Georgia State Cyclocross Championship

Race: Georgia State Cyclocross Championships
Date: 11-21-2004
Place: Jim R. Miller Park, Marietta, GA
Division: A Women
Distance: 8.7 miles
Speed: 11.1 mph
Time: 47 minutes

Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta hosted a stop on the Georgia Cyclocross Series for the second time. This year it was the Georgia State Cyclocross Championships. Daryl Sawyer and crew planned a fun course, which was most of last year’s course run backwards. The course started on a long asphalt section before making a left hand turn onto a grassy field. The first run up was a near figure eight around a tree on the side of a hill. The course then went across a dirt section before crossing a road and climbing up a red clay hill. A very steep downhill was followed by “The Run Up.” This run up is going to be infamous in Georgia Cross lore in years to come. It was 15-20 feet of sheer red clay wall that would have been hard to run up when it was dry. It was nearly impossible in the rain. The course then meandered downhill through cross country running trails. The turns were very slick thanks to the mud. Trees jumped out at riders that overshot the turns. The course then went into the open on the periphery of a large field. A 180 degree turn was placed directly in front of a triple barrier. A trudge through the field brought riders to the final section on the asphalt.

I lined up with the 7 A Women, which has been a typical field size this year. All eyes were on Kim Sawyer (Travel Girl) and Lisa Randall (Alan Factory Team) to battle it out for the State Championship jersey. The rest of the field was expected to trickle in behind them. John Johnson, official extraordinaire, lined us up. With a “Go!,” we were off. Lisa, Holly, and Kim sprinted to the front of the group. The rest of us stayed on their wheels until the first run up. I was towards the back and was slowed down in traffic. By the time I remounted, I was nearly last. I decided to settle in and keep a strong, steady pace. The rain and mud could work to my advantage, but I needed to keep a level head and bide my time. Of course, I was also thinking that I was in my traditional place near dead last and very well may come in there as well. I made it up the second run up after slipping several times. Holly and Kathleen were still in sight but riding away. I flew into the triple barriers and loved it. I enjoy trying to make the transitions as smooth and fast as possible. The barriers were quite tall, and I made sure to give them plenty of room by stepping high. My right shin was still angry at me for the bashing it took last week at Dauset. The rain picked up as I entered the second lap. This lap was unremarkable. I lost more time to Holly and could just see her in the distance. I concentrated on trying to not freeze. By the start of the third lap, I felt much better. I pushed my big ring on the asphalt and found the sweet gear combination for the mushy grass. The tree run up was not as hard without the crowd of people on the first lap. I easily made it through. I maintained my speed up the red clay climb and down the short hill. I dismounted for the wall. The heavy rain made it extremely slick. I heard someone yelling “stay to the right!,” which I did. The thicker soil made it easier to get a foothold. I scrambled up and remounted at the top. In the turns down the running trail, I grabbed my brakes around each turn in order to avoid hitting the trees. Once in the field, I opened my legs up and pushed it harder. I could see Holly and Kathleen in the distance ahead but noone behind me. On the next lap, I nearly caught Holly at the top of the second run up. I did not know I was that close to her; I’d later find out that her back brake went out. She remounted a second before I did and was gone again.

With two laps to go, the race got interesting for me. At the beginning of the lap, I saw both Kathleen and Holly were just ahead on the asphalt. I pushed harder to catch up to them. The bigger gears on my cross bike helped. I grabbed Kathleen’s wheel until we got to the tree run up. Both were in front of me, and I passed then when remounting. Kathleen was in front of me again when we descended the steep hill. I was right behind her on the steep run up, and we stayed together descending the running trails. About 20 yards into the field, I accelerated to get in front. I was faster through the barriers, but she nearly caught me in the field section that followed. Once on the asphalt, I stood up and pushed as hard as I could. If I could put time on Kathleen, the road would be the place since she is an excellent bike handler no matter what the course conditions. I looked back when I hit the grass and saw that I had a slight gap. I reminded myself to keep my pace steady but hard. I did not want to have a VCD attack. I got off and ran around the tree. I got back on and pushed hard up the red clay hill. I had to hit my brakes down the steep hill as the skinny cross tires did not have very much grip. I muddled my way up Mount Marietta for the last time. I stumbled once but regained my footing without falling. I remounted as quickly as I could and barely hit the brakes down the running trails. I sprinted into the field and looked back. I did not see Kathleen behind me. I flew through the barriers and down the field hill. I hit the asphalt and saw Kathleen about 5 seconds behind me. I did not let up until I crossed the finish line.

We got poured on most of the race. It's a good thing I was concentrating on not falling and trying to ride steadily or I would have found out how cold I was. I had an incredible race, especially considering how sick I've been the last several weeks. I thrive on terrible conditions at important races. The muddier, the colder, the more adverse the conditions, the more I like it. I had a great race and had a season best 4th place finish. My best placing up until now was a 6th several weeks ago. I placed in front of three strong ladies that have beaten me all year. I'm sure next week I will be trying to catch them from behind again. For the first time since Macon, my legs had power. They responded every time I pushed on the pedals. It’s a great feeling!