The Muck: Part II

Well, just when you thought i would shut up...

The adventures continued long past saturday's racing - which by the way - i failed to mention that John McKeen took part in (happy now?) Johner gave 'em hell in his first ever 'cross race - racing Elite, i might add - to finish very respectably.

Now, in my rush to get back to the 'dena, i foolishly skipped the team-relay podium and its associated prize: a case of New Belgium beer.

Apparently Chet Bearclaw himself pulled up to the race on a jet-ski right after i left, drank most of our beer, and went home with some other dude's girlfriend. Man, he does get the bitches.

Oh, and i can't forget to mention how well my $150,000 college education is applying itself to the real world - NOT! In my hurry to carpool home with John... i failed to remember that i drove my car to Jason's house... and that my KEYS were in Jason's glove box. Cool life, Alex.

Sunday morning came, and so did another trip to the Muck.

Nate, the Danimal and I headed into the oh so lovely neighborhoods of Fullerton on our 'cross bikes to warm up. Well... 20 minutes into our 'spin around the block' we were completely ass-backwards and heading deeper and deeper into suburbia. Lucky for us, a realtor setting up roadside signs pointed us back towards the race with just enough time to hit the head one last time and pin on my number.

Gentlemen, go on the whistle...

*tweeeeeet*


1s - whistle blows while i'm fumbling with my HR monitor

5s - able to clip in (finally) despite heavy mid-pack traffic

30s - fighting to get through the barriers in front of hordes of bikes and bodies

1.5m - *crash!* on rolling high speed dirt patch

1.51m - remount and violently bang left brake hood back into place

10m - passed most of the field

30m - towing a train of 2 other riders, 10 seconds back from 1st place

40m - allow wheel-suckers to pull for a lap, only to decide that it sucks (it's the MTB racer in me)

44m - heading into last barrier *BANG!* from behind me. wheel-suckers farmed it BIG TIME into the runup. the opportunist in me used the chance to open a gap. i punched it on the remaining climbs, coming within 3 seconds of the leader.

45m - fatigue, euphoria, thirst, hallucinations

First cross race ever and i added a speed hole to my top tube... go figure

Well, I finished 2nd (out of 41) - a mere 3 seconds out of first place - which aint too bad for my first 'cross race.

Maybe that's why Mark Scott kept yelling "Sandbagger!!!" from the sidelines.

Until next time...