Opa Opa Beer Cross #1 - Julie Lockhart
Dayville, CT – Zero falls – %-) The race started on gravel beside a running track for about 200 yards, did a u-turn to climb to a volleyball court sand feature back on to gravel and off into the woods on single track some of the time weaving out onto ‘carriage trails’ and back into single track, one set of barriers on and off of gravel roads to a steep run up with a hairy descent almost as steep (slippery and muddy) ... out onto the gravel alongside 3/4 of the track to repeat.
Originally, it conflicted with MRC, but when they moved it to Sunday, I decided it to do it as a training day, and to conquer my fear of the descent from the run up, as well as some of the single track which is quite tight. I succeeded in staying on the bike on the descent (actually riding it instead of walking my bike down it) which was a little tricky since there is a hard right turn at the base. Perri Mertins set the pace, Natalia Gardiol was chasing her strong, Stacey Mosely and the other rider just managed to lap me about 3/4 way through the last lap (mine). I felt great doing a lot of learning, and conquering the run-up/descent was a great feeling.