Stoudts CX

AKA the day that my legs broke...

It was cold and windy, but the sun was out. I arrived in time to pre-ride before the 8am race. The course was noticeably different from last year. There was no mud and it felt a bit more hilly, which my legs did not appreciate. I returned to the car and discovered that my socks did not match. I pinned my number and changed into my skin suit. The pins popped off. 

So that's how it's gonna be...

At the start, the rider next to me got bumped by someone behind her. We ended up brushing wheels, which enabled two people to move ahead. I entered the course in fifth. 

Unable to make a pass, the lead rider got a gap and never looked back. Five laps in second place and that's where I finished. I was one and a half for five on my attempts to climb goat hill. I don't know which was more painful, running it or riding it. I do know that I am quite content waiting another year to race that course again.

Stoudts CX Post Race Beer: Stoudts Double IPA

Because we're at the brewery and because it's not even Noon, the 10% Double IPA is the perfect recovery drink. This one wasn't too hoppy or bitter, but I drank it so fast that I'd need another one to give you more detail. Unfortunately, at 10% that was not possible for this light weight, but it's definitely worth giving it a try if you have the opportunity.

Stoudts Cross

Upon realizing that there'd be two whole weeks between Independence Cross and my next planned race at Fairhill, I hopped on bikereg in an attempt to satiate my newly discovered addiction to cyclocross. Not only did I find a (somewhat local) cross race, but a cross race that was at a brewery. This was going to be a great event! 

Race day was 45 degrees and overcast with wind. Superstorm Sandy had left several sections of the course resembling a mud bog. This, I have been told, is what cross is all about. I pre-rode the course, then warmed up in my car until it was time for staging. 

There were at least 30 women pre-registered for the 3/4 event with a few more day of. It was the largest field I had been in and, having waited until the last minute to register, I was in the last row to start. The whistle blew and I took advantage of the paved sections at the beginning of the course to move up a few spots. 

The first lap was pretty congested, but then we started to spread out and I got into a better rhythm (AKA heart rate was maxed and stayed there). On the second lap I went down on an off-camber section, which left some pretty nice bruises on my right leg. On the third lap, I successfully grabbed a dollar bill in the "hecklers corner" only to drop it after going off the course and crashing into a tree. Needless to say, I made some fans in that section and they were cheering loudly for me as I took my final lap. This time they had a dollar bill in a cup, which I narrowly missed grabbing with my teeth. 

My decision to have fun during cross season might have cost me fourth place in this race, but it was well worth it. I finished in 5th place (my best result for a 3/4 race), had an absolute blast and now it was time to drink good beer.

The highlight of my day came shortly after the race had ended. I was out of breath, covered in mud and my lungs felt like they were bleeding. I congratulated the fourth place finisher. We had battled back and forth the entire race. Then I looked at her and said "You must have at least ten years on me." To which she replied "I'm 18." "Oh" I said "Im 38." 

Happy to have brought a plastic bag, I placed my muddy clothes and shoes in their proper place, slipped on a pair of sweats and headed down to the brewery, where I enjoyed good beer and conversation with friends. I love cross.