kent state stark cx

part 1.
Though we were promised cx weather on the facebook race bump, we instead received nice sunshine bringing in a breezy mid-60s Saturday. Not too much to write home about my performance during the race. The course was fast and dry, with a long uphill and some really tall barriers. I felt alot better than I did at Wendy Park, however my place ratio was about the same. Around the third or fourth lap there was a section in the early part of the circuit were the course made a bumpy crossing over an asphalt path and then took a blind left curve around a pine tree immediately followed by a right curve. These weren't so much turns as they were quick little S curve jars. Anyways I don't quite remember how it happened but I think it went down like this. The guy in front of me checked is speed through the curves which cause me to react which cause the guy behind me to run into my rear wheel. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzt and then he went down and somersaulted a couple of times with his bike. Someone from the peanut gallery shouted 'Nice Wreck!' I didn't quite know what to do. I haven't been party to a wreck were the result was I was still on my bike. I slowed down and looked back to wait, but when no one else did and the wreckee quickly got up and got back on his bike I took off again. I'm still not sure what the sportsman thing to do is. I ended up briefly chatting with the fellow after the race and he said there's nothing wrong with just going on with the race, and in fact thats just part of the race. Someone nearby chimed in "thats racin' cross man'.
As said before not much to write home about. The weather was beautiful, I felt good and had fun. My friend David T. crashed out in the last lap. What a bummer, but he still had a good attitude about it.
Next race for me wont be till Oct 17th gotta keep training , riding or something... also a little time to catch up on school work.

part 2.
Kent state stark is not that far from Cleveland, maybe a little over an hour. But it's far enough to for me and my lady to feel it warranted a hotel room. (we don't really get out much) And thats what we did. Using the race as the foundation for our "Canton Romance Getaway Extravaganza' we purchased a Saturday night spa package at the McKinley Grand hotel in vibrant downtown Canton. We chose this place mainly because "Grand" was in the name. The package included an awesome cx race in Kent - Stark, diner for two at the slightly cheesy hotel restaurant, and couples massage from some spa. Every thing at the hotel was nice. Pretty run of the mill, nothing extravagant. The restaurant was a little run down but the food tasted good. After that, all I can say is that massages are awkward, this not the fault of the masseur.

wendy park cx

Oh to be fast. Maybe one day. Maybe one day I'll buy an actual cross bike. Maybe I'll start my own business too. The opportunity cost of "fast" will probably be poor grades which are much more unacceptable than a poor finish. $25 to race $60000 for school hmmmm.. I'm sure I can figure something out cause damn I'm slow. My boss, an old cat 2 racer, insists that I should add P90x to my routine. I dunno I'm skeptical about any work out that involves wailing guitars, xtreme camera shots, and shares the same name as a gun from the N64 game James Bond Golden Eye . Yesterday was the first race of my much anticipated (by me and my three cats) sophomore cyclocross season. And much like last year it was a pretty dismal show. The staple mishaps of last year proudly returned in oh10, miscalculating turns, unclipping up steep hills and getting passed while spinning out on straightaways. The only thing epic is how unbelievably (epically) sore my legs are. It was a slooooow commute into work this morning. I did have fun on the 100 yard sand and broken glass section on the lake Erie shore. Perhaps proving once again I should focus on running those sections and not burning myself out trying to muscle through them all macho-like. Still had fun though, and getting some grub at the Old Angle was even better! It should also be noted I did succeed in convincing two friends to race. Spreading the gospel of cyclocross just a little further, or for you fast folks out there increasing the fodder.