Cross Crusade #4 - Cyclocross at Hillsboro Fair Complex

The forecast called for rain…. To a cross racer, rain means mud… if you know anything about cross, mud is a good thing.  The 4^th race in the Cross Crusade Series was held at the Hillsboro Fairgrounds Complex, flat, fast, and muddy!

This week I had a front row call up; the rain was falling softly was we stood at the line and I kept my rain jacket on until the last possible moment.

The whistle blew and it was go time. 

The flat, fast gravel straight away was quickly filled with knobby tires, turning over in an all out sprint for the whole shot.  This week, it wasn’t mine to take.  Emily and Alice were off like they had been shot out of a cannon and it was all I, and the rest of the chase-group, could do to try to keep up. 

I hit the single track in 5^th or 6^th place, holding tight to Megan’s wheel; Rhonda, Bridgette, Tina and myself all fighting for position.  The first time through the slop pit (if you were at the race you know what I am talking about) Megan got bogged down, fell over and like dominos, a number of use followed.  I was fortunate to be on the outside and was quickly able to recover, remount and get out in front of the group.

I knew the riders right behind me; strong, consistent and determined.  If I was going to hold onto 3^rd place, I was going to have to work for it. 

On the straight-aways I hammered; head down, mouth open, visualizing the last 30 seconds of a 4x4 interval. 

Over the barriers I tried to be smooth; remounting with efficiently and speed. (I was successful with the efficient part about 50% of the time.)

Through the barns and the tight cornering and muddy sections I tried to stay upright and carry my speed, accelerating out of each turn. 

With 2 laps to go, Bridgette was still right on my tail.  Coming through the barn section she passed me.  Not Good.  My job was now to stay with her, not let her get a gap and be patient. 

I stayed right with her though the finish line, over the barriers and through the super sketchy off camber slippery turn-hill-turn section. 

Back on the gravel straight away I jumped and got a small gap.  I rode hard through the sweeping corners of the backside of the course, fumbled a bit with my footing on my remount of the 2^nd set of barriers and got passed again through the barns.

Through the finish line, the lap counter said 1 to go. 

Bridgette was faster than me on in the tight corners. 

I needed to drop her in the first 2/3 of the next lap or she would come out of the barns in front.
I was not going to let that happen.
I wanted 3^rd place.
Be patient.

I stayed right with her though the finish line.

Over the barriers I was able to move in front. 

Through the super sketchy off camber slippery turn-hill-turn section I held my position.

Once on the gravel I gave it everything.

Hands in the drops, I stood up, accelerated and pedaled like the finish line was 100m in front of me.

It wasn’t and my lungs and legs were cursing at me.

In the race for 3^rd, I wanted to win. 

Onto the single track, I didn’t slow down.  By this point in the race I had figured out the best lines through the bog, around the corners near the pit and over the asphalt lip that waited in silence in hopes of hearing pavement meet tire rim.

I knew I had a gap.  How big; I wasn’t sure.

Through the first set of the tight corners Ryan Weaver and a couple of other Cat A Men came passed me. 

You got it, no one’s even close Ryan said between labored breaths.

All the more reason to stay focused.

I stayed right on the wheel of guys as we twisted and turned through the barns. 

Around the last corner, into the mud, one final right hand turn to the finish.

My gap had held.  I came across in 3^rd, covered in mud, gasping for air and smiling.

After a couple of quick circles to relax my legs, a preventative measure that could otherwise result in me simply tipping over, I chatted with a couple of the girls, found Ben and Mom and made my way back to the Sunnyside Team Tent. 

On the outside, it was just another great race, complete with mud, cowbell and friends. On the inside I was jumping up and down with excitement.  3^rd place…. 2 weeks in a row. 

I will start calling myself a cyclist.

Read the VeloNews article and check out the New Sunnyside Kit.

Read the CX Magazine article

Read Matt’s Recap of his awesome race

Here are some more pictures of the Sunnyside Team!  Thanks Mark

Willamette Valley Cyclocross Series - Battlecreek Cross

Another good weekend of racing on the West Side.  The Yeti has proven to be a trusty steed and my confidence is increasing with each call-up.

Saturday afternoon the 2^nd race of the Willamette Valley Cross Series was held at BattleCreek Golf Course.  No longer a working golf course, it made for a fabulous cyclocross venue; fast, flat, with some tricky turns and a couple of sand traps. 

The women all raced together, the gun going off at 2pm.

I had a front row call up, as I had won the first race in the series at Heiser Farms and took my place front and center. 

Women As – 30 seconds to start

The whistle blew and my focus was squarely on the corner at the end of the long straightaway – I never saw the back of another racer.  I got the whole shoot and kept the lead for the entire race.  After the first or second corner, I had a 5 second lead and that gap continued to grow each lap. 

