Race #7: MABRA 'Cross Championships

How's it going everyone? First off...my apologies for getting this update out later than usual...I know my mom and dad look forward to reading about the races. But before that, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving...filled with lot's of turkey, pumpkin pie, and laughs with loved ones. I could not have asked for a better holiday weekend. Eryka and I traveled to Bethany Beach to meet up with my family. We all had a great time...everyone pitched in to help out with the dinner...my contribution was to keep everyone laughing and smiling...easy enough...most likely because I do not possess any real cooking talent! Thank you again to my family for an awesome holiday weekend!

The weather even cooperated allowing me to get in some nice road rides in before Sunday's race. Eryka and I headed back to MD Saturday afternoon so I could prepare and get ready for Sunday. Even got a chance to grab dinner with some of my close friends...Brent (in from Boston), Chris and his wife Kristen, and Ryan...we all hadn't seen each other in awhile and it was nice to catch up and laugh for a few hours together.

Went to sleep not feeling all that hot...achey...scratchey throat...not how you want to sleep the night before a race. I slammed some "Airborne" every 3 hours to try and cut the sickness off and crossed my fingers. So after a full night of tossing and turning, my brain began to ask itself "do you really need to race?" Answer? Hmmmm. Yes...I would be mad at myself if I didnt race...I dislike regret...push on...race.

Woke up...popped some "Airborne"...ate breakfast...loaded the car...and pushed off for Taneytown, MD...pronounced "Tawneytown" by the locals..."Taineytown" to anyone else. Eryka is awesome...if she wasn't there to keep my mind off my stomach and body aches I would have most likely called it and not raced...but she rules and told me to stick with it.

This race was the final of the MABRA 'cross series...the championship race for DE/MD/DC. The weather was perfect...bright and sunny...pretty chilly...little to no wind. Got my number...got dressed...then the stomach turned itself inside out...even before I got on the bike...so after a quick "stop"...I was out on the course getting my warm up on. The course was a neat set up...lots of tight off camber turns...a long climb...gravel road...a pine tree like slalom...a short steep "run up", that I rode during both warm up laps and figured that if I had room I could just punch it and ride it...uphill road finish. Got to the start late...usual...end of the grid for me.

After the whistle and the grid took off, I found myself literally at the END of the pack...I tried to keep myself under control and not blow out whatever cardio endurance that I stored up. Once we reached the long climb, I could see the front making a pretty significant gap on the back. So I decided to push a larger gear and see if I could hang on and find some dudes to roll with.

The short, steep "run up" was located near the end of the lap...with everyone bunched together, I knew I needed to dismount early and run the bike up. Now that all sounds well and good...the dirt was soft and my legs were a little jelly-like...the results you can see below...took a little spill...luckily Eryka was right there for the picture! HAHA! Too funny...

The laps drew on and I fell into a group of about 4 guys...one of which was on a fixed gear bike. Fixed gear, for those who do not know are bikes with one speed...zero brakes...and no coasting...you constantly peddle...your peddle cadence controls the speed of the bike...they are hardcore and a great training tool (and yes...I have been thinking of getting one). This guy was hammering climbs...out of the saddle every time. The steep "run up" was becoming my objective to hit while riding every lap...lap 2 I was 3/4 of the way up and spun out the rear tire...so I had to pop off and run the bike up...

The course was cool...I was feeling pretty solid...the legs were burning but I did not feel as if I was going to bonk or cramp...I just kept pushing and trying to pass people. One section of the course had us "round the bases" of a baseball field...

"and here's Glodek...rounding second...looking to stretch this into a triple..."

On laps 3, 4, and 5 I had enough room on the approaches to the "run up" that I was able to clean them and stay in the saddle...this was a real good thing...I could keep my tempo without having to spend to much energy in jumping off...running up...the remounting. In the pic below, you can see the guy on the fixed gear having a little trouble...I was able to lay the hammer down and pass him this lap...pretty cool advantage...


The barrier section was pretty interesting...the barriers were on a flat section...and were placed right after an S-turn...a right-left-right turn directly into the barriers...so you had to figure out whether or not to come at the barriers at an angle or head on. Plus they had a nice little dip in between the barriers...nice little addition...when I am moving I found that I can make it throught the 2 in 2 steps...with the little dip, I had to take an extra 1/2 step...amazing how much it threw off my cadence...

Final lap...I was with 4 guys and we had been pulling each other for the better part of the last 2 laps. I knew in the back of my mind that if we all clung together...and if we rounded the last corner together...some dudes would try and show their bike muscles and sprint it out. So my goal was this: stick with them and make a move on the final climb. No problem...made my move on the false flat climb...but slipped a little on the U-Turn and they caught me. We approached the steep "run up"...I slowed a little to give room because I was going to blast up the climb...2 dudes in front...one went for the climb and slipped...the other jumped off and ran...I cranked hard and blew past both...felt real good...put the bike in the "dog" and took off for the finish...the fight for 24th...was mine. Haha!

Done! My hands and feet were pretty numb from the course and the weather...so I sat on the trunk...

Do you want to get a picture by the Taneytown sign? "TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWNEY-TOWN"...."YEAH!"

Eryka Kahunanui...number 1 'cross photog...number 1 'cross supporter...number 1 chick in Taneytown...

I was super stoked on how the race went and totally glad I pushed and did the race. This was the 7th race of my 'cross season...feeling pleased with how the races are going. Each time I am learning something new for the next race.

There is 1 race left on my schedule...the Rockburn 'Cross Race on December 9th...I am still up in the air on whether or not I will race...let's say 50/50...I watched a World Cup race online the other day...in Dutch...had NO clue what they were saying...but the race stoked me out...tons of dutch people going nuts over racers...and they were racing in like 6 inches of sand at some parts!

We'll see...there is a UCI Race in Reston, VA...going to try and check out the elite race at 2:30...see how 'cross is really raced...on the elite level...should be sweet.

I hope this update finds everyone doing well and getting set for the Holiday Season! Time is flying by...

If you can, drop me a line...

...johnny