10 out of 10
I’ve run out of strength too early. I’m barely halfway through this race and the tank is just about empty. My position is reasonable and the race has been good but I’m not quite as high up as hoped. Some days you can just keep piling it on but not today. I still endeavor to squeeze everything possible out until the finish - it’s the National, the highlight of the season and the race I enjoy the most. I don’t really know why as it’s always a very stressful build up in the week/hours before the start and that battle for the first few corners is always carnage. But putting yourself on the line and pinpointing one day as a peak is and always will be such a thrill.
My first Cyclocross National Championships was a shock. A very slippery Derby in January 2011. I finished a full 6 minutes behind the winner, Nick Craig. I made a mental note that day to always try to make that National start line every year, no matter what level of fitness I happen to be at. Last weekend I lined up for my 10th consecutive one, the same nerves and adrenaline rush are always present as we await that starting whistle.
I discovered cyclocross late, I was already 40. I was drawn to it due to it’s similarity to cross country running, which I raced in the 90s. The format, on the face of it, is simple; turn up to a field/park/school and get muddy for an hour. Over those 10 appearances (5 supported by Athlete Service and 5 with Beeline Bicycles) I managed some pleasing results but injury had also made getting to the start grid tricky and I’ve written about these highs and slightly less highs at previous Nationals here; 2013A, 2013B, 2016, 2018 and 2019.
After a few years of injury and health issues, my aims for this season were:
* Try to win a race
* Race enough to get on the 2nd row for the National
* Finish my 10th consecutive National
I end up lucky enough to have:
* Won 2 races
* Got enough ranking points to make the front row of the National grid
* Finish it with a bronze medal in the 45-49 category
This year it’s at Shrewsbury, which was the venue for the 2016 National. The amount of running that time played havoc with my legs, pulling both a calf and hamstring mid race. So despite the warmish conditions I wrap up my legs and race with compression leggings on. The season has been my best for a few years and I was strong but a week before I started having a lot of back pain. A few osteopathy treatments eased it but the edge has been taken off my fitness, however I am determined to make the start line no matter what. The course has a different layout to previous visits and the hour spent reccing on the Friday was great fun. I did fear the large bridge run up with it's huge steps may be my downfall and test my injuries to the limit but dispite slogging up it slowly the legs survived. Overall an excellent course, one in which you can really see how much hard work went into creating it.
To make the 45-49 podium was pleasing and I cherish any podium image. This one has an extra ‘Thick of It’ element akin to the episode where standing in front of a slogan inadvertantly alters its meaning heavily. In the TV show 'Liam Bentley' becomes 'I am Bent'. In this photo 'Make it Count' becomes...................well look at the photo :)
So from September, it’s into the V50 category. Back to racing Trophy races and of course the highlight of the season will hopefully be another National with all its pre-start stress, first lap chaos, race suffering and aftermath satisfaction. Here’s to another 10: it’s a great way of not relying on nostalgia or worrying about past mistakes, living for today and despite it all trying to aim high.