For the two years I’ve raced, Charm City CX has been on my birthday weekend. Last year I had a poor result on day two and spent the remainder of my birthday in a shitty mood...but this season isn’t like last season and I’m not racing for results.
I woke up at 6am and made a cup of French Press coffee. Hotel coffee is nasty. If packing a French Press makes me “high maintenance” I’m perfectly ok with it.
I accidentally discovered that walking is a good way for me to get moving on the morning of a race, so I made my way to the fitness center of the Holiday Inn. The music I was subjected to for the next thirty minutes was awful...terrible...a mix of everything from Paula Cole to Oldies to Country. I wanted it to stop, but it didn’t and it stayed with me for days to come.
The ride to from Cantonsville, MD to Druid Hill Park was short and foggy. Thankfully, visibility improved as I made my way to the course for a pre-ride. There were a few changes. The most notable was the “fly over” which was deemed too hazardous for us to ride on day one.
I didn’t get the best start and was forced to dismount at the first technical section (a short, off camber) because other riders decided they needed to walk it. The leaders slipped away and gained more separation as I fought my way through the traffic. It wasn’t looking good. The climbs felt steeper and the sand was unforgiving. With two to go I had myself in a decent spot to make a push for 6th, but I ran out of gas and crossed the line 8th.
I got changed and chatted with some friends (one of whom presented me with an awesome six pack of Left Hand Milk Stout). It was a tough two days of racing and I was glad that it was over...mainly because I was about to head to Camden Yards for a baseball game and dinner at Du Claw Brewing Company.
Thanks to everyone who made my 40th birthday weekend at Charm City a good one!
Most of the car had been packed the night before, so when the alarm sounded at 5am there wasn’t much to do. I grabbed some coffee, donned my headlamp and walked the pibble before taking off for Druid Hill Park. After a couple of miscues, I arrived in the correct location, pre-rode the course and picked up my number.
The course was different this year...there was more climbing, more sand (four sand pits total), and a “fly over.” My primary concern was the sand, so I went back to that section to watch. Some of the guys in the first race were running it, some were riding it and I couldn’t tell which was faster. Last year I didn’t attempt to ride it because my technical skills sucked. Not much has changed since then, but I figured I would give it a shot and see what happens.
We were informed that the “fly over” would be removed from our race because it was too dangerous. The announcement was met with mixed reactions. While I had no problem riding it, I certainly didn’t want someone who couldn’t to come crashing back down into me.
Every time the whistle blows it’s a blur. I’m starting to piece together these fragments, realizing that I need to be more aggressive at the start. The sand pits came at the end of each lap, after we had already passed through two sets of stairs and some brutal climbs. I stuck with my game plan and (to my surprise) successfully rode the sand pits. I knew there were four people in front of me, but only one was in sight. Eventually, I was able to pass her and shortly thereafter, another rider (who was removing course tap from her rear derailleur). There were still two laps to go. Both of the riders I passed were strong and could easily come back to pass me, but they didn’t. I crossed the line third. It was my first podium in a MAC race!
The encouragement and cheers coming from the CAWES ladies as well as the elite women racers were definitely heard and VERY much appreciated.
After the race, I did a quick yoga podcast, ate a peanut butter sandwich and headed south to Washington DC to visit my brother in the hospital. We talked and took a walk downstairs to sit in the atrium. It was the first time he had been outside since his surgery on September 4th and mom said it was his best day so far. Later that night, I had BFD (breakfast for dinner) and banana cream pie...and thought to myself “Yeah, it was a pretty good day."
My pre-race neurosis set in around 9pm on Friday night. One quick call to a dear friend set me straight. I texted my Saturday morning ride to let her know I'd be driving on my own.
I arrived at Druid Hill Park on Saturday morning just before 8:30AM to pre-ride the course. It seemed more difficult than Nittany CX two weeks ago. I went to registration, got my number 613 (lucky 13 again) and did one more lap on the course. I wasn't feeling it. I rolled up to the starting line nervous...more nervous than I have even been for a CX race...then the whistle blew and it was fun again.
The course had one set of barriers, a staircase, tree planter and double sand pit in other words, I'd be on and off the bike at least four times per lap. During the warm up, I made the decision to run the sand pits as opposed to riding them. It was a wise decision, which enabled me to pass people who got stuck or fell down in the sand.
There were so many people on the course it was difficult to tell where I had finished...but my lungs felt like they were bleeding and the entire race was a blur, both clear indicators that I given it a good effort...turns out, good enough for 11th place in a field of nearly 50 women...my best MAC finish and one spot away from my season goal of cracking the top ten.
Charm City Post Race Beer: Du Claw Brewing Company, Sweet Baby Jesus!
Normally, I'm not a fan of porters, but place the words "chocolate" and "peanut butter" before it and it's a different story.
If you are in the Baltimore area (there are three locations), check this place out. The beers are fantastic and a growler fill (they'll fill any) is only $12.
