December Racing
I’m one of those people who will try almost anything once. Last weekend I did something that I’d never done before (get your mind out of the gutter, people) … I went to my first Cyclo-cross race.
TR invited me to go watch the race in Boulder. Our friend, Dave Walker, was racing, representing Velo News (popular cycle mag) and there was likely going to be a VeloNews tent, etc. I was excited!!
Pic: TR and Dave after the race.
Typical unpredictable Boulder weather, it turned beautiful on this day and the temp rose to almost 65 degrees. (Of course it snowed the following day, but there you have it.) The race was about 5 miles away so TR and I decided to bike to the event instead of driving.
I could tell immediately I was out of my element. This was an off-road obstacle course of sorts that the riders did in loops. Due to this, it was extremely spectator friendly, albeit with some skillfully maneuvered moves on our part to get to various viewing spots. I felt like I was at my first Ironman race as a spectator; I didn’t know where to go or what to do. TR took charge and yelled, “Follow me, girl!” I did what any independent, type-A, intelligent woman would do: I shut up and followed.
We rooted for various packs of cyclists as they zoomed by while TR and I searched for the VeloNews tent amid the race course layout. When we spotted the tent, we dropped off our bikes and chatted with our other Velo News friend, Kevin Burnette (see pic below).
Kevin wasn’t racing today,instead taking advantage of photo opps!
As the race continued for 45 high-octane, lactate minutes, I watched in awe and horror as packs of riders quickly dismounted bikes and carried them on their backs over terrain that would take longer to bike through than just run across; I was amazed that there were no casualties as the packs descended and jumped, full air, down steep hills and over curbs. I was horrified by knowledge of my own cycling skills I knew were not even basic, and gasped at the idea of even attempting one loop, by myself and not in a race. I would die.
My Timex teammate, Joe Gambles, and his girlfriend, Mary Miller, were also there rooting for Dave. I kept making jokes to them that I would fall flat on my ass if I attempted that thing. As cyclists wizzed by and fearlessly angled turns and jumps that looked incredibly challenging, I only shook my head saying to Mary, “I would have crashed in the first 15 seconds of this race!” She laughed.
The race really was a lot of fun, and it was an impressive sight to behold.
Pic: at the finish line: Dave, me, Joe and Mary
After Dave finished, TR and I inhaled cheeseburgers from the VeloNews grill, got back on our bikes and pedaled home. Where else but Boulder could I have a day like this? Beautiful day, athletic event, no driving required, and cool people.
