Death Spiral of Love

Marisa Peacock
10.16.06

I forced myself into the car, tired and prone to whining. I wanted to crawl into bed and take comfort in the warmth of my apartment, rather than the sun-drenched wind that greeted me outside. But I talked myself into going. I reminded myself that this was a good race for me last year and that it was the last MABRA race for two weeks. If I wanted to get points, I needed to show up.

I left just in time to make it to Michaux State Forest with enough time to prep for a 130p race. Got a good parking spot and made my way to registration. I ran into some familiar faces. Saw Thom and Ron at the finish area. I asked them about the course—was it the same as last year’s? They said that it was, except of course for the Death Spiral.

Death Spiral???? Say what!?

The course was set up to lead us into a field of cleverly woven tape, we spiral in until we are forced to make a very sharp turn that allows us to spiral our way out again. Watching it done on the course was hypnotizing. I was a bit concerned as I lack a certain amount of depth perception useful to distinguish my way through the tape that outlines cross courses. On a good day, I get tied up—today was sure to be a challenge!

I didn’t pre-ride the course. Instead I took myself for a warm up on the road. About 15 minutes before the race, I gathered by the now-dried up lake for the start. Melanie, Deidre, Beth and others started to gather as well. We exchanged pleasant conversation and I no longer felt grossly out of place.

We were off and as was becoming usual, I didn’t stay with the pack long. This again would be my own race, but I was feeling good---spinning well and being strategic in my dismounts/remounts (which still need work). This time around, the sand pit failed to disrupt my flow. However, I think my tire pressure was too low. I overheard Judd talking before the race and he was recommending a lower pressure. For once I actually made an effort to check my pressure and let some out. I started at around 35 psi. I usually ride a much higher pressure. I can’t tell if it felt really soft because I rarely ride so low, or if the course was just not meant for that low pressure.

Interestingly and contrary to just about everyone else’s account, the more laps I did, the better I got at climbing the starting ascent. It was a winding incline on sand and dirt and gravel. Each time around, I found the right line and shifted more strategically. A junior competitor and I played cat and mouse. Oddly, he’d get in front of me through the tangled web of tape and I would beat him up the hill quite handily. Go figure.

I felt much better this weekend and was proud of my finish, though it still be last place. I am optimistic that I bumped myself into the top ten in the rankings this week. I must say consistency is my best weapon these days. Coming in last may not be ideal, but I need to keep perspective. It’s a much stronger field than last year and it’s not so bad losing to the pros, especially when they cheer you on, as Diedre did. She even said my name. How do you like that?—she knows my name. How cool. How very cool, indeed.

Overall finish: 11th place (5 points)

Haggard in Hagerstown

Marisa Peacock
10.16.06

Last weekend it poured everywhere but in Hagerstown. I drove up in a steady down pour and I drove home in a steady down pour. Remarkably, the ground in Hagerstown stayed mostly dry.

I arrived and made my way to registration. I realized how well I’ve come to know this sport, as I ran into several familiar faces, teammates and competitors alike, all of whom welcomed me and filled me in on the course. It seemed that they had shortened the course from its original route due to an excessive amount of flats. They cut out a section and added in some on the backstretch—still there were complaints that it was too short.

It was in a different location than last year—a disappointment since I did rather well there last year. Last year, we were not spared the rain, but instead reveled in its glory. Have I mentioned that I love racing in the rain and mud? That’s why it was so misleading that the course would remain rain-free for the duration of the races. There was a huge hole in the women’s A field---most of the A racers were in Gloucester. Seven of us lined up. I thought that I would have a good shot of not coming in last, and I held onto that hope for about a minute and then it was very clear to me that today wasn’t the day. My legs had nothing in them. I tried to hold onto the wheel in front of me, but it was no use. I would just ride until I was forced to stop. It wasn’t that I didn’t have any legs, I lacked a great deal of focus. There was a sand pit after the last set of barriers that kept me guessing the entire race. Not once did I successfully complete my ride through the sand pit. The first two time, I got stuck and had to dismount and unstuck myself. The next few times, though I was able to keep on riding through, I struggled to get out—never quite picking the right line.

Most riders were able to ride up the final ascent, but I dismounted and ran up each time, saving me whatever time that could be saved. However, had it been raining, everyone would have dismounted and we would have struggled together in the slop and the cold. That’s all I was asking for—a collective struggle. It wasn’t a hard course—it was a bit short—and it did get a little boring. I have no excuse other than it wasn’t my race. Oh well, I got some points (9 to be exact) and I was 11th place in the series—not so bad for coming in last three weeks in a row!

Overall finish: 7th place (9 points)

Hi Ho Buckeystown!

