Ballwin - O'Fallon double header.

This past weekend was hot. So hot that I decided to skip the saturday RR. Like 105 in the pool hot. I am not good in the heat. When its that hot, I get goose bumps and start to feel cold and shakey. Thats not healthy.

Sunday there was two option. The cross race in Ballwin? Or the crit race in O'fallon? I really wanted to do both but couldnt decide saturday night. I had friends that were supposed to be doing the crit, and the course looked cool. But its cross... cant miss that can you?

Sunday morning I loaded both bike and 3 sets of wheels. I was for sure doing the cross race and if I felt ok was going to try and make the crit race. The time gaps between the two races made me think this would be possble. 11 am, and 2:45 start times. And only about a 45 minute drive to the second race.

Ballwin.

Even though this race was being run with MTB rules, it was a cross race. Lemans start(duathlon) it was. Run to our bikes and then begin the suffering of the race.

Photo by Mike Dawson


Photo by Mike Dawson

My first lap I felt great. Riding behind Yielding and Ploch the first lap and a half was a confidence boost. They had slipped away a little by the end of the second lap. On the third lap(could have been second, the heat made the memories a little fuzzy) I tried to pass Jay Strothman right before the stairs. Somehow, we managed to run up the stairs side by side. After thinking about that, He had to of held his bike over his head. The stairs were narrow with rails on both side. Jay passed me back and I couldnt hold his wheel.

The Stairs. I know I saw a shadow of a bike over me...

Photo by Mike Dawson.

Dropping in on the green monster.

Photo by Mike Dawson.

BJ Keene then made his way up to me. This was around the 4th lap or so. I was feeling miserable and starting to want to vomit. I did once, in my mouth. Just a little though. Drank a full bottle during the race and needed more. This was about the half way point of the race and I was now going backwards. Felt like complete shit. I drank as much as I could and tried to calm down.

With 3 or so laps to go I was able to start riding forward again. I caught BJ back and got around him. I finished feeling ok in 7th. Not bad I guess.

Riding the In-field.

Photo by Mike Dawson.

Quad-tastic in the pit.

Photo by Mike Dawson.

So with the race being over I chatted with everyone about the usual stuff after a race. Everyone seemed to love the race and it sounds like it will happen again next year. Pretty awesome.

No cross race is complete without a 1500 HP shopping cart. Welcome to Missouri.

Photo by Mike Dawson.


And with that.... time to get to O'fallon.

Hopped back in the car and pinned it east. Got to the race with 2 hours to spar. Slammed water like no ones buisness and ate some cookies to fuel up. Soda too just to be sure. The field was small for the 3's race. I think they said 27 or so. Fairly certain I was the only rider lining up with sand in his shoes.


Photo by Dennis Fickinger

The course was a 10 corner figure 8 type course. I thought it was great. I didnt feel great.. not even good really. Had fun riding the course though . I pretty much just sat in and watched the racing at the front. Lots of attacks but none went anywhere.


Photo by Dennis Fickinger

When it was 5 laps to go I knew I was done. The all day heat session was pretty taxing on me. I felt tired and weak. The water that was left in my bottles was warm too. It wasnt refreshing to drink it so I didnt. My throat was pretty dry the last couple laps.


Photo by Dennis Fickinger.

With one and a half laps to go I hit eject(pussy). I was done. No way I was going to go for the sprint. Riding the last lap alone was pretty sucky. I saw the beginning of the sprint with one corner to go as the field was coming toward me. It made me wonder how I would have finished had I not been such a turd. Or had I not raced a cross race already that day... I finished 18th. I beat 1/3 of the field somehow. A few guys dropped out and there was a crash. Doesnt matter.

Not sure what my deal is this year. No results to speak of except for a 4th place finish in the A's at the Tuesday worlds. Plus a couple of good MTB finishes.

There always next weekend.



So the day was long, hot, and I guess sort of "epic". Had a ton-o-fun doing it too. Wish there were more weekends like this. RR this coming weekend. The MO state race. Hopefully I can get in a break with a bunch of guys from Il. That way no one will chase since we cant get the jersey.... yeah right.