Dan Action

Moving out December 14, 2007

    Well, last weekend marked, for me, the last weekend of ‘cross racing in New England.  I’m not going to Nationals either, the logistics are just to much for me right now.  I’ve moved out of my closet space in Providence and have now unpacked my meager belongings into Nathalie’s apartment down here in Gainesville.

Last weekend was a fantastic end to it all, not tomention the races were just a bit down the road from me, leaving me with more than ample time in the morning to get ready.

Steadman’s CX:  Ever since the race in Wrentham I have been hindered with dizzy spells.  Every sharp turn of my head or refocusing my sight throws off my equilibrium.  Some days are better than others, but the Saturday of the Steadman’s race it was really effecting me.  I went to the race not too sure if I would actually make the lineup but I changed and managed to get a lap and a half in before my race went off.  I lined up figuring that if I started feeling really woozy I would bag it mid-race.

The course was well plotted and the weather left it muddy and super fun to ride.  I definitely did not feel on form, but had a blast riding the race anyway, I fell pretty early in a really muddy corner, but then cosed down a few sizable gaps to the three riders in front of me, so at the end of the day I knew I worked hard and had fun.  My head even felt a little better.  I got second in the RI state championships. There were three of us in that category and Adam Sullivan flatted out, leaving me and Amos Brumble who took the gold.  I went home and got some sleep and even a little bit of acupuncture from a good friend before heading out to the open-house party at the Hub.

The party was great; I kind of used it as a way to say goodbye to a lot of people I knew I would not see in the days to come before I left. I got a chance to talk with Mr. McCormack, of the Mark variety about setting goals and working towards them. This was a talk I kind of needed to have.  I’ve been self-coached ever since I got on a bike and started racing. It can be hard to feel like the way you’re doing things is optimally productive sometimes.  It is also sometimes hard to see yourself progressing too. It was refreshing and re-assuring to talk to Mark about that kind of stuff, and given his authority on the subject, feels like I was able to cement some things down in my head and make me work for it.  I think I left the party a little before midnight, but it felt like it was two in the morning; that’s the sign of a good party. Thanks everybody!

NBX Grand Prix.:

Ok, how awesome is it having the two most fun ‘cross courses back to back? All pre-race worries about both races being at the same venue would end up like another Gloucester were assuaged by NBX’s stellar course design.  The two days were dynamically different.  NBX’s race ran much like it has in the past, and I have to say I am a total fan of that course. It’s beautiful.

Again, I did not feel on form, but a bit better than I had felt the day before. I definitely felt strong in the enthusiasm department.  Off the line I had a bit of trouble with a foot and a pedal, but once that was cleared up, I found a couple of holes in the field and filled them. I got into a great working group of five and we were hammering along good. As Adam Sullivan pulled off, I went a bit on the attack, throwing down a pretty hard lap, but it didn’t wear anyone in the group down it seemed, so I went to the back and let Alex Whitmore and Pete Ruijono take turns at the front.  Disaster struck when I was going into the horseshoe down-and-up section pretty hot and over lapped wheels with a slightly more cautious Mr. Sullivan and found myself tumbling downhill int a hay-bale.  I felt like a turtle on it’s back trying to unclip and get back up. When I finally did, the group had put twenty or thirty seconds on me.  I rode hard and managed to hold that gap right about there, but was waning a bit towards the last lap. I was just laughing and smiling at folks along the course and just being a ham in general, finishing 25th.  Oh well, I had fun with it.

Good luck to everyone going to Nationals.  Thanks to all the folks at the races for an incredibly exciting ‘cross season.  I will be back in the Northeast soon enough, and before you know it the Cyclocross season will be starting up.  I already can’t wait.