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Let's Hear It for the Guys and Gals at the Back of the Pack!

Yesterday's race was quite fast with a few rollers, two sets of barriers and a killer run-up. (I hear that some people were riding it...Grrr.) I felt good for the most part but I definitely suffered there on the last lap. However, I consider it a success to have finished the race and without being lapped by those skinny guys this time!

Let's hear it for the bottom 10 of the the field! It's not a very prestigeous place in terms of the ranking; but there's a definite bond of kindred spirits there for every race. We battle hard knowing full well that we're not going to win. In fact, it means more to us to just get out there and race, participating in the grand tradition of suffering that is cyclocross.

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Comment by Chris Beaver on October 27, 2009 at 7:18am
Absolutely, Rick...My goals have always been to finish and not get lapped...But If either of those things happen I don't let it get me down. Show up, race and have fun!
Comment by Rick Mellendick on October 27, 2009 at 7:11am
Life is short, have fun, make it a goal to not be last, race for that not last place, watch the winners as they lap you and see their lines, there is no better way to learn from those that have been doing this much longer... or better... work on fitness and use the races as training for next year, spring board yourself to the middle of the pack where it gets fun again... suffer for a year to reap the benefits, or just have fun... I make it a goal to finish and then secondary not to get lapped.
Comment by Chris Beaver on October 27, 2009 at 7:01am
That's the spirit, Jesse!
Comment by JesseD on October 26, 2009 at 7:07pm
Awesome ...I have two races pinned on my calendar for November!!! And am NOT worried about being out back!!! Thanks
Comment by lagomorph on October 23, 2009 at 1:34pm
It's still fun, but I'm getting tired of being in last place. Quite frankly, I'm embarrassed by my poor performances. I worked hard all summer, and all of cross season so far with a coach, and I'm not improving. It's a letdown to the team, myself, and the coaching organization. Cross is what I look forward to all year. It's hard to stay motivated when you can't even be competitive. Last place in master 3's is no place for a guy with 10+ years of bike racing under his belt-and I mean no disrespect to the people who are struggling as much as I am.
Comment by Chris Beaver on October 23, 2009 at 7:01am
Hey, lagomorph, are you not having fun anymore? For me that's the biggest draw to 'cross--getting out there and riding my bike in the mud and cold weather.
Comment by lagomorph on October 22, 2009 at 9:50pm
it's okay to be at the back occasionally. But two years in a row is getting stale.
Comment by Tim Schallberger on October 7, 2009 at 4:44pm
Heck ya! I was 176 out 199 Master Cs at the Cross Crusade. But, I didn't get lapped (goal 1) and I didn't finish DFL, plus I had a blast.
Comment by Beth Hamon on October 7, 2009 at 8:51am
I was disappointed by the lack of mud at Alpenrose, but fear not -- my next race is 10/25 at the Washington Co. Fairgrounds. If it gets rainy, we'll be riding through a foot of standing water-mud-manure mix in the livestock area. (I'm trying to line up local shower access in the area...!)
Mud is beautiful.
Comment by WaynePedranti on October 7, 2009 at 3:58am
It is all about the fun and mud.

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