Watched my first cyclocross today.  Missed Gadget Girl in her inaugural ride in the sport this morning but went later in the afternoon to see the Pro division.  This picture is of 12 year old Katie Clouse who took 2nd place among these elite women riders.  We cheered for Gadget Girl’s friend Kristin Weber who took 4th place in the elite race.

Kristin is fighting for 3rd place wearing black in this picture.  Both the race for 2nd and race for 3rd were awesome spectacles.  It had me reminiscing about my race Saturday.  I had two separate races in the Longmont Turkey Trot.  I passed a lady in the 2nd mile who came back to try retaking me throughout the third, fourth and fifth miles.  I let her surge ahead on the sixth mile to cool down, but it felt good fending her off for three miles.  Then I put on a kick, which I rarely do, to pass a guy in the final 100 meters who appeared to be in my age division.  With 50 meters to go, he passed me back.  Sonofagun!  With 25 meters remaining I found a new gear and surged passed him before crossing the line.  I discovered later in the results that we actually tied with the same chip time.  And he is ten years younger than me.  Sweet.