Beer, Bikes, and Snow

After hitting my low at Day 1 of Gloucester , I knew I needed to turn my attitude around for Day 2.  At the start of my mountain bike season, I went to see Joe Friel - and he said your attitude going into a race can really have an effect on how your race goes.  I didn't want a repeat of the day before. We arrived early to check out the Master's race and cheer on a friend.  We picked up our numbers and I pulled my call-up.  Number 1 - which meant after the girls with UCI points lined up, I was first.  Yes! But that also meant that I would be sprinting within the pack of ladies, which has caused anxiety for me in the past. We pre-rode a lap and the course changed in some areas, added some things and had the same amount of steps and barriers.  I felt good on the pre-ride.  The day was already off to a better start than the day before. As we were waiting to get on course for another lap, two of my friends rolled up next to me.  I was chatting w...

"You HAVE to check out a New England CX race.  They are EPIC!"  We heard it for a few years and this year we finally committed to a NECX .  We were on the fence whether to do Gloucester, Providence, or Northampton. I knew when I registered for Rapha Super Cross  I knew this was going to be big.  I would be racing in the UCI Elite Women category, among some of the fastest women in the country. I kept telling myself "go for the experience and have fun". We packed up and left Friday afternoon for Gloucester.  Excitement set in as we headed north.  Then the traffic started and what was supposed to be a 5.5 hour drive ended up being 8 hours.  We rolled into Gloucester at 10:30.  We had a room at the Cape Ann Motor Inn as recommended by friends.  We woke up to see the sunrise on the Atlantic.  Talk about WOW. Not a bad view to wake up to We arrived at the venue early to see a friend race at 8:30.  We found out that he wou...