DCCX is an outstanding event. The course is balanced, mixing open power sections with some deceivingly technical sections. Marc Gwadz and the DC MTB team obviously put a ton of effort into not only the race but also to the entire event. The venue is unique and the course is laid out in a manner that allows the screaming fans to be close to the beer, but also central to key parts of the course. Really a great time, the weather was beautiful and I'm glad I made the trip down today.
As for my race, I make no excuses. I am the Lantern Rouge of the master's 123 race. Let me continue: DFL, that's dead fucking last. Check the results, they will tell the tale, I was full of suck this weekend. 46th place.
I started third row, quickly moved into the top 10. I was wheezing a little. I thought to myself, this can't be good. Then my peers in the Master's 123 class forgot that we were the Masters 123 and not the cat 4 race as by the time we finished 1/2 the first lap, there were 4 big crashes with lots of bodies hitting the deck. I understand things happen, but brothers that was a supershit show. We are better than that.. Okay today you were better than that, me not so much.
But I digress, back to my suckness. The sensations in my legs they were very bad. My legs felt like wood. Despite inserting myself in the top 10, I was going backwards quickly. As I rode past the pit for the first time I gave Diane the signal that indicates I was not feeling so special. As she cheered for me I responded with this:
Being as we drove 2 hours for me to be awful, I kept riding around. It was a beautiful course, a
beautiful day, why pull the plug?
So I noodled around, took some beer feeds, high fived the crowd, rode a super sweet full suspension Merlin decked out with XTR, and generally made a jackass out of myself. I had fun.
As Lantern Rouge and 46th place finisher, I received a super sweet preme of beer from Fordham Brewer. This was supposed to be for the 50th place finisher, but those 10 suckers that called it a day opened the door for me. The best prize ever for 46th place. thank you Marc Gwadz and DC MTB... Sweet.
The day finished up well as I got to pit for my teammates in the women's races and of course got to hang out with Monkey today. So all in all it was a pretty great day, you know except for you know racing the worst race of my life.
You know if last week I raced some of the best cross of my life, pretty clearly today was my worst. I promise, I'll do better next week.
best to you.
respect
fatmarc
picture of super sweet full suspension bike by Scott Thompson
6 comments:
As my friend Schick (RIP) used to put it about his golf game, "Good shot, bad shot. Bullshit, dogshit." I don't know what that meant but it had something to do with sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not so good. He had a pretty good perspective on things when not hitting the glass pipe.
I'm coming to think that if you can ride around and bring some joy to the race, even if you're having a hella bad day yourself, then you're tossing logs on the bonfire that is the Crossy Spirit and keeping hope alive that we can have a sort of racing that is competitive and harsh but doesn't take itself too seriously. I thought that was some major Cross Fu you displayed today, despite the exploding legs, missing equipment and bouncing bike. Well done.
So how was it to be back on a 26?
Great minds think alike. I agree with Jim you might as well live it up. I was DFL almost from the gun yesterday and was high fiving the crowd till ~3 to go when they forgot I was there.
Bummer day. Holla at ya boy when you get a chance.
glad you were able to enjoy yourself! it's not so bad... i was lantern rouge for a whole series last year. still had the best time of my life.
glad you could make it out. and crappy race or not it was nice to see you enjoying the day.
all that mayhem in the first km was crazy- wtf? my buddy raul got taken out in the first 10m!
-marc g
Sometimes you must suck a lemon to better enjoy the peach!
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