Ohio Valley State Championships at John Bryan State Park

Next time, it would behoove me to pay attention and get to the starting grid on time to get my call-up. As it were, I started at the very back of a 45 racer field and worked my way up to a solid 20th.

Yeah, I bet I could've done better if I was at the front, but I'm not going to dwell on that. It's not like I would have earned 8th or golly, even won, the damn thing.

The highlights for me:

Only having three of the masters riders who started 15 seconds after us pass me. Those guys are fast and if I can keep ahead of them, I'm doing something right.

Hanging out with Katsu and letting him fixed my poor, rickety 'cross bike that's seen too little maintenance in a long and hard racing season.

Occasionally catching glimpses of Mike Chewning as he battled for a third place podium spot and by virtue of only losing to non-Ohioans, is now the Ohio State Cat. 3 CX Champion. Holler.

Really pushing things hard in the fourth of five laps to drop a few strong guys. I finished my race alone with only masters racers immediately ahead and behind.

Realizing that Chicago has an amazing 'cross series and group of fans. Ohio, I love you more than anything, but you've gotta step it up with the screaming, shouting, and cowbell. I think this is one of the first races I've done where I wasn't half deaf afterward.

That said, racing in Ohio is fantastic and I'm happy to say I got a fair amount of it in this year.