Sunday, I was tagged in a facebook picture of me running through some mud and trying to hop over a barrier (while carrying my mountain bike) and trying to avoid face-planting. My friend Scott from Boston commented, "Melissa, I thought you lived in the desert?!" I responded, "Yes, but when it rains every blue moon and you mix water with sand, it turns to mud." Thus, this weekend, we had mud cross in Horse Lovers Park!

It was my first cross race since my trip back to Laramie, WY in September. I needed to revive myself as during that trip I was pretty much last place and my little brother beat me (by a lot!). This race, my friend Tricia had twisted my arm to sign up as there had been a really low turn-out of women in the AZ cross series. I didn't have a cross bike and coming from doing New England cross where there's a sea of talent, I had held off on doing the cross races here. I had many excuses, but of course I am easy to succumb to peer pressure when it comes to bike racing - especially when the forecast calls for mud!!

When I was living in MA - it was tradition that I would make muffins before a cross race. Ask my friend Bob - he will tell you they were pretty amazing! I sometimes even call them 'on crack' because they are so good! So, on Saturday, I whipped up one of my favorite recipes, "Melissa's Cran-Orange Muffins." (Recipe is here)

As it had been raining all weekend, Sunday's race was just as expected with lots of mud! There were about 12 women that started the race, ranging in talent from cat 4's to top mountain bike (world cup level) pro Chloe Woodruff. My friend and teammate Tricia was also on the line, along with Debby Hunter (who is on our quad team for the upcoming Dawn till Dusk race). Debby is a freaking amazing master's rider who you'd never ever guess her age!

We started behind the cat 5 men. I was a little weary about that however with the small fields, there was time for everyone to spread out so it didn't become an issue at all. "Is this your first cross race?" One of the other riders had asked. I smiled, "No, but it is my first cross race in Arizona!" Since helping at the FasCat Coaching Jeremy Powers Cross Camp in August, I had my 'Jeremy Powers start' down! My gearing was perfect, pedals ready and on 'go', I immediately clipped in and took off! Lee-Ann and I were neck and neck down the straight and together into the first turn. Around the 3rd bend, I sprinted around her where we dismount and started running (in slow motion) through thick goopy mud (and horse shit)! The barriers were smack dab in the middle of the mud so it was everything to lift my mountain bike up over and try not to face-plant. My foot caught and I started to fall. I could hear the ladies behind me laughing but quickly I rebounded and took off - still sitting in first! It was only moments though as we sped down the pavement that Chloe went around me. If you have ever seen her ride - it's the smoothest thing to watch! She makes taking 180 degree turns through mud look elegant!! I stayed as close behind her as possible. We started passing the cat 5 men one after the other and soon her lead kept growing.

Chloe stayed in sight for the first 2 laps but then she gained more of a lead. It was on our 3rd and final lap that my front wheel felt a little soft so I knew that I either got a thorn in there (I ride tubeless) or I had burped the tire jumping a few curbs and ditches. I looked back to see how far 3rd place was and there was Debby - she was in sight! I knew if I could just be smooth on the turns with my soft wheel and push hard through the straights, I could hold my 2nd place position. My wheel held out for the finish with time to spare! To no surprise, Chloe won by a few minutes.

My first taste of AZ cross was definitely worthwhile and fun. Who knows, maybe it could turn big like the New England scene - it just might take a little more peer pressure from us ladies to get more of us to show up!