-by Chris Clarke
I finished my somewhat desultory ‘cross season with a race in Charlottesville on Sunday. I was looking forward to it because my best ‘cross result of the year occurred last month in C’ville when I took 2nd at the Cross at IX Race in a true mudfest. The forty degree rain probably kept the better riders at home that day. Actually, I probably wouldn’t have raced again this year after a dogged, yet utterly mediocre, race at Reston last week but I had left my jacket at the start line at the IX Race and felt obliged to retrieve it.
Yesterday, things went ok but not great which is pretty much the usual theme with me and ‘cross. A small mixed field of 35+ and 45+ masters (probably a grand total of 20 or so) raced around Darden Town Park in sunny, pleasant conditions. The course featured some fun, fast railing downhills, a lot of soul-sucking grass and one notable wall to the finish line. I finished 6th overall and 5th in the 35+ group. I managed about two laps near the front but blew out on the steep and long run up to the finish. As the leaders slowly, but inexorably, pulled away and no chasers appeared behind, I was able to drop into an enjoyably fast, but not vomit-inducing fast, pace for the remainder of the race. With one last mighty push, I rode up the wicked final hill instead of doing yet another death march with the bike to bring my 2006 racing season to a close.
My only other highlight for this year’s ‘cross season was getting a bronze medal in the 40+ race at the MABRA Championship Race. For some reason this race wasn’t part of the MABRA ‘Cross Series so turnout was lighter than usual for MABRA and I rode pretty hard that day, too.