The Ebb and Flow of CX

This past weekend was Frisco Cross. Two days of pain cave at the Frisco Nordic center. I skipped Saturday's race in order to be with the family and drove up late Saturday night. The weather prediction for Sunday was cold with a mix of rain and snow. As I laid down my head to sleep I could hear the snow hitting the window outside the hotel room and fell asleep with visions of mud in my head.

I awoke the next morning and for a few fleeting moments I imagined the piles on snow outside, but a quick glance out the window and it was not to be. Clear as a bell with not a sign of snow or rain.

Somewhat disappointed that we wouldn't have epic conditions, Dan and I gathered up our gear and headed out for coffee and breakfast and then over to the Frisco Nordic Center to set up Blue Sky Nation.

Cross is just a 45 minute microcosm of life. It's about hard work, dealing with misplaced expectations, battling inner struggles, falling down and getting back up, pushing harder than you thought you ever could, learning and growing, becoming better than you thought was possible, and reaching your goals. Then you hit the reset button and do it all over again.

Just as in life, there are endless possibilities of how a cross race can play out.

Doors open and shut. Do you go with the guy getting the whole shot or do you wait and see what happens. Do you attack your group or sit in and hope they'll take you somewhere. Do you save some for end or use it in the beginning. Opportunities taken. Opportunities lost.

Sunday I would wait for my opportunities. A week ago I tried to create them early and paid. My strategy going in was to not go out too hard and race within myself. The start was fast, but I kept to my plan. After a couple of laps I was still feeling pretty good. I had hooked up with a group of about five and was holding my own. About four laps in I couldn't hold the pace of the group anymore and was dumped. I was pretty bummed, but tried to stay focused and positive. Over the next lap I was in no mans land and not really aware of where I was overall.

I slowly pulled in a couple of riders and when they both went down in a barrier section I attacked and left them behind. I rode in solo, but wasn't sure how I did. After results were posted I checked them out and to my surprise I came in 18th out of about 36.

Every race I try to learn something new. What did you learn?

Special props to the Blue Sky CX Brothers and Sisters. Going out and throwing it down and bringing it home. I'm proud of you guys!