Sun Prairie Cyclocross and Carpenter Park

Thankfully we only had to drive 20 minutes to the race on Saturday because we will be doing tons of driving for races starting this weekend. We will be doing St.Louis Gate Way Cross then Cincinnati Cyclocross festival, then the mud fund cup in Louisville and finally Jingle Cross in Iowa City.  I warmed up on the road, and then pre-rode the course and rolled up to the start line. I jumped in the front row and after taking my power gels the whistle was blown. I took a immediate second place right off the line and chased first place for half a lap. I stuck on his wheel until the second lap when I passed him before the hill, I rode it and he made a mistake and I never saw him again. I went super hard to stay ahead off second and hold a 20 second gap. He gained some time on me in the flats but I gained twice as much time on him in the technical sections before and after the hill and barriers. I was thrilled to win the race my team was putting!

The next day we drove down to Chicago for the Carpenters Park race. It was a huge event, very festive, over 700 racers and a great course! I was doing the Cat 4's at 2:45, my sister raced at 10:45 and clobbered the Cat 1/2/3 women for her fifth consecutive Category 1/2/3 win. I made sure to stay fueled up all day so that I wouldn't be low on energy. There were about a 100 people in my race and thankfully I got first call up because of CrossResults.com points. We started and I was 6th going through the first turn. I moved up into second while we were going through the whoops and the corn field. I chased after first place until the beginning of the second lap. I stuck right on his wheel for another two laps. I was stronger than him on the flats and cornered better then him so at the beginning of the last lap I took the lead and gave him a run for his money. I hit the technical sections and motored down the flats waiting for 2nd place to make a mistake. Finally right before the last set of turns he followed me too close on a corner on my inside and went down. I took off like a bullet! I smashed the little hill and took off, going 25 around the start to the finishing straight. It was a super exhilarating and a great learning experience. This was my first Chicago Cross Cup Cat 4 race and win, and I won $30 and a Surly flask. It was the first time I had won money! Next week I will be fighting it out with the 1/2/3/4's in St.Louis!

The Hill