A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING

This weekend was my first double header for cyclocross racing. Well, okay it was my first time ever racing cyclocross. Michael and I took the bike he built up for me out to the park on Thursday so that I could practice getting off and on the bike while in motion. Fun! The getting off actually came pretty easy but the getting back on is going to need some serious work.

So with my newly learned skill, we headed to the Hagerstown cyclocross race just thirty minutes from our house. The course was fairly dry and fast. A 1.3 mile loop through a local park, with steep hills, sand pits, two barriers, off camber sections, and a whole lot of bumpy terrain. Luckily I got in three warm up laps before my race. Upon approaching the sand pit for the first time I freaked, got off, and ran across. The guys watching said it was rideable, but I let them know it was my first time. This proceeded to an impromptu coaching session and me making it through with some ease. But it was time for the ladies to line up and the race was on. Literally out of the 20 ladies I was at the very back of the pack...not a very good start. But I started to get my groove and was picking off ladies one by one. I knew I was getting closer to the front, and by the fourth lap it was down to me and the leader. Luckily I am a strong climber and once we approached the steep climb I know I could take her. So I dug deep, passed her on the steep hill with just under two laps to go. I never saw her again and by the time I hit the finish I was almost a minute ahead of her. I was a little amazed and pretty happy about that. During my cool down I thought to myself, Michael and I really are meant to be together....not that I ever doubted it.

Michael was up next to race and was in the top three the entire time, with the national mountain bike champion Jeremiah Bishop at the lead. When Michael knew he wasn't going to place in the top two he decided to drift back to help out his teammate in a pack of three a bit behind him. This didn't turn out to be the best idea because one the guys was a national level sprinter and took Michael's third place spot with a sprint at the finish. But he did finish in fourth which was good enough for a podium spot.

The next day was another cyclocross race about 45 minutes from our house. We arrived and immediately saw our friends Joel and Nate. Nate called me over and I instantly discovered that he had broken his collar bone on the course. I soon found out from the chatter that this course was one of the most difficult many of the racers had ever done. Yikes, I was terrified. During a break I headed out to check out the course and ran right into an unrideable uphill, then halfway through the course there was another unrideable downhill into a ravine and up a small muddy section. When I say unrideable I mean for me. I have no mountain bike skills and this course was geared towards mountain bikers. But luckily there were two long uphill sections where I knew I could gain time. So the race was off and there I was in the back of the pack again. But as with last time I crawled my way to the front and on the second to last lap was in second. But the girl in first held strong from the start and I was not gaining on her. So I ended up in second, which I was very pleased with considering the course.

With a 10 minute hand off of Gilbert, Michael was out on the course and getting ready to line up for his race. We wanted to do this to see and feel how it would be with no assistance from anyone. Without a warm up the race was on. Starting a little back in the pack but within a few laps Michael was in third place where he held steady and looked strong. He held third for the entire race. So once again ending with a podium finish.

So two races and four podiums for the Gallagher's! It looks as though the C3-Sollay team is going to gain another lady to their squad.

There was even an article on the first race that mentioned both of us. Too cool, and funny!

Next weekend we are off to Gloucester, MA to another double header. This weekend is labeled by many as the East Coast Championships and the rumor is Lance Armstrong. will be attending. hum....Keep you posted. Followed with a quick visit to Dover, NH to visit my friend Gretchen and her man.