For the 2009/2010 London Cyclocross season anyhow.
What a classic course for the send off. It was a muddy, technical treat at Herne Hill. The course included the ramps, hurdy gurdys, hurdles and mud. Lots of it.
The race itself was very sore. The slippery surface was difficult for everyone; it certainly helped me to the deck a few times. Plus it was hard racing. I was determined to beat my regular competition, and maybe get a bit higher in the order.
A lap into the race my lungs felt ready to burst, after two laps my back started to ache; and then it just got harder. With two laps to go my entire body was hurting - by the end the pain was irrelevant, all I cared about was not being passed.
Which I am proud to say I managed. I got ahead of my rivals and used my pace through the tricky outfield to put air between us. Then I knuckled down hard through the infield to maintain the gap. This was pretty much the pattern of the entire race - the only developments being increased fatigue and the bike getting heavier and heavier from gathering more mud.
I was nervous to see the results, so I was quite chuffed they were published very promptly. In the end I came 24th. Of 82 finishers.
Yeah, happy with that. Very happy.
So that wraps the 2009/10 'cross season, nearly. In two weeks we have the Team Champs, which should be a lot of fun and a nice way to end the season. Then it will be looking forward to criteriums in the road season for the summer.
Yeah, I'm really looking forward to those long evenings of Speed! Bring on Summer!
