Seattle cyclocroos series #6 Monroe

I drove with my friend Mark up to Monroe yesterday, some way north of Seattle. It was a beautiful clear day, so we got a great view of the snow capped northern Cascade mountains and Mount Baker.

When we arrived it was foggy and cold. I was helping Mike yesterday with some logging, so with that and a raging head cold, I was very close to curling up in the truck and going to sleep. Anyway, I manned up and started, and seemed to go pretty well. The course was a good mix of flat grassy sections, some paved sections and 2 run ups - not a bad course for me. It was based around a car racing track. I started off steady, and by lap 2, I was up with the leaders. I held the lead for a lap or 2, and then lost it to the cat 3 state champion. It was very tight at the front, but on the last lap, I pushed through 2 riders on the run up to get into 2nd, and held it until the last 50 yards, when I was pipped into 3rd place. Still, I was chuffed to bits to get my best series finish yet, and I now have enough points to upgrade to cat 2!! I think I'll race my last race (next weekend in Tacoma) as a cat 3 and then decide.

On the way home, I paid the price a little with a raging fever. Luckily, Mark took care of me, got me a hot drink and drove me back - thanks mate!!

Leading....just!

At the finish line.

Mark battling away

Bronze at State Champs!!!

I raced in the Cat 3 35+ state champs today at Pacific Raceways in Auburn. It was a similar course to the one that I won on 2 or 3 weeks ago, although I wasn't feeling all that great today.

James Johnson and I were at the front for most of the race, but we were with a big group of 8-10 of the front. The last lap was fast and tight, and when it came to the sprint, I just didn't have enough zip left. I was pretty happy with a third place finish, after someone was dq'd for being too young!! The first phot is of the finishing sprint.

Another 3 points this season and I could upgrade to cat 2...

Trip to Wolf Lodge

Summer has a conference in Centralia last week, so me and the kids went too and stayed in Wolf Lodge. It's a kind of wold themed hotel, and the kids loved it. they had a wolf den with bunk beds to sleep in and a huge indoor water park which we all enjoyed.

On the Saturday, we all went to the wolf sanctuary.

First win as a cat 3!!

I raced at Pacific Raceways on Saturday, where I race in the summer on the track. The field was small and the course was fairly straightforward with some long straights, but also with a couple of tricky descents and turns. Me and another fella led from the off, and we pretty much fought it out between us until the last. On the last lap I got a 20 yard lead on the run up, and I managed to hold him off pretty much until the line. Here's a bunch of phots from the race including the finishing sequence:

Aaaaand, a link to a video of the crash!! I was in the crash on the right, it happened about 20 seconds sfter the start: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmW2H11L0D8

I also raced on Sunday at Donida Farms. Unfortunaltely, I had a big crash in the first corner, on the grass and got passed by most of the large field. Bacause of the impact of the crash it also meant I rode the rest of the race with my rear brake on!! No wonder it was so hard going. Anyways, I managed come through the field to finish 11th, totally exhausted. Here's one or two of the mud fest:

Happy Hallowe'en

We had a super first American Hallowe'en. We had a liitle wolf and a scary skeleton trick or treating around the neighbourhood, and everyone really got into the spirit with lots of little kids out in fancy dress, and all the neighbours had their pumkin lanterns out and creepy graveyards in their front gardens. Here's a phot of our ghoulish little monsters:

Also a sneaky bit of video shot with my 'phone showing Ailsa doing some jumping jacks at her karate class - very cute! She is doing really well and has moved up a class to train with the older kids. Future boyfriends, be warned.