Kisscross double header!

This weekend was fun in a very painful way.

The only un-fun (still not sure if that's a word, but I'm making it one!) part was that Scott's back has flared up again. He's had to deal with herniated disks repeatedly, and seems to be having problems again. It's awful. Back injuries are the worst because they affect everything that you do. His surgeon gave him an emergency pack of medicine to take and I'm hoping it helps quickly.

So while Scott was taking it easy at home with the wonder dog, I woke up early on Saturday to watch my friend Bonnie race in the Reed's Lake triathlon. I can't even imagine having to swim in cold water at 7 a.m., but there were a lot of people doing it!

Blair and I shivering...we were completely frozen by the end!

Bonnie finishing. She was 4th in her age group and 10th overall!
Happy to be done! I know that feeling well :-)
The race was over just in time as it started pouring, and continued to do so all day. Ugh! It was back to bed for me.

My coach had me scheduled to do a group ride so that I could get a hard workout in, and I still managed to do that. The first kisscross race of the season was scheduled that night, so I jumped right in.

I raced at 8 p.m., and most of the rain was over. While I was getting ready for the start Scott asked if I was going to practice going over the barriers. I told him that I would practice during the race. Brilliant, eh???

OMG. I wish I could explain exactly what it felt like to go from racing a 24 hour race two weeks ago to racing cyclocross. Basically I thought I was going to DIE!!! Never once during the 24 hour race did I think I wouldn't be able to finish, but within 5 minutes of cross I started to think that I was going to pass out. All I have to say is thank you lungs for not collapsing on me!!!

I ended up being the first female finisher during the night race, but only because Kim Thomas (who was initially in first) had a mechanical.

Here I am chasing after Kim. She would put so much time on me over the barriers it wasn't even funny. Notice how she's actually running over them and I look like I'm walking? That's basically what was happening. The only thing I had going for me were my socks!!! Not that you can see them in the dark....

After the race I told Scott that I thought there was something wrong with me because I felt awful. He was like, "what do you mean?" When I told him that I wanted to puke he started laughing. Apparently if you don't feel like you are going to puke after a cross race you aren't going hard enough! I definitely got the intensity my coach wanted.

We were at the race venue until 12:30 a.m, but managed to wake up early enough to meet my parents for breakfast. And that's when the fun started. I convinced my parents to do their first race.

I hopped on my Selma, and rode behind my mom for the race, cheering her on. I got really into it and started screaming at her to pass people, and to dig deep! Eventually she told me to shut up!

Here I am trying to keep up with my mom....
Scott brought Naomi to cheer us on. She was her usual energetic self!

My dad was really into going over the barriers. From now on I'm going to call him "Air Frank!"

I hung out with my mom and Jason a bit after the race. My mom was saying that she was never going to do another cyclocross race again, but I don't believe that for a second. Because two hours later she was calling me and telling me what she was going to do differently the next time! Plus, she won beer for getting third place. My dad was very happy about that :-)

I could tell while riding behind my mom that my legs were absolutely dead, but decided to race the B's anyways. My second day of racing was interesting to say the least. I actually raced backwards the entire time. I guess I was the second female finisher, but barely. One more lap and I would have been caught for sure!!!

Feeling the burn.....
I was a mess going over the barriers. I dropped my chain 2-3 times, and it was totally my fault. I kept inadvertently shifting while picking up my bike..

More burn....
There is something addicting about cross. Even though I don't practice for it whatsoever, I have a blast doing it and plan to do as many races as possible. I love it!

Do you know what I really need???? Scott pre-ordered a frame, and I am going to be so freaking jealous when he gets it!!!