More logical than walking on it...

Would be racing a bike on it. By "it" i mean snow, ice, mud, gravel and the occasional soccer goal post. Yes, chicago weather did not disappoint and once again, the IL State Champs was held on a snow and ice covered Montrose Beach. This is another race that i've spectated for years and finally, i raced it yesterday. Race six of the 'cross series, i have to say this was the most fun i've had in a 'cross race and definitely tops my favorite race list.

Montrose Beach, IL Champs, 30 mins
The course consisted of two very long run ups (the Montrose hill), separated by riding downhill in really thick snow and ice and a barrier just for fun. After the second run up, you met another downhill that was just pure unadulterated awesome. I didn't touch my brakes on this, stayed in the line created by the earlier races and just flew (well, as much as you can in deep snow :-)). At the base of this, you rode under a soccer post, into a steep but short uphill with some technical turns, down this steep hill, left under a bridge full of gravel to a barrier and another short uphill. A bit of flat into some more technical turns, back down the hill under the bridge (again) but this time into some deeper gravel, back uphill, to a false flat, some more turns, down again, up to a barrier, down into deep snow with a low tree branch, some more turns, back to the straightaway/start finish line, some quick turns and up the hill again...so yeah, basically lots of steep up/downhills, lots of turns, and two large run ups...

I got to the race about 1030...still feeling warm from the car ride, i walked out and thgt "oh, this isn't so bad". I walked the course, watched some of the mens 40+ to see the trouble spots and started shivering. I chatted with a couple of the women's riders and got a sense of the course and decided "yeah, it really is below freezing" and went back to car. I had been wearing so many layers (thermal ones!) that it was tough getting my kit on! I was debating the best way to get a warm up in when my two friends showed up with hot chocolate. They made a very convincing argument and i nixed the warmup to chat and threw on some more socks. I decided against the booties since there was so much ice around, i didn't want to add to it by putting on slick bottoms to my mt. shoes. After finally getting to the line, one rider seemed to be a scene out of Rocky. In a yellow rain slicker, she's jumping around, rubbing her arms, trying to warm up. Up until the last possible minute, the slicker stayed on and her teammates were trying to keep her warm. Hey, whatever works right? I chose to be as close as possible to the bbque grill ...

The official gives us our final instructions. She is looking at her stopwatch, and my fingers start tapping the handlebars. She lifts up the whistle, my foot starts tapping. In my mind, "lets go, lets go..." There's nothing like the anticpation of raceday and especially the last couple of minutes. With a "Have a good race ladies", we're off! The pace started out quick, but slowed very soon after b/c we hit our first set of turns. The men's races had seen some crashes here but with our smaller fields, we were able to slow without any harm. Right away, the field split in half, and i was the last rider in the front pack. LJ, IM, LS, and LH were ahead but not by much. With the first run up, i could still see IM and LE but as expected, LJ took off. My goal for this race was to finish at least 3rd, i wanted a medal. I set my sights on LH first and after about 1.5 laps, i was right behind her. My chance to pass came on the 3rd set of steep up/downhill when she skidded on the deep snow/low branch turn, as she tried to right herself, i yelled out "on your right!" and took off...i heard an "ARGH" but dropped a gear b/c i needed to put some space btw us (I've races LH on the road and track b4) and set my sights on either IM or LS. I wasn't sure who was in 3rd, but i figured IM since i could see her. I needed to make up some space/time and stopped trying to clip in my shoes b4 taking off (seriously, i was having the hardest time just getting clipped in!) and tried to use as much momentum as possible on those uphills. I still haven't gotten the dismount/jump barrier/mount down very well and with the added resistence of the slow, i was even slower than before. The uphill after the deep gravel always gave me problems and i would have to run up half of it. On one of the laps, i caught up to recently upgraded ABDer Gina (congrats on her first 1/2/3s race!) and found some room to pass just before the straightaway, but before getting caught behind a junior who almost caused a crash. Lost some time following him, but couldn't find a spot to move around. Round and round the trees, i passed another womens' rider, but who she was, i had no idea. I could see LS at the top of the run up as i was approaching...could it be? I hadn't seen IM or LJ, but i knew LJ was up front. So coming into the final lap, i had no idea where i was placed but i just rode hard to keep my current position. I took the final long downhill a bit too fast, skidded on the soccer post by managed to stay up right. Didn't use the brakes on the short downhills and added another gear. Still couldn't make it up the one stupid uphill but no matter, its the last lap. Round the turns, i had to majorly slow b/c i was going too fast. A few more skids and a few more close calls with some trees, i cross the finish line and hear "you're done!".

Couple of things. This race was awesome. It was tough, it was techincal, it was fast, it was slow. I was concentrating so much on not falling/skidding, looking for the best lines, and trying to overtake the next rider that i wasn't even paying attention to the time. I saw 16 mins and i saw 35 mins. That was it. I did try to calculate laps after the 16 min mark, but once i saw the first set of turns, math went out the window (sorry mel). The race was over too quick (even though it was prob about 45 mins!) b/c it was so fun. At various places on the course, i would hear people cheering for me by name...of course Ran and Brandon i knew (i do appreciate the silent clapping), Cecile who told me to smile pretty, my mom yelling my full proper name at the top of the hills and even my sister (who later said "that was actually pretty cool" and "can someone train just for this?" could that mean she wants to cyclocross? hmmm)...but there were others too and i don't know who they were b/c i was focusing on the line in front, but it was so great to hear this throughout the course. i had to stop carrying my bike on the runups b/c i was getting this pain from my hip to my knee (it band?) which is hurting pretty bad right now. After the race, some riders congradulated me, including LH who said "yeah, this girl beats me in the crits too..." it was nice to hear that about me, rather than something i would say about another rider. LJ did end up winning the series and the IL Champ, which is so great and she is off to Nationals (good luck!!!). I ended up 4th with LS in 3rd and IM in 2nd. Not bad placing, but a little sad b/c i was one spot off where i wanted to be (and i wanted a medal! and yes, i'm going to pout...just a little). I did a whole lot better this year in 'cross and the competitive bug did bite even though i said "this is just to get me off the indoor trainer." 6 official races, 4 unofficial races, one GC win and one 4th overall, i'd say thats a pretty good season.