How to start this race report…. let’s be frank. I am 41 years old, I have a day job, and I race a couple UCI races a year because I can, and I like pinning numbers on my shoulders and hearing the announcers talk about the cool women in the Pro Race, and thinking ‘yeah, today I’m a cool woman in the Pro Race!’ So if you’re expecting a report from someone on the pointy end of the field, this isn’t it. But if you think you’re not as young as you once were, but maybe you could race with pros one of these days, I hope you enjoy hearing about my experience.

I’ve lived back in Denver for almost a year and before I moved away I was a bit of a cross fan. I would go to races (I even recall going to Nationals once ages ago when it was at a golf course), but I never thought I could actually race cross. They ran so fast! And carried their bikes! And rode down gnarly hills! As a triathlete I could barely ride my bike in a straight line on a flat road with no one around me. So kitting up for the UCI field in my hometown (ish) race felt awesome. I had this race targeted as an A race, I was tapered (helped by a Thursday snow), I was pumped. When we showed up on Saturday, I was the first person to get my number.

That said, the field was STACKED. I’ve always thought Katie Compton and I should probably become friends. We’re the same age, my husband is Australian and hers is from New Zealand, which is pretty similar. She’s an awesome pro cyclist. I’m a vaguely awesome cyclist. But racing in the same field as my cross hero, along with some of the best cross racers in the country, was intimidating.

I knew from past experience that getting on the course due to exuberance at 11:00 am was not wise so I did make myself wait until 12:30 for a leisurely course inspection lap. And the course was AWESOME. Fun, flowy, and nice and firm due to the Thursday snowfall. I was excited. On my second pre-ride lap, Katie Compton even passed me as I attempted to be cool and dismount nicely for the barriers which were up to my damn knees. It was cool.

I tried to hang out, stay cool, hydrate, and not warm up too much or not enough. Finally it was time to line up. I gave my pal Terra a pep talk as she was a bit nervous about the start, having been crashed out in this race the year before. I said ‘look Terra, this is awesome. We’re racing with the best racers in the country! We’re doing it!’ I think it helped. It helped me to talk a lot.

I had a fourth row call up which given my lottery situation was fine. I nervously made friends with the racers on either side of me. And then it was time to go! One thing I had forgotten in my relatively little UCI experience over the last two years was how fast the start is. It was full gas from the gun. I can’t say I was full gas but I felt okay about my position. Unfortunately, there was a very rideable steep climb maybe a couple minutes in, and the racer in front of me came off her bike somehow so I was also off! I ran as hard as I could up the climb but the running at altitude is still not my strength. Somehow after that I was apparently last. Luckily I had no idea so I was just riding as hard as I could, hoping to pick off as many people as I could.

After some time, and a few passes, I ended up going back and forth with my friend Stacey for the rest of the race. She could turn better than I could, so she’d pass me on the flatter, more turny section of the course. On any power section I would pass her. But I just couldn’t get a big enough gap at any point, and I realized that the front of the field (my friend KFC) was coming for us and we would be pulled after 4 laps (the leaders did 6). So at the end of the fourth lap, we rolled in together.

The highlight of the race was probably my cheering section. I had mentioned the race to several friends and they were kind enough to show up and make me feel like a star athlete. I made them take a picture after the race - I may not have won, but my little buddy Louie on the far right definitely thought I did.

One nice thing about racing in Colorado is that we were home by 6:00 pm. We even went out for dinner and looked moderately presentable. I did check the results at 10:00 pm, just before bed, and fell into a depression about my lackluster placing. But I woke up the next morning determined to show up, race again, and do my best to get one more lap in. When you upgrade, sometimes the wins are different.

Sunday, I showed up again, I raced as hard as I could, and I was pulled again after 4 laps. I realized I need to work hard on my running, especially up hills and stairs. But I also realized I’m tough, and I keep going even when I want to quit. I may never place better than 35th out of 38, or whatever my place was today, but I raced with my heroes. I was brave enough to line up and I know I belonged there. It was a spectacular weekend and I’m proud of myself. See you in Noho!