Woodland Park GP Cyclocross

Queens Cross was suppose to be the end of my inaugural cyclocross season. But when a friend offered to split travel costs for a ride to Seattle for one last race, how could I resist?


We arrived at our hotel in Seattle late Saturday night. And after a restless sleep and some coffee, we made our way to the race at Woodland Park.

We arrived early to setup a tent for others from Vancouver who would be joining us later in the day. After registration, we headed to the course for a practice lap. My race was not first this time around, and although I could have done a practice lap closer to my start time, I did not want to be rushed.

I could tell from the practice lap that this was going to be my new favorite cx course. After a 13 minute practice lap, I figured 2-3 laps would be a good goal. This race was a 40 minute race, not the 30 that I was accustom to.

Since none of us were in the first race, we watched he firsdt race to scope out some of the more tricky parts. This was helpful on many of the fast turns. Soon it was time for me to head to the staging area.

This was a different race series and therefore the categories were different. Normally, I would ride Novice, or Category 4 for this race, but they had a Clydesdale category. This was specifically for racer over 200lbs. My race was at 10:30am and consisted of the Master Men 45+, Clydesdale Class, Master Men 60+, and Beginning Men. And we were let out in staggered waves in that order.

The Master Men 45+ was off and the Clydesdales were lining up. Rather than the usual countdown, this race did the heartbeat start. They essentially play a loud heartbeat sound as the countdown. Needless to say, it did nothing for those of us line up with pre-race anxiety.

Then the race was on.

The start of the course was a slight uphill, but even so I was in too easy of a gear. This was fine though as I wanted to be in the back at the start. I got into a harder gear, rode past the timing trailer, gave a wave, and was on my way.

Photo courtesy of Woodinville Bicycle 

The pack bunched up as we approached the first right hand turn. I was far enough in the back not to get caught up in it. I took the entry wide, then cut in. The course then straightened out over a gradual incline. I stayed to the outside on the grass to keep grip.

As the course descended there was a right turn, followed by a left turn. I knew from watching the first race that the outside line was fastest.

After the turns was a flatter, gravel section. Then there was a small climb, before a left turn into another climb. The climb was slow, but I rode the whole thing. This course had some challenging hills, but they were all rideable for me. I was very happy about that.

After the hill was a bigger hill. Coming down the first hill, I gained as much speed as I could to help get me up the next. I stayed to the right, knowing from my practice lap that the right was smoother and firmer ground.

After the second big downhill was a left turn past some team tents. After the turn was narrow off camber. Some exposed roots made this section even more challenging. I has some good saves.

After the off camber was a series of turns. I handled these very well. They were setup a bit wider that the BC races. They were wide enough to not require any kick-stands, but narrow enough to be challenging.

After riding across a paved section, we veered left and dropped into a small decline. The entrance was narrow due to a large sand mound on the right side. I slide a bit coming off the pavement and into the drop but stayed upright.

The course swept past the washrooms and to a fun wide turn. My back wheel slid out but I was able to stay up and in control.

Next came some flatter sections were I was sure to ride on grass as much as possible.

After a fun windy section and an uphill turn, was the barriers. I dismounted, went over, remounted, and rode on.

After a muddy right turn, and several attempts to clip back in, we rode up a small incline before dropping off a curb and across another paved section.

Photo courtesy of Jeannine Avelino/Vancouver Cyclocross Photos

On the other side of the paved section was another muddy drop off. The mud here was much deeper but I was once again surprised with my bike handling skills.

After some more turns and another small hill, the course turned left along the tennis courts. There was a much steeper off camber here. I rode along the top, but still slid down a bit as I went along. Another turn and then an uphill as we rode on a gravel section, dodging deep puddles. 

As the course flattened out, we rode through a nice wooded area. We rode past the Glotman Simpson Team tent where my friend Stu was doing an unusual hand up.

I rode past to the familiar sounds of Stu's heckling.

After a few sweeping turns, we dropped into a steep downhill. It was very fast and very slick. Luckily, I was able to stay in a rut made by riders in front and keep control through the mud at the bottom.

I rode up the hill on the other side and through more turns until the next steep drop.

At the bottom of this drop was a series of bumps. I must have taken a wider line on the practice lap, as these were a complete surprise to me.

After the bumpy ride and a nice flat section, came a left turn. . . And the Run-Up.

This was a very steep section lined with log crossing the path. I dismounted, shouldered my bike, and began the slog up the hill.

