Here is a map of the course as well: http://www.usacycling.org/events/2009/cxnationals/09CXcourse_map.pdf
I am feeling pretty good about nationals now after my result from last weekend at GMVS Cross #3!
I got 14 out of 33 in the SM Open which was really good considering all of the big boys that were out.
I had one of the worst starts and first laps I have ever had too. I started the race and I didn't get up very far
especially because I started in the 2nd row. But we went around the first corner and I realized I could barely
stop. My front brake cable had loosened up and all I had was the back brake which barely worked also.
So for the first lap of the race I rode with essentially no brakes, making it hard to ride very fast because I couldn't
stop. But once I got my pit bike, I started to eat up the field. It was RIDICULOUS! I moved up several places per
lap until I met up to Marty Guess on Rocky Mountain Bikes who was holding 15th in the race. I proceeded to sit on his wheel because
he was throwing big blocks at me every time I tried to pass. So I sat there until the last singletrack section
where I saw him let up a little and bobble so I attacked and passed him. He sat on my wheel for the rest of lap
until there was this huge straightaway section with just soft dirt, it wasn't even mud. I rode a line sort of down
the middle but I was slightly over to the left. This was to put a permanent block on him. He still tryed to
get around me but I threw a block that he couldn't get out of. I stayed ahead into the final corners and burned
him in the sprint. I think he was out of gas. The conditions were great though, it had snowed the weekend before
but last week wasn't very war, and it wasn't really melted. So it was pretty muddy in some sections but it was watery, wet ground
mud so it didn't stick on the bike THAT much. I still took a few bike changes just so i didn't break my stuff. I think this race
was great to prepare me for nationals in Bend, Oregon. These conditions could very well be the same at nationals.