What a Triathlete learned at Cyclocross Nationals

First of all, I went to WATCH Cyclocross Nationals, not race. I am nowhere near brave enough or talented enough to race there. I went with 17 junior cyclists from my son Benny's team, Rad Racing, and some cool adults. In the last two years, I have dabbled in Cyclocross enough to know that triathletes are way behind cyclocross racers in terms of bike handling and anaerobic efforts. I've never hurt on my Time Trial bike to the extent that I've hurt on my Cyclocross bike. And even though I can do a pretty spiffy rolling dismount into T2 on smooth pavement, it can't compare to the dismounts I saw in Rhode Island that involved a downhill 180 degree turn, a tree, mud, loose dirt, a steep staircase, fencing, and the distraction (for some) of a guitar-playing mermaid in a coconut bra........WHICH WERE HAPPENING ALL IN THE SAME SPOT.

Cyclocross is a curious form of cycling that I will conquer someday - I've resigned myself to it. The athletes of this sport can do some pretty neat things on a bike that I'd like to do before I get really old and the brave courageous ones go deep into the "Hurt Locker" for 40-60 long tortuous minutes. This sport has my attention and my respect and I suspect I would grow as an athlete and as a person if I was willing to open the locker..... Luckily it's months away right now :)

In the meantime, this is what I learned (and a few things I had forgotten and re-learned) at the 2006 Cyclocross season & National Championships that I'll take with me into the 2007 triathlon season: There's no particular order here...

1. There are no demons for an athlete that gives 100% - no matter what his/her place is at the end of the race.
2. Red Bones Barbeque is probably worth crossing the country for.
3. Nobody really wants to hang around (or be) a self-absorbed, whiney athlete.
4. Spectators reward athletes who race passionately
5. There is tremendous honor in a sprint finish, especially if you're all alone.
6. Intelligence, determination, and focus can't win a race, but you can't win without them.
7. What happened in the past (no matter how recent) doesn't matter any more unless you let it mess with you.
8. Nothing has a greater impact on growing athletes as the examples of a few that have traveled the road before them with dignity and purpose and are willing to go out for a ride and pass it along. Jim Brown, Dale & Ann Knapp, Dave Schilling, Joe Sales, Chris Johns.
9. Any one race - no matter how big it is - is only part of an athlete's journey.
10. If Cyclocross started with a rough open-water swim, they would have something.