed passes me back...bonehead!!

By the time we are in the coral area I passed them back and was in 2nd overall. Trying my hardest to catch the B rider that started 40 seconds ahead of me. The whole race I felt great, always pushing. Pretty soon I was completely alone with one guy in front of me trying to catch him but he would stay ahead of me. What a fun course out there!! A little of everything!!

After the race, my left elbow, that was hurting is now killing me. Tendinitis. Luckily I think I am slowly getting past it, but still not racing it. MTB season is too close and my SS needs my elbows on the climbs. Might be good rest for the miles that are going to start piling up here pretty soon.

So here we are today....it dumping outside, more importantly its blowing 30, gusting to 50mph. Or so they say on the news. Whatever its blowing, its windy. Time to get to know my trainer again and get the old Orange Crush ready to roll: my 1995 Stumpjumper equipped with a 1x9 drivetrain and slicks sporting full fenders for the winter!! Just throw on the rain pants and the rain jacket and life is good....good as it gets at least playing with El Nino!!