Taking a bite out of the Big Apple. Cyclocross style.

Paul and I decided that a cyclocross bike for me would be a good thing. So, this past weekend I broke my bike in NY style at the Staten Island Cyclocross race.

The three nights before the race I had nightmares about every possible thing that could go wrong - i.e. showing up late, my seat post dropping, my handlebars breaking, etc etc. Obviously I was a bit nervous.

Luckily, it was an amazing venue - a park in Staten Island, right on the Lower Bay.
(Here is a handy map so you know what I'm talking about! The race was in the park that the word "Pleasant Plains" is over, Manhattan is in the top right corner - and our house is towards the far left of the map.)

So, yes. Racing.

 Apparently I was nervous... because every picture Paul took of me at the start line I was biting my lip. I didn't even know I had that nervous habit... haha. That's how scared I was, I developed a new one.

 And guess what guys, cyclocross is way hard. It totally made me appreciate how good Paul is and how hard he works every week to have really good results.

 This is called the sand run. It was sandy, deep sandy. I should have felt like a baywatch babe but mostly I felt like falling over and never getting up. Soooo tired.
And since in cyclocross you do laps, I got to run this sandy-fun-time three more times!

 I could have cropped out the homies at the bottom of the stairs, but it's New York and that's cyclocross hipster for you but not even the best example. Anyways, I ran up some stairs (also, four times).

But the stairs were a breeze compared to the crazy backwoods section. Yikes!

 And guess what! I finished! Which is pretty miraculous! And not even last place at all... haha.

(so tired at this moment...)

So I felt like I champ and basically it was a showing of my love for that Paul. I always think it's important to appreciate and be involved in each other's interest so this was me doing my best. 

And now I have a bike so we can ride together and enjoy riding/racing all the time! Hooray for that.

PS When I was passing the start/finish at the beginning of my last lap, they said "and here's number 313 - Christine Frandsen!" and I am only slightly embarrassed to say that it made me choke up a bit because I was just trying so hard and they were all cheering me on! Hooray for pain bringing out the truest emotions in people/me.

Now, let's get to the REAL cyclist already. Paul had an amazing race.
Here, he and a team mate and storming the beach.

 Now he looks baywatch!!!!!

Paul was in first place collegiate and catching up to the lead group in the overall race. They went into the woods section (out of sight) and when they emerged I couldn't find Paul. I started freaking out a little because it's basically my worst nightmare. A few moments later he came riding through - after a painful crash that set him back quite a bit and also hurt his body and bike. Quite the heartbreaker since his first four laps were the best I've ever seen him race and then the last lap was sadness/pain. Such is cycling I guess.

One of the more minor injuries - some painful road rash.

Okay, so I love Paul and actually love/appreciate cyclocross even more now! :) Aka.. I did it!

PS- No-shave November is making me think I might have to nominate Paul for THIS website sometime in the future.