4th Jingle Cross - Best Yet!!!

This past weekend marked my fourth appearance at Jingle Cross Rock in Iowa City, IA. First time I was on a single speed mountain bike, getting lapped 3 times and riding platform pedals. This year was a whole different story.

For the first time, the event added Friday night races under the lights. My race, though starting at 4:00, wasn't under the lights but was still exceptionally AWESOME!!! The course was slick with mud and my expectations were low. But, none the less, when I toed the line I punched it for the hole shot anyways. Bully for me, all the practice on my technical skills this year paid off and I was able to hold my lead and keep it.

After every mud pit, I'd punch it....every hill, I RAN..... every turn, I powered out of it.....all the way to the finish. Lap after lap, I recharged my battery as the announcers brought light to my progress. I fed off my husband's cheers from various places along the course. For the first time, I was in a position to win Jingle Cross, and I wasn't going to let it go. So I didn't. All the way to the finish line, my best challenge to date - Jeannie Fleck was on my tail and forced me to push through the pain. (THANK YOU!!!!) And for the very first time, I kept her at bay and was able to raise up my hands in victory!!! Yowza! What a race.

Jay was a lucky one, racing after dusk under the huge lights that surrounded the course. He rocked, showcasing his wicked skills as others went down....(not our video, but WAY AWESOME!)

Jingle Cross 2009: Friday Night Cross from Gizmo Pictures on Vimeo.

Jacki kicked it under the lights as well, finishing strong in the women's 2/3 race. Nice work OC.

Friday night, we stayed up a little too late, making Saturday's race a little slow. With nothing in my legs, I struggled through the first 1/2 of the race just trying to wake up. By the 2nd half, my body finally figured out what I was asking for and woke up, allowing me to move up from 8th to 4th in just 2 laps, but it wasn't enough to get me on the podium. Jeannie, though, rocked the house for the win, and Points finished right behind me in 5th.

Jay rocked a bitchin 5th place single speed race and we cut out early to spend some time with the family. His bro flew in from NY to help us move their Ma & Pa into a new place, so we ditched the fun to help the fam instead. Luckily, we got our work done before too late and were able to bust out to the Team Skin party in DT Iowa City. Just when I thought I hadn't had enough...my fave Iowa girls drug me out onto the dance floor...

John, of course, had a BLAST!Heck, we all had fun!!!Come Sunday morning, I was happy the season was over and was ready to have some fun. Per my fave Iowa ladies' invite, I joined the Single Speed race....and we did it in style! Speedo Single Speed that is!!! Say it with me now.... "B1+ch Please!!!!"

Jingle Cross Rock 2009 Speedo Single Speed Race from Kristy Henderson on Vimeo.

Still thawin' out,
Kristy Kreme