there is no language in our lungs, to tell the world just how we feel...

Margo and Marlone came to cheer me on at the final 'cross race of the year at Angell Park speedway in sun prairie, wi. soooo many thanks to them for their support all season. it really means the most to me, in amongst a lot of stuff that i will remember/embellish.

first up, cat.4. this was a good race at a furious pace.

in the latter laps, i caught up with Lewis Clark (above), a rider i usually only see at the start & relaxing at the finish as i trundle on in. after a pass on the flats, he came charging past over the barriers. i chased again, which began a familiar refrain. i beefed it in the grass in the snail (a section of switchbacks). then came the re-mount, chase and prompt wipe out on the most vicious counter camber hairpin. i slid down the hill and under the tape, so i had to grab my bike and run back onto the course before i could even remount! all of this actually came across as FUN!

i then debated for the next 2 hours whether or not to do the 30+ race. i finally decided to start at least. i was actually a little scared, just 'cause the legs felt rather heavy which only added to the uncertainty i felt on the aforementioned downhill 180 degree right hander.

even though off of the start i dropped off like... (ooh got one) an oil can boyd splitter, i'm glad i toed the line. first, i guilted half-a-dozen spectators into cheering for me at the bottom of the course, which they then did during each lap.

then...

there was the beer garden... a tunnel of noise & good cheer that was really new for me... having a bunch of people just scream for you while you ride. friggin' cool.

also, props to a rider i barely know Derek Hay (least, think that's his name, above far right), who out of the goodness of his spirit kept handing me a bottle, each time by the finish straight.

yes, while trying in vein to hold off a chaser, there was a meeting of my elbow and the gravel, but that became just part of the glory.

this season will really be something i will remember and will mumble about in the nursing home in years to come.

props to John Erickson & the rest of the brazen dropouts for a friggin' hard course, even in such beautiful atmospheric conditions.

i also need to say good luck to Richard Moran & Jane as well as Barb & Gene.

can't forget all the organizers & volunteers, too! Renee Callaway, Chris Setter, Ben Milano, Paul Roltgen, Steve Roeder, Jerry Pearce & Neil Swanson.

AND the officials. much respect to the peace-keepers.

odds and sods:

1). did you notice i stopped b*tch*ng about falling off on re-mounts? ok, well you haven't, but i changed my mindset on them. after practicing every day over lunch, i finally decided three weeks ago to quit trying to get rid of my left foot stutter-step and just embrace it. while not the best form, it's still faster for me than not being able to execute a textbook mount and crashing into the bushes all the time.

2). my placings... cat 4 was 33rd of 46 and while 30+ was 15th of 16, that was still good enough to add four to my season point total. grand total: five WCA cyclocross points. maybe next year, i can score enough points that i don't have to spell the word out.