Jingle Cross Rock!

I'll have to get back to this one later - running out of time before leaving for the next adventure! How to describe Jingle Cross? It was both entertaining and inspiring in a powerful way. I did not know we had an event this close-by that drew in entire fields of factory teams, including international pros. In the UCI races, the Cannondale team won all three days for men and Kona won all three days for women (with a British rider who's in the US for a while to round out the season after winning overall 2012 European CX championship!).

Living History Farms Run

Today was the Living History Farms Run as well as Survivor Cross. Corrine opted to do the run, which was a 10k or similar, on an offroad course that included a good number of sheer-sided creek crossings. I've seen youtube videos of past years which made it look like a complete and total mud swim. There were a few slightly muddy people but it's been so dry that it didn't appear to be too bad.

7,500 people mass starting, it was quite a production. The staging area was plenty large but the course was designed to funnel down into a 15' wide path shortly after the start, which was a total joke - timing was done on the gun time so if you didn't start at the front, you got screwed out of ten minutes while you walked extremely slowly through the start area.

This event had everything - there was even a special doping area.

The mustard was able to hold on with the start group for the first sprint but I never saw him again later.

Sky Bridge!

Aaaand penny-farthing out for a cruise.

Updates! Really!

Sunset picture for bait - I'm not sure why but recently I can't seem to find any way to sit down and post this stuff. It's not like nothing is going on, with a semi-full race schedule there has been lots of excitement. Perhaps the aforementioned schedule has something to do with lack of lounging time. That being said, I discovered that I *really* like racing so next year will likely be even more full. Plus, Corrine is going to pick up a bunch of events as well - how could I ask for more? Good stuff.

Either way - check down the page as many updates will appear.

Dirty Duathlon!

Today was a blast. Corrine and I did the Des Moines Dirty Duathlon as a relay team. I did the mountain-biking and Corrine ran. The arrangement was: 2mi-run, 12mi-mtb, 2mi-run. The course design was difficult, tiring, and just generally great. This is definitely one to look forward to doing again.

We'd discussed beforehand that this was the type of event which no one is trying as their first race just to see how it goes. Finish result: better than expected - second from last but not last :)

Friendly skies ahead.

Spooky Cross!

This event was significantly smaller than expected. I guess I had previously decided in my head what it should be like based on Survivor-Cross (same location). As you can see below, I was (apparently) already tired at staging since I'm having a good yawn.

The course was easy from a technicality point of view but really became a killer over time because a majority of it involved riding in long grass on top of soft ground. Leg-burning city.

(Starting in the back like an idiot....)