Battle at Barlow. I finally finished this one

Battle at Barlow.  A course marked by it's brutal railroad tie run up, long off-camber section and bumpy terrain. The past two years this course wasn't so kind to me.  In 2009 this was my very first cross race; I broke my chain after 1.5 laps.  Last year the course was almost impossible to ride due to the amount and consistency of mud; I broke a derailleur.  This year I wasn't even planning on going anywhere near this course but plans changed on Thursday and there I was, registered for this race yet again.

through the barriers
(photo courtesy of David Mackintosh)

I'll admit, I didn't go into this race with the usual gusto.  When I show up to a race my equipment is sparkling, my bags packed the night before and my pre-race ritual begins at about 10am the day before.  Not today; bags were thrown together, bike lightly wiped off and I was not in this race at all.  I came to this race with one goal:  finish with myself and bike intact.  As long as I accomplished that everything else was a bonus.

Sorry, no photos yet so you'll have to settle for Strava data.

Looking around on the start line I knew this was going to be a fast race.  A lot of the local heavy hitters were there and they all looked ready to throw down.  In keeping with the past few races I wound up second row from the back on the start line.  For the past two years I've always believed that people put too much emphasis on the start.  I thought that in the end it only made a difference for the top 5 or so and from there everyone else fell into place based on a combination of fitness and handling skills.  If I came away with one thing today it's been that the start (and first lap) is the most important part of the race.

off-camber
(Photo courtesy of Dave Roth)

One lap in I knew I was in a bad place.  I was dangling in the bottom 5 and knew I had to get my butt in gear.  After 20 minutes of 'racing' I decided now would be a good time to start.  I rode hard, picked people off and moved through the traffic.  Unfortunately, I'd let such a large grow that there was no way I would be able to regain contact with my fitness group.  I made one last hard dig in the last two laps and caught a few more riders, one of them in the finishing straight.  Out of 43 starters and 38 finishers I wound up 21st on the day.  I know I have the fitness and handling skills to ride myself into the top 10 at a race like this I just need to start racing before everything has settled down.  With the USGP in Fort Collins, Colorado two weeks away I am going to focus on one thing:  the first half of the race.  I know I have the fitness and drive to get myself through the second half of the race now I just need the determination to lay it all out there on the start.  From here on out, no more giving people my lines and pulling elbows on the first lap.  It's there for me, I'm going to take it.

Lastly, a huge thanks to everyone who was out there and cheering for me today.  I got a chance to see and thank a couple of you but I know I missed a bunch.  If I did, THANK YOU for coming out!