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Why Do I Like Something I'm So Bad At?: Thoughts on Cross Racing December 2009 I found myself looking at my phone a lot this past weekend. While anyone who knows me well would tell you this doesn't seem too out of line, it was a bit unusual in the extent that I was interested in what I was readying. On both Saturday and Sunday, I found myself following the live updates of the USA National Cyclocross Championships on cyclocross magazine's live update platform. They were nice enough to offer a virtual play by play for those of us who were interested but couldn't make it to Bend, Oregon for the age group and elite races. Finding myself voluntarily fixated on my phone for another update
as to what was happening in these races confirmed something to me
that I'd already been pretty clear about -- my mind wanders to cyclocross
when left to its own devices right now. Given the time of the year,
that's not too surprising. Yet at the same time, I think there is
more to it. I am drawn to cross in a way that is unique for me in
endurance sports. I did my first cross season this fall and by all
practical accounts, it was a failure. I messed up a few races with
technical miscues, lost a lot of fitness after getting hit with
H1N1, tried out new equipment right before a race only for it to
go wrong, crashed more in one 30 minute race than I had in the prior
year, if not more.
Above you can see the wounds from the 3rd of my crashes, I am not
exactly sure how it happened but it involved me falling down a hill
with the leg dragging across the crank or a pedal. I even fell on
the collarbone I'd broken over the summer, luckily it was okay.
As you can likely guess now, my race results were poor. In short,
I pretty much stunk. Yet for all my failure with cross, the athlete in me is still thinking about it a lot. Why this is has been a bit of a mystery as cross has presented me with the most consistently negative feedback I've ever had as a athlete, or close to it. I am not one of those naturally gifted types who shows up and then the next thing you know, he, or she, is winning races or improving tremendously. That isn't me but at the same time, my improvement has often been reasonable and fairly marked. I have some talent and that usually shows up when I compete in endurance sports. As far as imrprovement is concerned, I am not sure I did that this fall. I very well might have been as bad at cross in November as I was in late September when the season started. It was not for lack of trying either, I might add. I see the reasons behind what happened, and while many of them are fixable, I didn't quite manage to fix them all into one good race or anything like that this fall. In short, I never got the stars line up kind of day that makes it all seem possible. Never had that. I got bad news pretty much every race. And I am counting down the months to when cross season starts again here in Minnesota. I've even priced air fare to races in the winter in warmer climates and/or spring cross races.
How can you not like something with a bike looking like this after it is done? This from the Red Barn Cyclocross race on Halloween this year. Crank below from same race.
Endurance sports are a strange beast. What I love about them is
that there is a place for all of us there -- the good, bad and ugly
as it were. So far, I am definitely bad at cross and likely a bit
ugly if one considers some of the technical aspects of the sport.
I would hope that my uniform and bike at least looked good but that's
another story. As of today, only 363 days until my age group races
at the National Championships in Bend, Oregon in 2010. I plan to
be there, likely lined up towards the back trying my best to hold
my own. That isn't the grandest goal out there but given my cross
season this fall, it's a challenge. I hope I'm up for it. See you at the races! |
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February 14 Who says you have to take it easy in the winter? Tony did a great job at the Austin Marathon and set a new PR today. Nice job Tony! February 4 Coach Jason is teaching two classes at GearWest University this Sunday, one on race execution and the other on using power for multisport. January 23 The year is young but the Dig It crew is off to a great start. It was a day for winter running races and PRs as several among the Dig It gang got their year started with personal best runs today, nice job gang! January 17 Riding/racing in the middle of the night on an indoor soccer field? Really? Yeah, really!
January 13 Hey the weather outside isn't frightful, at least here in Minnesota. Who wants to ride?
January 1 Dig It wishes you a happy and successful New Year. December 14 Coach Jason discusses his passion for racing cyclocross despite being bad at it, at least so far.
December 3 Coach Jason reflects on training in the off season.
