Race report: DeKalb.

First and foremost: Happy Belated Birthday to AUDREY! Her b-day was race day this year, which sucks, because we were all so scattered and tired that she didn't get the party she deserves. Hearts and hugs and great apologies.

(Photo: Mike Campbell) I'm such a faker. I have no idea why I bother even lining up for this stuff. Ya, it's fun. But I had ruined any chance of success when the previous night's shenanigans rolled over into the morning...

You see, Saturday we went to this Bridgeport Oktoberfest that had 60+ kinds of micro- and home-brewed beers. I really, really enjoyed tasting the creativity of people who didn't have to worry about selling beer, it was awesome. But there was just so much of it... anyway, it resulted in some pretty pro moves, and a lifetime-first cake-in-the-face for me. German Chocolate, how appropriate. Too bad 90% of the free food was non-veg. That could have saved the day.

Then it was to Dan & Lisa's, more drinking, Daisy Cutter from a tap. Mmmmm.

I woke up at 5:00am when I had to start getting ready for the race. Nabbed one of the rice krispy treats I had made for the bake sale and called it breakfast, sucked down a few bottles of GuBrew and Erica picked me up and we were on our way. Got there, set up the bake sale, got the coffee brewing, helped finish off course set-up, and the day started to fly by.

I lined up for the race knowing I couldn't really get much done. It was totally rad, though, lining up with 3 teammates- 4 HAC women, all in a row!- and feeling like it wasn't just me out there was really, really awesome. From the start, though, I couldn't push it or the nausea would come back and punch me in the face. So, I just kind of rode along. The course wasn't well suited to me or my MTB- not very technical, pretty flat, few interesting turns. I rode in a group for a lap or two, then I didn't. By lap three, I couldn't see the woman in front of me or the woman behind me.

Lap two, though, one of the Pony Shop people shouted to the girl behind me, "Pass her! Pass a Popper!" Ha.
"That's not happening," I shouted back. And laid down a little effort to keep her behind me, which is the way it stayed. Too bad that effort was a little reminder of the other kind of Half Acre love- the beer kind- and it really, really kicked me in the teeth. Yargh. Then just after the finish, teammate Jason Henry from the SS race was coming up on me. I hit the brakes about 50' from the finish to let him catch up. I planned to hold hands and smile and chat across the line with him- he wasn't even in my race- but someone shouted SPRINT FINISH!!! I shifted and hit it hard enough to lift up my front wheel. It was close, but I think he got me in the end by like 1". Fun.

So, I think I was 25th of 27. Tee hee! I said I was in CX for the beer, and I guess I really meant it.