It rained all night here in Louisville.  Well, I’m not sure it was actually all night, but it rained hard when I was aware of it.   I haven’t had a chance to get to the course yet, but I’m assuming it is going to be muddy for the pre-ride this afternoon.

I haven’t raced a cyclocross for 2 years.  I’m actually thinking the last cross race I did was two years ago here in Louisville.  But, that might be wrong.  I know I haven’t done Nationals for the past two seasons, so it has been a while since I’m raced cross.

I haven’t even tried any cross technique.  I’m hoping that the limestone rock stairs at the Eva Bandman Cyclocross Park aren’t wet or muddy when I’m racing tomorrow night at 6.  My broken hip still isn’t up to speed when my foot slips on stuff.  Especially when I’m under pressure.   That is my biggest worry.  My hip has ached some the past week, but I’m going to have Stacie look at it today.

Tonight there is a “gathering” at Stacie’s house.  It is a party for…..I’m not really sure.  Here is a link to the announcement.  Katie Compton, Ryan Trebon and a bunch of other riders are going to be there.  Actually, there are going to be close to 100 people here, so it is going to be a bit chaotic.  I’m going to try not to be too stressed for this weekend.  Baby steps.

I say that and I am already sort of stressed because I only have one bike with me.  And that one might be a little suspect.  Suspect because I haven’t really ridden it at all since making it back into a cyclocross bike from gravel road bike.  I’m hesitant to go over to the park and ride today when it is probably going to be completely different tomorrow, especially tomorrow night at 6 after all the other races have changed the course up.

Okay.  I need to get going.  I’m hoping to sneak in and get an x-ray of my thumb.  It has been nearly a month now since I squished it and it still is super tender.  I’m not really sure why I want to know because it is very doubtful that I’ll do anything  about it even if it is diagnosed as being jacked up.  I know it is jacked up.

I’ll post some photos of the race course if I drive by there soon.

I slept a ton last night. I’ve been feeling a little off the last couple days. Karl made me quinoa vegetable soup for 2nd breakfast today.

Trudi and Stacie waiting at the airport.

Stacie gave Trudi a Tiffany charm necklace with Bromont’s picture in it. So nice.

Last night my friend Stacie organized a Pro party for youth cyclocross here in Louisville.  It is amazing the schedule that woman keeps.  I had a little glimpse of some of her day yesterday and it was crazy.

I went to her office mid day to get a x-ray of my thumb.  Her office was a zoo.  An organized zoo, crazy busy, but manageable, I guess.

Turns out my thumb is broken.  But, I knew that already.  It still hurts pretty much, but nothing like it did 2 weeks ago.  Plus, there is nothing that I have to do differently, so that is great.

I came back to her house to get ready to ride.  I was thinking I had all this time, but I didn’t realize that I hadn’t reset my watch from Chicago and it was off an hour.  So all of a sudden 2:30 became 3:30.  And the get together was starting at 6.

I hurried and rode down the RIver Road over to the course.  It had rained over an inch I hear, so expected it to be pretty soupy.  At the bike wash, most of the bikes were pretty muddy, but not clogged up.  But they were riding the whole course.  I just rode the top section that serpentines up and down the hill.  It was slick, but not muddy. I really didn’t put any effort into getting the lines down because it was going to be so much different today at 6.

Anyway, I hightail it back to Prospect, which is 11 miles, and just get back in time to shower and get ready for the party.

There were close to 100 people here.  Lots of good food, wine, beer, etc.  There were so many kids.  And the U of Louisville cycling team had representation.

There were a lot of really good riders that were on the panel for questions.  Katie Compton, Ryan Trebon, Gage Hecht, Kaitlin Antonneau, Gavin Haley, Dan Timmerman, Jake Wells, Ally Stacher and a few others.

It was super knowledgable group and there was a lot of information that was exchanged.  Every race should have a meet and greet party like this.

Today is going to be done in a blink.  It is already late morning, I’m still on California time, and it is T-7 hours to race time.  I’m going to suit up and do the 30 minute ride over to the course and do a couple laps between races.

I have no illusions on how I’m going to do here.  I very much doubt I’ll survive the 80% rule, which I think is bullshit.  I haven’t seen the sandpit and am hoping it doesn’t jack up my drivetrain too much.  Mike Crum left a comment yesterday about being unprepared for all the racing I’ve done.  He is absolutely correct this time.  I am super unprepared.  I haven’t dismounted or mounted a cyclocross bike in two years and didn’t have enough time to get the correct equipment together for my liking.  But I felt that I need to get back into the race scene and this was the first opportunity.  I’ll be better in a month or so.

The panel.

The young guys had some great perspectives.

The food was pretty impressive.

Katie and I.

Hip looks good. Buttons of my jeans are the dots.

Broken thumb. Little hard to see the break in this picture, but it is pretty broke.