I'll start off by saying that it's difficult to get the CX type fitness to stick around for 12 weeks. Without going into details, being a little off in timing (or degree of fitness) can make a pretty significant difference. There's a balancing act between Cumulative Training Load (how long you can go hard), Power at Threshold/Anaerobic Capacity (how hard you can go), and the X-factors (equipment, tactics, technique, desire). Every season I learn something new relative to improving race outcomes. Unfortunately, many times these lessons can't be applied until the next season. Keeps the passion alive though. It's all about the journey!

Results
Masters 35+ Cat 4: Grant took home the gold after battling with a 2 week long cold. Awesome!
Masters 45+ Cat 4: Sean took home the bronze after a month long layoff from CX racing due to a pulled hamstring. Very well done!
Cat 3: Bryan and Ben showed up but were unable to bring all of these factors together for this single race. Glad that both of them have had some great results earlier in the season to validate their personal commitments to training and racing.
Master 35+ Cat 1-3: I took home the bronze. That is what I had this season relative to the aforementioned fitness + X factors. The evolution will continue.

There was a conservative start followed by contesting for the win for 20 minutes against Dave Peters (Brazen Dropouts).



Followed by about 20 minutes of recovering and getting passed for 2nd by Bob Downs (Planet Bike).



Finishing with a 2 lap race to the line with Joe Curtes. I won the sprint over a guy on a singlespeed but anyone that knows Joe understands that even this isn't an easy thing to accomplish.


Photo credit goes out to Brittany Nigh