Jim Hewett's Blog – October 2011 Archive (5)

I travelled down to Aptos for the first of the Surf City races because I knew the Santa Cruz locals would be there and I had heard good things about the courses.  The weather was warm and dry, which seems to be standard for the first half of the 'cross season in Northern California, and the course was a lot of fun.

I arrived and began preriding well before my race.  The laps looked longer than our usual races, probably between 7 and 8 minutes long, and there was actually a decent…

After straining my calf at CCCX #4 last week, I didn't hold much hope for racing the first of the BASP races.  I was on crutches Monday, then shuffling around without them Tuesday and Wednesday.  Thursday I rode a bike for the first time with minimal pain, though I couldn't really drop my heal.  Running was out of the question, but riding was manageable.  Friday was a little better, and walking up stairs only hinted at the possibility of sharp pain.  I decided to take it easy Saturday and…

Early in the week I learned that my grandmother had died and I made hasty plans to return to Georgia for the funeral.  I wasn't able to ride Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Instead of training I would have to settle for sitting on an airplane.  I arrived home Saturday night about midnight and questioned the wisdom of racing the next day.  I decided that it would be worth it for the race-pace training, as the first BASP race would be the next weekend.  I also knew that a few of the fast guys…

A few days of rain last week followed by nice weather had created ideal conditions for offroad riding in Northern California.  I was tempted to stay at home and ride the trails, but also eager to get in more training for racing 'cross.  I travelled to Prunedale to race the CCCX race at Manzanita Park, a new course for me.

It was fun to race the 35+A and then the Open A at the last CCCX race, but it had left me less than fresh for the latter.  This week I figured I would focus on the…

Saturday was the Lion of Fairfax cyclocross race at White's Hill School in my home town, Fairfax.  I was excited to have such easy access to the venue, though my attempt to pre-ride Thursday was thwarted by a middle school XC track meet.  I made my way over to the venue Saturday morning and got my first look at the course.  I had raced this race two years ago, and the course was similar.  Bumpy and loose, through the school on pavement and concrete, around the ball field on bumpy grass. …