My first-ever criterium — the Branchbrook Park Spring Series in Newark, NJ — where I raced safely in the pack and took 10th in the Cat 4/5 field, getting boxed out in a hectic sprint finish.
HIGHLIGHTS
Result: 10th place in the Cat 4/5 race — his first criterium
Held with the main pack behind a two-man breakaway and two-man chase
Found an outside line in the sprint but got boxed out by five riders
Raced at Branchbrook Park in a new ISM Saddles race kit
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Safety first in a debut crit: prioritizing staying upright over risk paid off in a clean first race
Positioning wins sprints: getting boxed out cost places at the line — a clear area to improve
Crits are a different beast: pack dynamics and finishing tactics differ sharply from triathlon
Embrace the fun: a hectic, close finish made for an exciting new kind of racing
Guess what I just did? My first criterium race! 😎
The race took place at right across the Hudson River. Well not really, but it was close enough, at Branchbrook Park in Newark, New Jersey. I made my best effort to get some snapshots before and after the race.
Special thanks to ISM Saddles for the super race kit!
Here are the results via USA Cycling – I got 10th place in the Cat4/5 race. There was a 2 man breakaway, with a 2 man chase, followed by the rest of the pack. Clearly, I was in the pack. Being that this was my first race, safety was my main concern. I found an outside line during the sprint finish, but was boxed out and outsprinted by 5 others. It was such a fun experience!!!
Our lead vehicle was a VW Beetle! How cool!!
Post race shot. Thank you ISM!!
The CAT4/5 results are in!
I don’t remember what the race director said, but I guess it was funny…
At a Glance A Thanksgiving reflection on a breakout 2013 season — a top-5 at Syracuse 70.3, an age-group win at the NYC Triathlon, a defended Toughman title, and a 10:01:46 podium finish at Ironman Florida — all with deep gratitude for family, friends, and coaches. HIGHLIGHTS Ironman Florida: 10:01:46 and 3rd in age group…
At a Glance This year I experience Ironman Florida from the other side of the fence — spectating and serving as a Sherpa for a teammate — on a wild day when dangerous rip currents forced organizers to cancel the swim and turn the race into a bike time-trial duathlon. HIGHLIGHTS Ironman Florida’s swim was…
At a Glance February 2014 training totals: another cold, snowy month of mostly indoor work that went right on plan — slightly less volume than January but higher intensity, a 2nd-place 5K, a new FTP, and much more time in the pool. HIGHLIGHTS Duration: 46:55:08; Distance: 597.43 miles (-10.77%) Average HR: 143 bpm (+3.62%); Work:…
At a Glance My 2014 Ironman Lake Placid is still the day I call perfection. I battled downpours, thunder, and lightning through a brutal bike leg, then dug deep on the run — and earned a Kona World Championship qualification. HIGHLIGHTS Result: qualified for the Ironman World Championship in Kona Swim ~1:14; bike 5:28:45 (first…
At a Glance A quick note after a busy, spectacular summer — race recaps from the Leadville 100, Toughman Half, and more are on the way, with time to write coming en route to the Kona World Championship. Well…it’s been a while since my last update. Sorry about that! Ever since Ironman Lake Placid, my…
At a Glance Two race weekends, back to back: a flat run at the hilly Challenge Quassy, then a gutsy come-from-behind at IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman — where I overcame the heat and a broken power meter, ran the day’s biggest negative split, and kicked past the leader in the final mile to win M18-24. HIGHLIGHTS…
