Thursday, November 4, 2010

Southern Pines Cyclocross Race NCCX #1

Well this race not too far from house. Got there in plenty of time. My 2nd attempt at the masters 35+ races. Legs felt loose, they were behind on getting registration going, so slowed up stretching and warm up time. Race at 1000 hrs in am on Sat. Oct. 23rd, 2010. Very fast and not technical course. Lots of lfats few short uphills and only trouble area was mid length climb up fireroad which turned completely into loose sand up top. Got to starting line and ready to go,  whistle blow and off we go.  Starts stright and then loops a little to sketchy run around a tree(quick short down/uphill section). Hop back on the bike and flat to sidewalk area and then sweeps around in large gentle s curve to a sharp right and 50 feet than barriers off a quick v shaped section in course. Hop back on the bike and go down packed dirt/rock fireroad to a sweeping left 90 angle into some loose but very ridable sand sections(which actually was slight downhill area). Man this course is fast and no holds bar style, too much Gran Prix style for me! 

We than traverse a water section on an elevated grass section and then quick sweep 90 deg turn to right into loose dirt/sand/packed dirt fireroad. follow that to another sweeping right up onto a grassy section . Went about 150 feet to a slight uphill of loose dirt and packed dirt fireroad. then a gentle sweep to the left and start the only real climb in this course. It is packed dirt, easy going and then right near the top it turned into very loose sand and very easy place to loose momentum! Crest the hill with a slight sweep to the left and then to the right and back to a flat to a real short uphill back to the large field of the start finish line area. did a big loop that brought you out on the pavement and then a gentle turn back onto the grass to sidewalk and then sweeping right back into the grass. a few more turns and roundabouts and back at the start line for another lap. Well the 35+ group is mostly cat 3 only with the speed they were flying around the course. Up in the midatlantic there are 2 cats of 35+ with 3/4 and then 1-3 level. down here it is just
   cat 1,2,3,4 together! I got lapped bout 1/2 way through the total number of laps. this was not my style course, way too fast! the winners ended up doing 9 laps total and i did 8 since got lapped midway. Got 27th out of 33, which i figured as much. shoulda just stayed with cat 4 but my head/mind had better aspirations than my legs had. Still had fun and found a cool course.  

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