The course was fast; no place to rest.  The corners on the backside, through the trees, were tight and slippery roots seems to lurch upward out of the ground at the last second.  I almost lost it a couple of times, but managed to keep it upright and didn’t over correct.  Recently, some one told me that slipping out is good; it means you are testing yourself and pushing your limits – the key is to make sure you don’t completely loose it.  If this is true, I learned a lot on that golf course.

When I went through the start/finish the first time heard my lap split.

7:15 for the first lap, Serena Bishop just rode the fastest lap yet today.

Wow, that was fast! 

I heard Kacy and Andrew yelling Go, Go, Go

Their second ever cross race, they drove all the way down from Portland just to support me… it was awesome to have them there.

The lap counter said 3 to go and I heard Chad yell,

Serena, can you talk? You should be able talk.

I rounded the corner where he was standing.

Yes Chad, I can talk, I shouted between breaths.

With two laps to go, I have a pretty good lead over second place; 1 ½  or 2 minutes.  Chad and Wade were yelling it at me; Tempo, tempo, tempo, tempo.

My mind settled down and processed the current situation.

You are racing again tomorrow.

Don’t over do it.

Don’t make a mistake, ride clean, ride smart.

Don’t blow out your legs.

You are going to win.

My last two laps were my slowest, I crossed the line, winded, but not completely out of breath.  I had raced hard, but been smart about it; in just 24 hours I would be doing it all over again.

I watched Renee finish a strong 4^th in the Womens A race and there were smiles and high fives all around.  Sunnyside had a very successful showing in Salem; riding cross is super fun; but doing well is the icing on the cake.

Prior to my race, I was able to watch Chad and Wade take 1^st and 2^nd in the Master B race.  They worked together for most of the race, Chad pulling ahead toward the end.  It must be the red tires!

We also had a great showing in the juniors race, Mitch and Colin finishing 2^nd and 4^th.

In the Mens A race, Damian finished a strong 4th and Matt followed closely in 12th.

Sunday's Cross Crusade Report is coming soon!

Cross Crusade #4 - VeloNews Cap

Here is the VeloNews Recap....And a photo
Hopefully my race report won't be far behind!
Thanks for visiting www.runbikeski.com
Check back shortly!

Sherwood – Cross Crusade #3, only 8 weeks til Cyclocross Nationals

I cross the finish line, alone.  I have absolutely no idea how many laps I have just completed.  All I know is that the lap counter is blank and the race is over.  I see many of the girls I lined up, 60 agonizing minutes ago, standing near the finish; still catching their breath. 

Only 4 women rode 8 laps this week, I was fortunate to be one of them.

Mom, Mark and Ben were there.  The Sunnyside Team was out in full force (Don, we missed you!). Renee had just won the Master 35+ race, Wade placed 4^th in his category, Gina rode strong and finished well, Ruth sported the jersey for the first time and made us all proud. It was a sunnyside kind of day.

And then I got stung by a bee. 

A final check of my wheels and breaks, a hug from my Mom, ready to head to the starting line…..

I felt a fly was on my leg, I swatted at it.  It stung me.  It wasn’t a fly.  It was a yellow jacket….. ouch.

Deep breathe, it doesn’t hurt, I’m fine.  But, OUCH!  I forgot about it.  I had to.  It was time to go.

I got a front row call-up, on the far left side.  My eyes focused on the turn at the end of the first straight away, the whistle blew.

I reacted, and to my surprise, no one flew past me.  I had a good start; no, I had a great start.  Finally. 

After the first couple of corners Wendy and Alice were right with me, and pulled ahead going down the first hill.  I was not going to let them get away and I was not going to get dropped on the down hill.  I stayed right there, right on Alice’s wheel. 

Down the hill, through the corners, over the bone jarring bumps, up the deceptively long climb, through the start/finish. 

At some point during the second lap, Alice dropped her chain and it was just me and Wendy.  I hung right there, just a couple of inches from her rear tire. 

I was right behind Wendy Williams and there was no one else around. 

Up the long hill again… she was trying to shake me, but I was hanging tough.  The crowd was loud, cowbells ringing in my ears, undecipherable, yet familiar voices and faces littered the crowd. 

Mark, with his camera, seemed to be everywhere.  How did he get around the course that fast?  My brain was unable to even contemplate the answer to that question.

I saw Damian in the Pit; Hang on, pedal, pedal, go…..Wendy’s right there, there is no one behind you.  

I went as hard as I could.  Pushing the pedals with as much strength as I find in my fiery muscles.

I am not sure how long I hung with Wendy, maybe 4 laps, maybe 5… but when she decided to go, she went and I couldn’t respond. 

Stay with her Bishop.

My legs were burning, my heart racing. 

I was pushing, but my body didn’t want to listen. 

