Cyclocross Montana Style

This weekend was the Rolling Thunder cyclocross races in Montana. Kris and I have been racing a little over the past 3 weekends and I was a little nervous about racing. Last year I hadn't been training and did the race just because we were there for Kris to race so I was very humbles last year. I was hoping to change that this year. For me it all started with the call ups, I think the race world of Montana must like me, they called up Lisa Curry then Liz English. Then they ramble on about this great racer from Spokane that is always one to look out for. I thought they were calling up on of the other girls from Spokane, and there it was Shannon Holden, I was caught off guard and rolled up. I was giggling a bit and made a comment about how he must have a start list from 5 years ago. Lisa then proceeds to tell Liz how I lapped her when she came over to race. It was funny. Anyways I got a great start. I rode my own race and moved into 5 the early one and was king of in no mans land. With three to go I knew I had locked in 5th, I had more in me and no one too close. I was so stoked, I made podium!!! I was pretty excited. It got me stoked for the rest of the season. I have been working full time and with with three kids so training is limited. Racing into shape, not such a bad way to go. Sunday....I was tired, we got to bed late since I raced at 6:30 pm and Kris at 8 pm. It was late by the time we got to bed and didn't really eat right. So lacking calories for sure. I was a little nervous, I knew it was going to be tough. The curse was more technical today so I knew. I just needed to use my handling skills from Mtb and I would be fine. The race started and I had a great start. I tucked in right behind Lisa and tried to stay on her wheel. She pulled hard the first lap and pulled away a little...." I tend to pull up on the last few laps. Anyways. Jayne came around on the second lap and tried to pull away from me. My husband always tells me it is only 10 seconds of pain to get on, so I tried it. Everything I had for 10 seconds and I was on her wheel. I followed her until the decent she too the open line and I took the inside technical line and she went down and I went by. It was Sony the second lap but I attacked. Jayne is a power house, she is scary fast on the straights. My teammate Sara Johnson stuck to my wheel and we went for it. We rode out little hearts out and stayed upright (which was key). With two laps to go Jayne wasn't too far back, so Sara was really putting a move on. She can still out descend me so I knew I needed to just stay upright and hammer everything else. So I rode hard but conservative the last lap, I may have lost a little in the technical part, but managed to make up time on Lisa the last 2 laps and place 2nd. It was a great weekend of racing. Can't wait for next year.