rondot@spiritone.com

Thanks to both GPMC and Cross Crusade for Saturday and Sunday race days.
Those who raced both Ninkrossi and Crusade had chances to experience two very different, but excellent race experiences. Ninkrossi will become a classic (maybe is already depending on definition) and Heron Lakes (for sure a classic) today was so much fun and fast that I personally do not want to ever hear people who primarily race roads say they do not ever get great courses which allow them to use their speed and power. TWO FANTASTIC DAYS OF RACING on great courses! Both very open and lots of room! Both courses were very different last year because of rain. This year very fast!
Now a shout out to one of my fellow 60+ racer. Don Leet.
As usual the first lap and one-half were crazy fast and intense with off-the-back, slower racers doing their best, but supplying lots of extra traffic to deal with for people overtaking them. No hard feelings here.......remember, it is the same for everyone. Somehow I managed to be at the front of the 60+ as I am somewhat assertive with regard to moving through traffic and actually enjoy it. Well! On the third lap on the gravel road heading south after the 180 on the gravel pile, Don came by me almost like I was standing still. I somewhat woke up and managed to stay within a few yards for the next lap, then his power and conditioning just allowed him to pull away. When I was finished, I figured he was at least 40 seconds ahead of me while I was pretty much maxed out trying to stay with him.
It is an honor to be able to keep Don “that close” when he is on his game like he was today (and most days). He is the Cannibal in our cat.
I am sure I am not alone in my respect for my fellow racers (it is just Don I mention at this time) as there are so many other healthy competitions in other fields in our OBRA cross world.
Thanks OBRA, Promoters and fellow racers!!! Next weekends offering of racing looks fantastic!
ron