24 second back, I heard Ben yell as I climbed the hill; the lap counter said 2 laps to go.

Alice was about as far behind me as I was behind Wendy when I saw her with less than 2 laps to go. She was gaining on me, but I was hanging at a steady distance behind Wendy. 

Through the pit and Alice caught me, passed me and was gone.  The next time I could get a look at Wendy, Alice had caught her.  That girl has 3 extra gears. 

During the last lap and a half, I went places I haven’t been before.  It hurt more than the last mile of any marathon, it hurt more than the last 3 minutes of my 12 minute under/overs, it hurt like it should hurt at the end of a race. 

It hurt and it was fabulous.

The final climb and I knew I would finish 3^rd.  4^th place far behind me, but I wouldn’t let up.  I had to keep pushing the pedals as hard as I could.  My glutes were screaming, my lungs on fires, my mouth hanging open like a gold fish, gasping for air. 

I raced like had never raced before.  I found another gear (I need yet another, but at least I found one).  I crossed the line and had to will my legs to keep turning over, keeping a bit of momentum so I wouldn’t fall over.  I left it all out there and it felt so good.

Huge thanks to the Sunnyside team, Mom and Mark, Ben, and of course Don and Damian – I could not ask for a better team… Here’s to cross and a season that just keeps getting sweeter!

Matt, Mike, and V, well done!

Read the offical race reports here:

Velo News

CX Magazine

Cross Crusade #2 - Cyclocross at Rainier High School

Forehead on the handle bars, gasping for breath.

How did it go?

IT HURT

It hurt a lot.  Not sure how many times I climbed up that hill, but every time it hurt just a little bit more. 

I don't remember many details from Sunday's Cross Crusade Race at Rainier High School, but I can vividly recall the start.  It was not flattering.  It was kind of like getting a really nice new pair of jeans (i.e. a 2^nd row call up) and proceeding to pour hot coffee down the front of them on their debut (watching riders from the 4^th row pass you as you struggle to get up to speed).  That being said, I was able to regain my position in the first half lap – but it would be nice to figure out how to get off the line.  CX Practice, Hillside Park, Starts!!

And then the race gets a bit fuzzy:

Sprint up the gravel section. 

Climb out of the saddle with burning legs as I crested the first asphalt rise with the sound of John Rollert voice echoing in my ears.  As much as I wanted to shout something to the extent of, What does it look like am doing, having a tea party??? in return, the heckling crowd only makes the legs turn faster and pull up harder.

Head down, eyes closed as I force my self to shift and turn my legs over faster on the flat midsection of my new favorite CX course.

Then the right-handed turn, another little rise; stay in the big ring Bishop. 

Left turn onto the grass and into the woods.  Don't let up, this is not the time to rest.

The screaming fast down hill doesn't allow any time for rest enough.  It is steep, but not steep enough to forego pedaling, but I do manage to get my breath under control.  I don't touch the brakes until I have to; a sweeping left-hand turn that requires negotiation of gravel, chain link and a couple of pesky orange cones.  Each lap I go in with a little more speed; this cornering thing is pretty fun. 

The rest of the course seems like the journey back to the hill of pain.  A set of barriers, a wooded little single track trail that proved to be great for passing and making up for my pitiful start, an off camber "S" curve, an energy-zapping run up, pass the pit and again, the climb.

I rode with Rhonda for the first half, maybe two-thirds of the race, then she took off and finished 3^rd.  Erin and I continued to battle it out.  I passed her on the climb, she passed me on the descent.  In the end, she crossed the line in 7^th, I followed in 8^th. 

THAT HURT

After the race I found Erin. 

Nice race, I said.
I wasn't sure how she would respond.  We have been racing back and forth for the last 3 races; she smiled back.  We both understood the pain.

You too…..She replied. You have got to keep coming, you are making me faster. Really, keeping coming.

I assured her I would; she is making me faster too.

Check out Matt's Race Report here!

Some shots of the day and my most excellent Sunnyside teamies.  Notice the new kits; right on time for Cross Crusade and Cyclocross Nationals:

Cross Clash - Ft. Steilacoom, Washington

Another long weekend in the van with my fabulous teamies Chad and Renee, and of course their kids (dogs), Maggie and Red....

Friday:
Leave Bend 3pm, drive to Portland, eat at Cha Cha Cha, crash with friends, try to sign up for CycloCross Nationals, but the website can't take the traffic and we go to sleep without having given any more of our money to USA Cycling.

Saturday: 3AM
Wake up, successfully register for Nationals, go back to sleep

Saturday: 6:15AM
Get up for real this time.  Head out the door and grab coffee at one of my old favorites on Fremont and head north to Lakewood, Washington, Home of Fort Steilacoom Park the first race of the weekend, Cross Clash! 

