At Least You Suffered

So it has begun. Cyclocross. Lapping the course –

1) Full gas, all out, keep up with the front;
2) recover, stay where you are;
3) battle self doubt, why am I here? Quit. Just Quit.
4) Repeat No. 3.
5) After this, the bell lap.
6) Full gas, again.

September in NorCal Cyclocross means Livermore. The course is flat, fast and can be dangerously hot. Mark braved the first race of the season, lining up with fit roadies coming off their peak season to take a solid 10th after a late in the race crash. Last week saw rain showers dampening the coarse, teasing the racers of muddy dreams while still delivering dust, just less of it.

Mark got off with the Bs, racing to a strong 5th place taking vertical pandas’ second podium spot of the season (Alex battled back from a slow start to take second in the K7-10!) Mike and I started 30 seconds back, now Master 35+ Bs. I raced well, despite a hacking cough taking 18th. I felt good in the first lap, staying with the tip top boys, but faded. I needed to turn on the gas a bit more, and push a bigger gear if I want to get results that will impress Directeur Sportif Van De Bobke (VdB). After the race, all VdB could say was, “At least you suffered.” True that.

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