2007 CROSS KICK OFF BACK TO SCHOOL

AUGUST CROSS??????
BACK TO SCHOOL (CX SCHOOL)
OK I am not a student....But if I was.... I would have on some new Shoes, and a "Rad"Trapper Keeper, and would be headed off to class with my IPOD blaring and my cell phone attached to my ear. I live on campus and my wife is a Professor...BUT my first class this year was a RUDE WELCOME back into CX season. I went to HEBER, UTAH to "WORLDS COLLIDE" the first Cross Race of the season. There wasn't a syllabus and the first day of class was EPIC. The classroom was packed with enthusiastic CX racers excited about the early season race.It was a chance to blow the dust out of the engine. Only the truly weird CX'rs showed up. WHO WOULD RACE CX in 90 degree heat. Well I guess there are plenty of crazy people in the world. I drove 6 hours round trip just to go to school."FIRST DAY OF CLASS" DR. Gillespie handed out a TEST on the first day. Fresh off his Top 10 at Norba Nationals he could have ridden a Unicycle and still almost lapped me. He started 2nd ROW and was in the lead before the 2nd corner. After a few laps I wish I had left a pair of training wheels on my bike. I could barely keep it upright. Gravel...Gravel..and more Gravel... It was 50 minutes of pure suffering. I got a great start and was sitting in 3rd after the 1st lap. Ali Goulet broke his chain and I moved into 2nd. I didn't plan on Ali breaking his chain to move up...but in the back of my mind I figured the kamikaze "all or nothing" style he races would eventually get him today. After that I quickly began to fade. By minute 20 I was in 4th behind Peterson(u23 World team MTN) and Gallagher(REALLY OLD GUY that is fast). Still great company to be racing with.....BUT after a few minutes they told me I couldn't eat lunch at their table. Soon I was alone racing for 4h. Before I knew it I was in 5h and barely holding on. Sagar and other racers were charging. I held onto 5th by a tire at the line.So CX for 2007 is in session. Obviously I have some homework to do. For those of you who missed the first day of class you have a ton of work to make up. Part of me wishes this semester was going to be an easy one...but if it was.... I would be in Medical school, and not racing CX.