So, over the Christmas Holiday we end up getting this e-mail from Kale Running (please, tell me WHY? somebody!) and it advertises this CycloWhat race in Virginia. I thought Cyclocross was dead since the birth of Mountain Biking? Little did I know, but that might be a subject for someone elses blog. Anyhuhh - Why not go to Virginia Beach in January and freeze our butts off, and on top of that compete in below freezing conditions in a Cyclocross Winter Endurance Challenge? They did have a Kid's race, what more excuses did we need.....this may drag on forever..... the same mail mentions a SUPERHOT deal with a local Hotel - right on the Beach - Oceanview Rooms ONLY. So hard to resist the urge to book something immediately - where is my credit card, WHERE IS MY CREDIT CARD?!?
So, we end up in the car heading up to Virginia Beach this past Friday right after work, as the entire East Coast is bracing itself for the coldest temperatures of the year. Priceless timing! Thanks to GPS we get to the Hotel No Problem No Questions. Wake up to what??? Oceanview, of course. Head down for the complimentary breakfast. Biscuits, Jam and Chocolate Milk. YUM!!! What do you mean we have to go to the Sports Complex? Now? It is -6 C outside (21 F). Well, Daddy's 35+ (or Masters as they like to call it) starts at 10:00 am. It is 9:00 am now - better get going Gang. And remember, the Kid's race is scheduled to start at 12:00. Somebody work for the Child Protection Agency. Somebody? SOMEBODY???
Nice bike, dude.
So, Daddy seems to think it is cool to ride Grandpa's road bike converted to Cyclocross Monster thanks to some brand spanking new Michelin Cyclocross Tires - man, those Germans! I think what the people on the sidelines were later overheard saying was: "...he's keeping up with them pretty good..." - Way to go, Dad! You came in 9th of the 10 nutcases that had nothing better to do that morning. I think he was later saying that he picked a bad race category (tough competition - who else in that age category is going to compete unless they are serious about it - and unfavorable conditions - only the hardcore comes out at below freezing temperatures). Not bad to be a part of that, though. At the line up Dad found out that he had fastened the number incorrectly to the front of his Jersey. Since this was a Cyclocross race, you are supposed to fasten it to the left side, so it can be easily observed when you come through the checkpoint after every lap. A friendly race hand immediately offered confused Dad to help with the re-fastening of the race number, and due to Dad's clumsiness (must have been nervous) quickly but quite assertively says: "I got it" - causing Dad to simply have to wait until one of the safety pins enters his flesh. Hey, at least the number was in the right place. What's the fuss all about?
So, yup, he finished 9th out of 10 at a lightning speed of 13.6 mph (21.76 kmh), and a total of 6 laps. Temperature of his feet at the end of the race had also reached 21 F. Official results (for those so inclined) can be found here: http://results.active.com/pages/displayNonGru.jsp?rsID=74664
Hey! Wait for me.
But, more importantly. Next was the Kid's Race at 12:00 Noon. It was me, against two too tall girls, probably twice my age. When the race organizer said go, I just kind of looked at him, thinking "why did you just say GO? Wait! Where are those girls going?" We were of and peddling. Dad was such a sport to run next to me the whole time. We get to the first hill, and the tall grass brings the bike to a halting stop (remember, this IS CYCLOCROSS after all). Up I go, pushing the bike. If those girls could do it, sure enough I can, too. At the top of the hill I look at my Dad and his last words were: "Now you can get back on the bike and ride down!" Down? Ok. Faster, faster, ever so much faster I go. I start screaming. SCREAMING. AHHHHHHH, and then it's all over. I'm at the bottom! AND! I AM STILL RIDING! Let's do that again! I get to the next hill, but I already know the drill now! Push the bike up the hill. Get on. And ride down. Piece of cake. How old am I again? Ah, what does it matter. The next stretch is that Monster Grass again, trying to pull me of my bike. But not with me, Mister! As I am pulling up onto the concrete for the final stretch of the race, faintly I hear my Dad somewhere in the distance: "...faster, faster..." Oh, faster I can on concrete my friends!!! The crowd is going wild as I pull into the finish. 3rd place! My day is MADE!
Only a Champion can smile like this! What Helmet?
What's one to do after all that excitement? Decide that it definitely is too cold to spend more than 5 minutes on the Beach (Kites don't fly in the cold anyway - nice try though, Dad), but warm enough to stay for hours in the warm Hotel Pool, that we had all to ourselves. Thanks!!! And next? Waiters in white dresses, Valet Parking, artistically folded napkins? Uhhhhhh - this place looks like fun. Il Giardino. Make sure to make it your stop if you ever end up on Virginia Beach. Be sure to make reservations, unless you are coming early and are bringing the kids. Believe it or not. The place was packed.
Next Morning? Rewind. Start over. Only difference? Instead of sun, full cloud cover. +3 C ( 37 F) instead of - 6 C (21 F). Light breeze. And, oh yes, Duathlon instead of just Cyclocross. 5k Run, 20k Cyclocross, 5k Run. Dad would have never thought that he was such a bad runner, but I guess it is true! The good thing about the running part was that the feet actually had a chance to get warm before he had to get on the bike. He later explained that the biking was so great! I guess he never would have guessed (being an avid mountain biker) that he would get so much pleasure out of passing dudes on their mountain bikes with their fat tires, than he did on that day. It all paid off in the end. On the first run he placed 49th out of 62 (remember I said BAD RUNNER), but on the bike 20th, and on the second run 45th (WOW!) - all in all to finish 30th out of 62. Not bad, Dad. Mom blamed it all on the bike anyway.
Yup! That guy to the left almost beat me...
As we were quickly packing up after the finish, ice pellets started coming down. We were out of there for a pleasant drive home with me sleeping most of the time and my sister talking to herself and entertaining anybody who wanted to be entertained. Boy, those cheese sandwiches were good though, weren't they Mom?
This is where it all happened: http://www.vbchallenge.kalerunning.com/media.html
