Cyclocross Racing - First DNF

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Andy_K
09-19-09, 04:48 PM
I collected my first DNF today. Taking a turn in the middle of a run-up it felt as if someone plucked my calf like a guitar string. I took about three more steps before hitting the ground in pain and then dragging my sorry butt off the side of the course.

I was only on the second lap of 7 or 8, and it was a pretty fun course, so I was very bummed. The worst part is, it was the first day of a two race weekend (Hood River Double Cross). I'm resting, icing, compressing and elevating it today and trying to get it to stretch out in the slim hope of racing tomorrow, but I have to admit that may not happen. :notamused:

CatSkratch
09-19-09, 05:55 PM
Bummer. All the hard work in training and preperation down the drain. Well at least the season is just starting and many more races to go.
jfmckenna
09-19-09, 06:22 PM
Did you have a good warm up for the race?

jonestr
09-19-09, 07:09 PM
dont despair

plenty more races this season, and it is better to be fresh in Nov/Dec when the bigger races come up
Andy_K
09-19-09, 07:33 PM
Did you have a good warm up for the race?

Yeah, I did two pre-ride laps a couple of hours before my race, and then rode around the parking lot for about half an hour until around 10 minutes before start, with some sprints and whatnot in there. I didn't stretch, and maybe I should have thrown in some running, since I knew the run-up was there.

It's still pretty tight, but if there is no run-up tomorrow I might give it a try. I've got surprisingly full range of motion. There's just some combination of forces when I'm walking that's giving me shooting pain.

The smart thing would be to take the day off, but I've never been known for my wise choices and I hear tomorrow's course is supposed to be flat.
Andy_K
09-20-09, 07:58 PM
I can't say wisdom prevailed, but pain did. I took the bike for a spin around the hotel parking lot last night to see if I could. That was uncomfortable, but only uncomfortable. The problem was, I couldn't walk without pain, to say nothing of running. So I faced the inevitable.

It actually feels much better today and I can trot carefully without pain. I'm hoping to be ready for Wednesday's race or next Saturday at the latest. Happily, we've got a LOT of races on the calendar this year.