| Yes kids, it's been a while. I slacked after Cincy3 and failed to post ANYTHING. The week was a total bust and my performance was less than stellar. I took a week to gather my thoughts and work my ever-loving ass off. I got home from Cincy around 1am Monday and had to be at work 7 hours later. I pulled off 48 hours of work in 3 days...one of which was my birthday. Soo, I guess I should say a few words about the Cincy3 festival. Well, it was hard. I don't have a lot to say about Saturday because I sucked big ones. I didn't come in last which is an accomplishment considering it was the biggest field of sandbaggers I've ever seen ;) But seriously, those Ohio Valley 4's are FAST!  |
| Cincy3 flyover |
Sunday was COLD and frost-covered. My head blew a gasket after pre-ride. I was so far up my own ass I couldn't see straight. I was terrified and torn to pieces over a stupid off-camber section. I've ridden harder stuff on my mountain bike, but I couldn't rationalize anything.
Boy am I glad I decided to race this one!
Although my soul was sucked dry and I was ready for the Jesus bus to come, I had a good race. I was next to last, but raced my heart out for position. The best part of the race was my epic crash...
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| Hmm, something looks fishy here... |
Long story short...
I was taking the inside line in a turn because I didn't want the girl behind me to pass. I took it a tad too sharp, started to go down, tried to push myself back up using one of the stakes, I went over the handlebars, stake bent to the ground...
This is the moment when I made a terrible decision. I thought the stake had cracked at the base, so I let go. Bad move.
Ever had a gun go off right in your ear? Course stakes sound pretty close to the same thing as they smack you across the face. I just knew I had knocked my teeth out. I immediately stood up, grabbed my bike and ran through the "camel hump" section. I screamed like a little piggy and cried like a big baby. I screamed in tears asking my friend if I was bleeding...
"Tony!! Am I bleeding?!"
"No Megan, you're ok. Just go. You're ok!"
I cried for half a lap as I pedaled my brains out.
I had all my teeth, beat the girl who crushed me on Saturday and had a bruised imprint of a course stake across my jaw. Good day of racing, I say!
And I heckled Jr. Elites like a boss!
Did I mention our pit area was next to Katie Compton?
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J-Willy, Katie, Grace (the crusher), and myself |
Fast forward to this past weekend. USGP Louisville!
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| Spending a nice Fall morning sucking wind and pushing 190 bpm |
What does a girl do when she's 10 races into her first CX season? She goes to the USGP and prepares for the apocalypse!! Most people race a few seasons before they attempt something like the Lou. I have a sick addiction to pain, so I figured it would be a good experience if nothing else.
Friday. Pre-ride. I made it half a lap before I came to a screeching hault. 180 degree turn into a sketchy off-camber section into a steep, rutted downhill into a steep uphill into a steep downhill into a steep, rutted uphill. You following me?! It sounds easy and seems even easier on a mtb. I was about to crap my pants...or cry...wasn't sure which at this point. I made many attempts to ride into this section but gave up and went back our pit.
"I can't believe I paid money to race this weekend. What was I thinking?"
After pouting and feeling discouraged for a bit, I decided to give it another go. I forced myself to figure it out. I tried to imagine being on my mtb. I squeezed my butt cheeks together and held my breath...and rode that shit. I had to tripod around the turn, but I rode it. I was fully prepared to run this section during the race due to all the Cat 4 carnage, but never had to. I rode past girls laying on the ground and flew by girls walking their bikes down the hill. For once I felt like a bad ass.
I fully expected to be last, but to my astonishment I was 11/17. Best race of my very short CX career! I rode hard, tested my ability, surpassed my expectations and actually finished before a handful of other chicks. I was full of joy and very proud of myself.
Longest.sandpit.ever. Sucked out my soul. I actually had vomit coming up by lap 3. I rode the short one, ran the long one. I was suicidal in the sand. I felt like dropping to the ground and making sand castles.
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| The stare |
My teammates killed it too! In spite of mechanicals, Tony Williams had a strong finish in men's Cat 4 and Grace Bishop is now known as "The Crusher". Mike Stewart brought his A game too...does he have any other game? I don't think the man has a B game. Everyone represented the Dirty South very well!
And thanks for the birthday surprise...
I had a goal of breaking the top 10 on Sunday, but my legs were toast. Running the long sand pit wore me down pretty fast. I managed to hold 13th place in spite of crashing through the fence before the concrete stairs. The field was so damn fast! 13/15 is respectable in my eyes, all things considered.
And the CX Gods said,
"LET THERE BE HECKLING!"
And it was good...
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| Silent heckling Katerina Nash |
I made a few friends along the way...
Tim Johnson: Thanks for being a good sport and taking my heckling while using the port-o-potty. You're a super rad dude.
Yannick Eckmann and the California Giant Cycling Team: I DO love your berries! I'm glad I could make each of you chuckle in the midst of pain.
J-Pow: Even the man in front gets crap. Just because you're fast, doesn't mean you're too good for my megaphone. We love you!
Ryan Trebon: It took me two weeks, but I finally made you crack a smile. I can die a happy girl now.
Ben Berden: I know you think I'm a crazy American girl. I am.
Katie, Georgia, Katerina: It made my day when you guys actually laughed DURING your race. Silent cheering always makes the pain go away.
Adam Myerson:
What can I say? You're the man. I also think it's pretty rad that you haven't ripped out your earrings during a race. Of course, you can actually ride a bike and most likely spend more time on it rather than on the ground. I have yet to master this.
Jimbo and the Shamrock crew:
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| Yes, I stole this from your Facebook. Thanks Shamrock! |
Thanks for the inspiration. The megaphone is the best invention ever. You guys are hysterical and I look forward crossing paths in the future. Hit up the MSG crew if you're ever down this way!
My little dude, Cade:
One day you're gonna make it big. When this cougar gets really old, you'll be making money and smacking bitches. I will sell your childhood autograph and make my retirement. I am a paramedic and we make shit money...you're welcome.
(But seriously, you're a cute kid)
I can walk away from this past weekend with confidence. Yes, I still suck...but much less than I did a month ago. Cincy3 and the USGP have taught me more than I thought possible. I can almost call myself a cyclocross racer. Maybe I'll actually be good by the time I hit the women's masters class. I'm not too far away....meow!
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