Midwest Regional Championships
The end of the season is here. The Region Riot race and Nationals was all that was left.
The Region Racing team is based in Crown Point, IN. I hadn't been to this race before but as buildup to Nationals I thought it was good to keep racing. Evidently, not many people had that same thought. In fact, of the 48 people signed up for the 50+ race at Nationals (my race) 75% of them are from out of state. Where the heck are all the Illinois racers???
Fields were smaller all day at Region Riot and my race (45+ Cat 4/5) only had 11 starters [13 registered but 2 didn't start]. The 45+ Cat 1/2/3 had 16 starters and they started 1 minute in front of us.
2 weeks before the race there was an announcement that this race would also be the Midwest Regional Champs. Covid played havoc with a lot of races this year and this late assignment didn't really bring many people from potential places like Minnesota and Iowa. But either way it would be fun to say you were the regional champ.
As it is Indiana (similar to Illinois) there isn't really a lot of elevation to play with at the Lake County Fairgrounds. They did their best with a woody section with turn after turn after turn and even a trip through a covered bridge and what appeared to be something akin to stock buildings.
Fran is still nursing his thumb so it was only Bob, George and Mark rounding out the normal crew. Actually, Bob's son John did well in the 4/5 race later in the day (He was the 4th Cat 5 to cross the line) They all did the 55+. It was cold (33) and windy so I watched their race from the car. My vantage point was only the 2 straightaways so nothing too exciting to report. Bob finished second in the 65+. I cannot confirm if there were more than 3 guys in his category. :)
I can confirm that I did another shit job clipping in. Of the 10 other racers 8 were in front of me immediately. It was my first front row start so that was fun but I didn't take full advantage of it. That being said I was in third position by the time we hit the first feature. I had hopes and dreams of a real result at this race considering the small field (predicted 5th based on points). As we hit the slight off camber rise (I don't really want to call it a hill) the guy right behind me crashed and I was right on the tail if the two leaders.
After that it was catch my breath time. I had worked hard for good position but was now paying for it. Brain got a little fuzzy, lungs were pumping and adrenaline at the max. Going through the barriers my left foot hit the first barrier (hasn't happened all season) and I was out of sorts. No lasting damage to the foot, just felt stupid.
I tried to keep the leaders in site but that didn't last too long (The guy who won was about 3 minutes in front at the end) and the guy who crashed slowly tracked me down and passed me. Then my goal was to keep up with him but that didn't last long either (1:45 down at the end).
So I was in 4th place with 2 guys a little bit behind me. As we hit the woody turny section the two started to close in on me. As you all know by now turning isn't my specialty (yet). But back at the start finish there is a long straight section where I can use my strength (Pow-ah) [You have to say that in Fran's voice].
So, each of the 4 laps I was able to pull out a gap in the straights and that gap was bigger than what they were able to close on the turns. One thing I didn't really pay attention to was that on lap 3 I passed a rider who had a mechanical. In my brain I thought I had just caught a slow Cat 1/2/3 from the group who started one minute in front of us who was nice enough to pull off to the side and let me get by. So unbeknownst to me I was now in 3rd place.
I felt comfortable with my lead over the two guys behind me but I was starting to dial in the course better and wanted to continue getting better. This of course led me to slide out in a turn after the covered bridge and hit the deck. I was up quick and only lost about 5 seconds.
Usually you only get pulled early from a race if you get passed by the leaders. That hasn't happened since Caldwell Woods for me (By the 4x BMX World Champion). But the first race of the day went off about 10 minutes late so I think they were trying to make up time. Only the top 2 did 5 laps and the rest of us did 4. I wasn't complaining too much but it was somewhat disappointing. I heard Kenny on the PA system say it was our last lap and sprinted to the finish for fun.
After picking up my jacket from the start I thought I heard Kenny make the call for Bob to come to the podium. I wandered over there and while Bob had already gone home for the day I decided to stick around for the presentation of my race. Much to my surprise Kenny called my name. I actually made him double check. Like I said before I didn't realize the guy I caught had a mechanical and was from my race. Woot Woot! My first cyclocross podium! Take what you can get right?!
I think I have the feeling that all our kids got when they got participation trophies growing up LOL. It was fun to take the podium picture. I realize what my actual ability is though and while I've improved a lot there is plenty of room to grow.
Nationals for me is Tuesday afternoon @ 2:30 at Cantigny in Wheaton. The rest of the gang goes Wednesday at differing times. If you make the trek cheer loudly.
First Lap Video
https://youtu.be/cVbS6aRRwpQ
