Local Weekend of hotter than hell racing in October

I decided that making a trek to Providence RI this weekend for the UCI races was just too much after a busy work week.  Why drive so far and add the extra stress when I could be close to my T and race 15 min away Saturday and 1 hr away on Sunday.  So I made the wise decision to stay close to home and race.  I'm glad I did!

Saturday:  PsychoCX in Sykesville Md

90 degree temps and a punchy course left most of our race field with chills (heatstroke) during the race.  

The race takes place on the Springfield institution property -- a bit creepy having vacant brick institutional buildings throughout the race course.

A small fumble wreck early in the race put me in 4th place and gaps grew from there.  I finished in a sprint to the finish against the young, 18 yr old Glamour Hammer, Ginny Jeppi, hot on my heels.  I took 3rd place.

Sunday:  Hyattsville CX

Tillmanator support, Djordje (George) and Mom, came out to support me.  It wasn't quite as hot as yesterday but still warm especially for October.

I got to preride a few times with Cheryl Sorensen, 100 mile NUE champion -- and damn good CXer too!  It was fun following her lines, super smooth in all those turns.

Race was fast from the whistle with some major hustle to build gaps right away.  I held on to the lead group into the first half but just didn't have the rocket fuel to hold their speeds.  I was 5th into the technical woods section and wanted to ride the hairpin off cambers and punch the short climb over the roots.  While I executed this well, the faster move was to run the inside line, hustle up the hill, and remount.  Carla showed me this first hand takin my 5th spot.  She, and her rocket powered legs, took me to school on those fast flat sections.  Ouch!  It hurt as I "tried" to catch.  Well done Carla!!

The woods, thanks for the pix Tammi!

I took a bottle for this race after ehat stroking yesterday.  I held 6th for the rest of the race.

It was a super fun day & it was a good day to be outside and taking in all the cyclocross community fun.  I love this sport and I am truly in awe of my fellow racers.  Really cool, fun and diversely interesting people.

But really, can we please have just a little cold.... 

:-)

Grateful tidbits from the day:

- mom mega spectator

- awesome pit crew

- cheers from so many, especially training partner Tammi!

- cheers from Jenn Maxwell and Libbey while racing, how cool?!

- prerides with amazing humble cool athletes

- drinking a beer and cheering the Bs, esp those 2 crazy women in that race

- post race brain fail shared moments w Traci from WV

- and my best love waiting @ home with dinner for me and my Tillmanator Mom

Yeah, life is sweet