Marisa Peacock
10.02.06

This weekend at Buckeystown for Lilypons Cross proved to be an exciting, sunny day. Though I prefer real cross conditions rather the Indian Summer that greeted us today, even I must admit that it is rather nice to sport a sunburn in October. Nate and I arrived a few minutes before 10 to meet up with Gretchen, who’d be racing for PVC in the Women’s B category. She called us around 930, a bit frantic, because she had forgotten her helmet. I had an extra with me and I told her she wasn’t the first person to do this. Nate forgot his this summer at the Cranky series and I forgot mine last year at Chimbrazzo Park in Richmond. Both times, we were able to borrow others and all went well.

Gretchen raced well. She looked good on the course and I was so very excited to have another pair of XX chromosomes on the course representing PVC. YAY!

After Gretchen’s race, Nate and I rode the course. It looked just as fierce as I remembered it. The run-ups, the steep downhills, the gravel. I made an effort to ride the course without the pressure of a start time looming over my head, minutes away. Instead, I rode the course hours ahead of my race. I was able to pay closer attention to my position on the course and watch how others tackled sections. I think this was very helpful and will try to do the same in upcoming races.

I didn’t race until 130p, so I watched the start of Nate’s race at 1215p and then warmed up on the trainer. They kept announcing the women’s A race as the Pro race, which made me nervous. I calmed down reminding myself that I raced Women’s A last season and did rather well. I would do well today. It’ll be fun to get out there and see what I’ve got. My legs felt good. A week of good workouts would prove strong on the course.

At the start line, we paused for the National Anthem. The officials announced “play ball” and we were off. A good solid start and I was off the back. There was one woman behind me and she wouldn’t catch me until the barriers. I hung on to her wheel. There were three of us that were together. I held on for as long as I could until the second lap, when I struggled with my gears. I was never too far behind, but it was clear this was my own race. I loved the course. I handled it very well. It wasn’t too muddy or too hard—just right. The gravel proved to be manageable and most remarkable—the run ups and down hills were great. I ran up each of the run up sections, which saved me time and were relatively easy—my legs felt useful and strong. It wasn’t until the very end of my second to last lap that I was caught. Deirdre lapped me. However, she led by a huge gap, so no other woman lapped me. Pretty neat, even if I still wound up in last place. Afterwards, I congratulated Deidre and she complimented me on my bike. Peter Nicholl also interviewed me afterwards, so I felt like I belonged, if only for a moment in the Women’s A field.

Overall finish: 11th (5 points)

Cyclocross Season 2006

Marisa Peacock
10.02.06

Ah! Cyclo-cross season! A time when I trade my road cycling-induced farmer’s tan for a bruised and battered carcass in the pursuit for mud, blood and if all goes well, some old fashioned glory.

My season officially began last weekend in Baltimore at Charm City Cross. The only MABRA venue I have not previously raced. I arrived hungry, as my pleas to stop at a Dunkin Donuts on the way up to Baltimore were ignored by Nate, who just thought I enjoyed calling out the names of local attractions from the passenger seat. (“Look! A Wendy’s! A BP gas station!”) Upon arriving, Nate and I, In a matter of minutes had argued about my lack of food, his failure to use my wheel rack for his front wheel, and whether or not I really should be racing in the A category, among others. We lost track at how many arguments we had going and agreed to call a truce.

On the way to registration, we ran into a pack of PVC racers and Jim was gracious enough to offer me two Cliff bars. He must have recognized defeat in Nate’s eyes and a ravenous hunger in mine. Thanks, Jim---you saved our relationship!

While Nate raced, I warmed up. I got an abbreviated pre-ride in, but enough to alert me to the various off-camber sections that awaited me. The field was large and included Georgia Gould. While on the line, she held up the start briefly to fix her bike. When it was clear that it could not be fixed in a few minutes, she yelled to her pit man to get her Surly single speed from the car. We all rolled our eyes. We expected to for her to beat us—we just hadn’t anticipated that it would be done on a single speed.

It was a fast start and I hung on for a bit. I maneuvered around successfully, if only slowly. But that’s okay. For a first race of the season, I was only looking to build confidence by not being laughed off the course or crashing. Both were accomplished.

On the third lap, I miscalculated the angle at which I needed to climb up and around a tree. I crashed into the ground. A bystander on the course said, “It’s okay, I didn’t see that happen.” I replied, “That’s okay, because it didn’t happen.”

On my fourth (and final lap) Diedre Winfield and Georgia Gould closed in on me. I cheered for both and they cheered for me when they passed me. The thought of a National Champion cheering for me carried me to the finish. A last place finish for me (but with two DNFs), but it took 4 laps for only 2 riders to catch me. Not too bad.

Overall Finish: 16th (0 points)