Sunday, September 20, 2009

StarCrossed and Rad GP race reports

Starcrossed and Rad GP

Two more races now under my belt. This weekend was a big weekend of racing with some very fast girls from all over the country and world to pick up UCI points the pace at make some of the fastest racing I have ever done in cross!

Saturday started out with pouring rain while I was getting all my gear organized in the morning and I was actually really excited that it might be muddy for Starcrossed as that would give it a technical edge that would favor my technical skills. But as the day progressed the ski’s opened up and the sun came out and it dried up and was very fast for our race. I had a second row starting position so that was good, but once the gun went off I realized very quickly that I need to work on my starts. I was a little slow off the gun and fell into around 15th place, which I wasn’t too happy with. But I started pushing and got a good rhythm and passed a couple girls. With one lap to go I was with a group of two other girls and I decided I had to attack if I wanted to get ahead of them so I did on the back stretch. I got as much speed as I could and took off and managed to drop the two girls and hold on for a 10th place finish. Overall I was very happy with my race, I felt strong just need to improve my starts so I can get better placement off the gun. As soon as we finished the ski’s decided to dump the rain and the guy’s race was wet and slippery. We really lucked out to not get the rain till the very last lap of our race.

So I didn’t get home and in bed till around midnight on Saturday and having raced at 7pm I was still wired on endorphins so I was restless all night. My family and I awoke at 7am to get ready to head back down south for the Rad Racing GP in Steilacoom. Luckily my husband drove so I took a little nap on the way but was pretty darn tired all day. I managed to get some energy and get out on the course for a warm up before the race. I felt good, tired but the legs were ok from the racing the day before. I knew the run up was going to kill my legs after racing so hard at Starcrossed so I knew I had to make up time everywhere else I could. On the downhills were my best bet since there was a long descent. So I got warmed up and again got a second row start and again was a bit slow on my start and was again back around 17th place. I again was starting to get my rhythm and then I ran off the course on lap two and got caught in some ivy and course tape. Just took the slight corner to fast and started washing out a bit so I had to go off course. I got passed by three or four girls and fell back to the back of the pack again. I got back going and decided I had to try to make up as much time as I could so I gave it all I had and managed to move up to 13th place and tried so hard to get the two girls in front on me on the last lap but they pulled away at the top of the run up and I couldn’t bring it back. So I ended up 13th, which I think is pretty good considering I was at the back of the pack on the second lap.
So it’s time to work on the starts and get my whole shot skills back up and strong so I can get better placement. Another great race weekend in the Northwest. Thank you to Tim and Joe for all the help in the pits, thankfully I didn’t need any help this weekend!!

Kristi Berg

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