Renee, Chad and I all raced at the same time so the pre-ride, warm up and number pinning was a group effort.  At 11:30, we stood, shivering, at the start line.  The fields weren't huge, but there were some tough competitors in the Elite Women's Field: Kari Studley (Velo Bella), Kristi Berg (Redline), Jenni Gaertner (XXX), and Ann Knapp.  Here we go!

I had  my signature start (aka: awful) and had to scrap my way back from about last to 5th, riding behind Ann Knapp from Kona for a couple minutes, moving past her on the first uphill and continuing to extent the gap as the race continued.  Kristi Berg was in my sights with 3 laps to go and I did what I could to catch her, but I finished 20 seconds back.  The race was posted as 45 minutes; I race for about 55…. All the better; the 40 minutes at Nationals is going to seem short. Check out CX Magazine's Race Report Here.

I finished the day in 4th place and was pleased with how I rode.  My cornering is getting better, I am becoming less of a chicken on the down hills, and am trusting my tubulars more and more.  I really love those wheels.  I do need to find that other gear though - more intervals perhaps!?!

Renee and Chad both raced well and once we caught our breath, slammed some Recoverite and cooled down, it was off to Papa and Connie's for showers, rest, relaxing, good food and great company.  Thanks for spoiling us rotten!   (Matt & Scotty, we missed you!)

Sunday's report coming soon!

The Pumpkin Patch Was Good to Me; Heiser Farms and Alpenrose - Cross Crusade #1

Racing on the other side of the Cascades is a whole other ball game and last weekend was a great opportunity to test out my fitness and figure out if I really should be racing A's.  Two OBRA "A" line-ups  under my belt; two races I was proud of.

Saturday – Heiser Farms

Small field, but a couple of tough competitors; the dry, dusty course suited me well. I was 4^th wheel off the line and stayed there for the first half lap.  I felt like the pace was pretty slow and on the first long, uphill barrier set, I made my move.  I pulled in front and never looked back.  I continued to put time between and my two closest chasers as the 40 minute race unfolded.  With 2 laps to go, I had a pretty good lead and eased off just a bit.  Alpenrose, on Sunday, was the real goal.  I crossed the line, smiling – I won a race on the West Side.

Sunday - Alpenrose, Cross Crusade #1

The big number of the girls racing at StarCrossed and Radracing also make frequent appearances at the Cross Crusade Races, and Alpenrose being the first and the largest of the Series, they were out in full force (with the exception of home town favorite Sue Butler who was racing in Gloucester).

Given I was a B last year and this is only my second season of racing Cross, or bikes for that matter, I feel like things went pretty well.  But given that I am pretty hard on myself, I wanted to do better.  I think I could have placed 6^th, beating the girls in pink, if I had played my cards right.  I beat 7th place on Saturday by a fair bit; I should be able to do it again.

I road hard the first half of the race and was right there with Emily and Rhonda and the Gentle Lovers.  Emily and Rhonda found a couple more gears that I just didn’t have and I got gapped – bad move.  I did not feel good about this.  The gap kept growing and I was fighting my way between 7 and 9^th place.  With 2 laps to go I should have gone “all-out”.  Instead I waited until the lap board read “1”.

We raced for 60 minutes, along side the Men’s As.  60 minutes is a long time to race; but with long laps, great crowds and lots of cowbell, the race was over before I knew it.  Kacy, Andrew and Max came out to cheer and had their first taste of CX.  Having them there was awesome; they found the run up, heckled with the best of them and looked to be having a great time.

Alpenrose is why people love to race cross… let the Crusade begin.

Check out this short video from the Cycling Diaries and get a better idea of what Cross is all about!

NOTE: Team Sunnyside Had a great showing and we are currently in the Top 10 for the team competition. Matt and Don both posted race reports.

Thrilla #4 - Trophies All Around

I road clean, smart and fast enough to come home with the Thrilla Series Trophy; along side teammates Damian and Colin.
Nice Showing Sunnyside.

A Quote for Thought

Yesterday Ben sent me an email – Subject Line: A Quote for Thought

"Tell me, what it is you want to do with your one wild and precious life?" - Mary Oliver

An eloquent expression of the question I have been pondering quite often lately.

My response:

1) I want to love Ben with all my being. I want to return the kindness and love he shows to me each and everyday. I want to be his best friend and his wife.

2) I want to ride bikes; well, strong, and fast.

3) I want to be part of my community, working to share my love of the outdoors and passion for new adventures with those around me.

4) I want to live a life less ordinary!

Lofty goals, perhaps.

Unrealistic, I think not.

We have one shot, we get one chance.

It is time to embrace life, in all its wonder and create an existence that challenges the body, mind, and soul.

There will be struggles, stumbles, and trials, I am certain. What does not kill us makes us stronger.