Not me in the photo

On my way up, I got bumped by a rider passing. This made for a nice little battle wound on my knee.

Photo courtesy of Patrik Zuest

I got the top and remounted. I had a bit of a reprieve on a flatter section before another steep downhill/uphill combo. At the top was another big turn. I stayed on the outside section as the middle was all very deep mud. Then another downhill/uphill combo.

This section was very technical and I was very proud of myself for riding it. Granted not fast, but on the bike nonetheless.

We jumped off anther curb and across another paved roadway before heading back into the trees. We rode past the pits, up a gradual incline, and around some turns before being back on the road we started on.

I hammered on the road, throwing mud off my tires.

As I passed the timing tent I gave them a thumbs up. I was pushing hard, but having fun.

I was now on lap 2.

With 4 different categories staggered in the field, it was hard to know who was lapping me and who was just passing me. Either way, a more crowded field added an extra (and fun) element to the race.

On my second lap, the course was more chewed up. The nice grassy grip sections were more scarce.

I was taking more chances on the corners and downhills, trying to ride the ruts left by those faster than me. There was more sliding around corners and near crashes, but through it all I stayed upright.

While trying to gain speed down the hilly section at the beginning, I got stuck behind 2 people riding side by side. I lost some momentum and hard to work harder up the hill.

The switchback section was now all mud. My back wheel spun out quite a bit, but I managed to ride through.

At the off camber section along the tennis courts, a rider passed me and I lost my balance. I thought for sure I was gong down. But somehow at the last second, I saved it.

When I got to the run up, I wanted to challenge myself. I was going to push myself through this whole technnical section.

I charged up the run up, remounted, hammered through the first downhill/uphill combo and into the turn, which was now all deep mud.

Not me in the photo

I pushed through the mud, pedaling hard! I got out of the muck and into the second downhill/uphill combo. I tore down the hill and hammered up the other side.

Not me in the photo

Then my vision narrowed. I may or may not have blacked out ,but when I came to, I was leaning over the course tape violently losing that mornings breakfast.

When I looked up, I saw a photographer snapping pictures of me. He shrugged his shoulders as if to say "This is cross." I gave him a hand wave and nodded.

I'm still looking for that photographer to get those photos.

I went under the tape and off the course. I sat on the ground content to DNF. I am not sure how long I was on the ground, but something in me made me get up and back on the course.

At that point my goals shifted from 2-3 laps, to whatever I could do. I knew I was last. How can you be laster than last? Unless you DNF, which I had already resolved not to do.

Luckily, the next portion of the course was relatively flat. I could use the last section of lap 2 to regain my composure and regain a (what qualifies in cross as a) normal heart rate.

Photo courtesy of Patrik Zuest

I finished lap 2 and passed the LED sign that read "2 Laps To Go!"

I knew that mean just one more lap for me.

Onto lap 3.

Lap 3 went pretty much the same as lap 2 minus the hurling.

Photo courtesy of Woodinville Bicycle

Photo courtesy of Woodinville Bicycle

When I passed by Stu and the GS Team tent, I pretended to go for the hand out. As I rode past I yelled, "Oh no I missed!" and pretended to hit Stu in the crotch. I rode on to the sounds of howls and laughter.

I took the run up a bit more conservatively.

I rode down the first downhill/uphill combo, but dismounted for the uphill section. I trudged though the mud that had spiked my heart rate, and sprinted on foot through the second downhill/uphill combo.

I pushed hard to the end. I was not sure how they would signal the end of the race, but once I was on the paved road I saw the LED sign read "YOU ARE DONE!"

Pretty clear.

I rode though the finish line and stopped with another group of riders. Everyone there could see how hard I pushed. I was offered lots of fist bumps.

I slowly walked back to our tent, dropped off my bike, got changed, and some much needed food.

I watched my friends race and had a great time watching the final races with them.

Later on I looked that posted results. Turns out I was not last! I came in 30th out of 32. There were a few people that only did 1-2 laps.

Lap 1: 13:00.8
Lap 2: 13:57.4
Lap 3: 12:38.2
Total: 39:36.4

Woodland Park was definitely the most fun I've had doing cx. The course was different and more like a true cyclocross course.

I am glad I did not stop racing cyclocross after Aldergrove. This has been so much fun.

I did race with a heart rate monitor for this race and set some new records in Training Peaks.

Thanks for taking the time to read about my latest adventure in this new sport. It has been a blast! I am upset that I won't be doing this next year, but I'll be deep into my Ironman training by then.