2009 Cyclocross Finale: Nationals

I did it.  I competed in the national championship race.  Amazing experience.

Bend is a bit of a drive for me, so I made an overnight trip of it.  I drove there Friday afternoon, and went home early Sunday morning.  That's a lot different from my normal routine of arrive/race/get home for dinner.  I brought along friends Hugh and Monty to take in the sights and sounds of the national championship.

Most of my fellow competitors were in the same boat.  2000 people came to race this weekend, along with who knows how many spectators accompanying them.  The racing started on Thursday, which meant by Saturday, everyone who'd raced the previous two days were out watching the races.   In short, there were a lot of very enthusiastic spectators out there.

Clearly, I'm no PRO, but MAN I do love cyclocross.  And the scene in Bend this weekend...well it doesn't get much better than that for a guy like me.  So many crazy spectators.  So much energy.  And the course?  Awesome.  I'm still smiling when I remember riding through the tunnel of screams by the beer garden, or the crash-hungry crowd willing us through the long off-camber section.  Doing what I love to do on an super fun course while getting screamed at by thousands of people...YEAH!

So how did my race go?  I had a blast, it was great.  My result was quite underwhelming, but I'm still smiling, so I did something right.  Turns out I was the last sucker to ride the lead lap.  As I rode through the finish line with one lap to go, the announcers went nuts.  The fans went nuts.  The screams were unreal.  Why were they screaming for me like that?  I looked back just before leaving the asphalt to see the race winner holding up his arms.  Ahh, that makes sense. 

I tried to catch the guys in front of me on my last lap of my cyclocross season.  I got awfully close, but I just couldn't do it.  When I crossed the line, I was wiped out, nothing left.  I hunched over my bike and closed my eyes for a second to catch my breath and come to grips with what I just did.  My season was over.  I was the last guy on the lap.  I was kind of embarrassed, maybe a little disappointed.

But then I opened my eyes, and there were friends of mine smiling at me.  We talked about the race, the course, and how fun it was.  Nothing but encouragement.  It was the best five minutes of my weekend,  and I don't think I'll ever forget it.

So I guess I finished 75th (out of about 140 I think).  Not so great but that field contained some very serious, dedicated and talented athletes.   Every year I do this, I learn something.  I learn new technical skills, like how to ride through really thick mud without tipping over.  I also remember how it feels to finish a race like this, and all the little segments where I knew I could go much faster with just a little bit more fitness.  I can certainly do better, and that's what I'll be gunning for in 2010.

The bike worked great, no mechanicals.  I had one crash at the base of the stairs and several close calls saved by a quick foot stomp on the ground.  And it was muddy!  Gotta love the mud.  Mud in Bend, who would have thought. 

I got to see a lot of people I don't normally get to hang out with.  John and John from Bailey Bikes were there.  Brent Prenzlow was also there representing SoCal.  And I finally met the infamous GeWilli, a crazy cyclocrosser from New England.

So thanks everyone for the wonderful experience.  I had a blast.  I will be back next year. 

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more adventures.

Race photos courtesy Matt Westermeyer.  Thanks!