November 22 Dig It's Dan made his Ironman debut in Tempe at Ironman Arizona. He might have been new at the Ironman distance but Dan was fast and had a great performance. Nice job Dan! November 17 Debi finishes 2nd in the Virginia Triathlon Series, not bad given that she's over 50 racing against women who are literally half her age. You're an inspiration, keep it up! November 14 and 15 Dig It was out at the Minnesota State Cyclocross Champs this past weekend. It was a fun time with great weather, good racing and a general festive atmosphere. Looking forward to next year already. November 7 Scott has a great race at IM Florida, avoiding the sophmore jinx with a huge PR. Nice job Scott! October 17 Dig It athletes can run, and fast at that. Jill sets at major PR at the Whistlestop marathon where Sascha did a great half marathon as well. Maria ran a big PR as well at the Indianapolis Marathon. The dig it gang runs and runs fast! October 3 and 4 Minnesota cyclocross season is underway and rolling. Michael and Coach Jason got their seasons going with some fun and hard racing this weekend.
Michael in action at the Hudson CX. Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com.
Jason at the Planet Bike Orono CX race. Photo courtesy of Seth Iverson Photo.
September 26 It was a wet and tough day for everyone at the ITU World Short Course Duathlon Championships. Dig It athletes were out to play and did what they could on a challenging course in the midst of a downpour.
Debi is among this group of fast ladies before the skys opened again.
Here Justin Hurd closes in on the transition after a speedy first run. September 13 Forrest showed off his great fitness with a 5th overall at the Bad to the Bone Duathlon.
Forrest was indeed bad. Here is runs towards the finish. September 13 Wow, what a day for the Dig It gang. Debi was 12th overall, and 3rd woman, at a sprint tri in Virginia. Maria set a new half marathon PR in Chicago, and Forrest set a 5K PR by over a minute in Kentucky. Oh and then there was Ironman Wisconsin which was the scene of outstanding performances by Andrea, Lindsey and Henry. A successful debut and 2 PRs made it quite the day in Madison. Jason was there to cheer and take it all in.
Here Coach Jason hangs with Andrea after the race.
August 30 Keith completes his first Ironman at IM Kentucky today. On a great weather day, Keith executed a great race making all his time goals. Way to go Keith!
Josh shows his endurnace with a strong run at the Salsa 2-4, yes the 2 and 4 refer to how many hours it lasts. August 16 Dan rocks the fastest run and 2nd overall today at the Northeast Maryland Triathlon, the regional championship. Nice job Dan!
August 3 After a freak accident, Eric shows great perseverance to train for and race strong at the Calgary 70.3.
Looking strong on the bike, Eric moves along on his way to a great finish. July 19 The Dig It gang was throwing down some great performances today. At the Heart of the Lakes Triathlon Jill and Cliff achieved their season goals of making their age group podium, Jill was 2nd and Cliff 3rd on a great Minnesota summer day. At the Door County half IM, Andrea and Lindsey rocked it and showed they are on the way to great races at IM Wisconsin.
Jill and Cliff show off the hardware. June 6 Jennifer crushes her half IM PR today at Mooseman with a well executed race across the board.
May 31 Dig It's friend Justin Hurd captures the US National Long Course Duathlon Championship today in California at the World's Toughest. National Champ baby, that's a good thing to call one's self!
Photo courtesy of Auburn Events May 23-24 What a weekend for the Dig It gang. Excellent performances at the Apple Duathlon in Minnesota.
Here Cliff speeds towards the finish at the Apple Duathlon.
Also, Andrea set a half marathon PR and Forrest got his first duathlon top 10 finish with an AG win, and Jennifer got a 3rd among women and a 2nd in her age group in a sprint triathlon in Utah
Jennifer showing off some hardware! April 26 Coach Jason was in Richmond for USA Triathlon's Duathlon National Championships. It was a hot weekend but the Dig It gang did a great job.
Here Coach Jason poses with Forrest after his race. Forrest got the luck to start at 11:30 on a day that got to well over 90 degrees. Did I mention his race was hot? October 11, 2008 Justin Hurd, who Coach Jason advises, shows shows his strength at IM Hawaii. On a challenging day, for the big island no less, Justin did great in his first attempt at the World Championships as a pro. September 28, 2008 Jason in racing mode at the ITU World Duathlon Championships in Italy. It was a fun day of action.
Here the bike awaiting its trusted rider.
September 27, 2008 Jason serves as Assistant Coach with the elite athletes of Team USA at the ITU World Duathlon Championships in Rimini, Italy. It was a fun day filled with great competition for Team USA.
Here is the women's team poses for photos immediately after their finish.
October 6 Coach Jason wins the inaugural Kickin' Leaves Duathlon in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The new race had a small field but a great course. Hope everyone can make it there next year.
Jason poses with bike and trophy at home after the race.
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