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I had a fantastic time at the Waldorf XC at Canada Olympic Park Saturday. The weather was perfect, and most of the course was dry and scenic. Dawn picked me up in her little truck and we got there with plenty of time to sign up, visit the bathrooms, and chat with some folks we hadn't seen much this summer. We shooped through some fallen leaves and played a bit - we were excited to be there.
When Derek saw me, he gave me a little present from Dianne - a totally outrageous fleece hat with red maple leafs on a white background, complete with jester's points, a tassel and jingle bells. I have a reputation for wearing silly hats to the XC races, and this was just what I needed to remember to KEEP IT FUN. My last few flat races have been pretty intense, with me checking my watch every km and trying valiantly to shatter PRs, but today I was out to really enjoy my XC at whatever happy speed I could manage. I love the Grand Prix XC races, because they are FUN. I resolved not to check my watch until I crossed the finish line.
Dawn Henry and Karen's great hat
The 8k racers got a 5 minute head start on the 4k racers, which I thought was a great idea. Last year I'd gotten bogged down shortly after the start behind a pack of jr high giggling girls who didn't care about their 4k time. This year the fast 4k racers came pounding up behind us, and I had to shout questions to the young high school bucks, who seemed to think I could read their minds. Left? Right? You don't shout a request, I stay in the middle of the path, buddy. One of the girls had the right idea, and I thanked her for shouting a clear "On Your Left" in time for me to jump aside.
We followed orange surveyors flags, which marked the course. I knew I'd totally gone round the bend from lack of oxygen when the Wizard of Oz tune came to me: "Follow the orange flag road. Follow the orange flag road. Follow follow follow follow.."
I spent the first quarter of the race adjusting my new hat and getting used to the constant ringing of jingle bells in my ears. We ran up and down, on twisty paths through trees and over a few itty bitty streams. The streams were just wide enough that I couldn't jump over them, so I often just splashed through in a bounce. As I bounded down some of the more difficult downhills I carried the hat, so I could focus more intensely on where my feet would land. A Penguin buddy in Chesapeake Bay, who fell on her face in a XC last spring had e-mailed me a great tip that morning, which I kept in mind: Keep Your Face Outta The TURF!
I walked a lot of uphills (there were some big ones), but somehow found the energy to run the flat and downhill portions. When I found my mouth drying and my lungs gasping I shook my jingle bells and remembered to KEEP IT FUN. One of the volunteers promised me scotch at the top of one of the hills, and suddenly I found a burst of energy to pass Lloyd, whom I trail in many of these races. Ah, just the thought of a wee dram to wet my throat...
I spent the first half of the race following Nancy Coffin from a distance, but she pulled over on one of the big downhills and let me go screaming down. She followed me until the last nasty mondo hill and started catching up. We caught up to Dianne, who was doing the 4k. I taunted Nancy: "You aren't going to let these *jingle bells* beat you, are you!" and she surged up past me and to the finish.
It's going to be real hard to sneak up on competitors with these bells on my hat.
I was very out of breath when I finished, but my watch (which I hadn't looked at all race) gave me quite a smile. The course was different from last year's, but this race director is pretty careful at measuring, so I believe it was pretty close to the same distance and it felt like the same amount of nasty hills, so I'll trust that it was a very similar course. I had beaten last year's time by 4 minutes :) Woohoo!
Yolanda, Dawn and Karen
I did the wave with Janet for Dianne and Janet's dad, Lloyd as they finished. Dianne and I walked back to the crest of the last big hill to cheer in Yolanda, Pam, Anne Marie and Dawn, and met the Race Director coming back with FLAGS! But, but, our Penguins aren't in yet, how will they know the way? Our racers made it back just fine anyhow and we all celebrated with hugs, soup and dessert back at the hall. Thanks to all the volunteers and the RD for a great race.
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