3 days of racing in 3 days completed

So we made it.......all of us housemates (Wendy Simms, Barb Howe, Derrick and I) that decided to do the 3 cross races is in a row completed it with very consistent results. I was aiming for atleast one top ten while I was here in Europe. Still not there but close, and at the very least consistent.
So 2nd day racing, which was yesterday, I finished 13th again. Had a better start and then avoided some crashes but again was caught a few places in the race behind slower riders. Thought my effort was pretty solid and was pretty taxed by the end of the race. Made a couple errors half way through that broke my concentration and costs me a few places. A couple other americans showed up to the race, that moved me back a few unexpected positions as I felt I rode a better race than the day before. Strangely enough, the course was more mountain bike style. I'm really starting to like these style of courses and do somewhat better on as well. I'm thinking maybe next year in the summer I should be trying to find a mountain bike, instead of a tt bike.
Then today, another weird start again. First row call up, 8 girls line up, then 2nd row I get called up, line up behind Wendy. Then third row gets called up and this girl lines up beside me from the third row. Not only does she line up beside me, but she shoves her wheel in front of mine and into the first row and then puts her elbows out in front of my face. I think, okay there, thats enough, you are slower than me and no way are you getting your ass off the start line in front of me. That got me a good initial start into the first corner and then I became content of my top 10 start off the line, relaxing a bit to soon, put me back into 20. Crash into the first technical section, another few spots back, then came the stairs. 50 or more steps up a hill, catch back up to the group ahead and get on the tail end. After the race I here that there was a huge fist fight between some of the girls ahead. It was really hard to pass through the stairs so you got held up quite a bit. I managed to pick off a handful of girls throughout the race, but didn't really have the jump like I did yesterday. Probably the fact of racing for 3 days in a row. Ended up 15th overall and got my first prize money from Europe, 30 Euros. I did win money on Friday for my 13th place but was told I would get it in the year 2010! Yeah, I bet. And yesterdays race was too cheap to pay out after 10th.
So my highlight of today was meeting Erwin Vervecken. He came 2nd in a sprint finish today. Barb met him at Southhampton this year, so Wendy and I were introduced to him. He seemed super chilled and a really nice guy. Yeah this was my moment of glory for the day.
So a few days rest over Christmas eve and Christmas Day. Probably be pre-riding the World Cup course for Christmas. Yep....that's my Christmas present to Derrick, from Derrick and to share with ourselves. I'm pretty stoked about racing the world cup on boxing day. I feel like my starts are getting better each race, I am being a little more aggressive, and all I need to do is make sure I continue this a little longer through the first lap of the race. I'm also getting better at the game of dogdeball from all the crashes off the start. It's going to feel pretty neat to be racing in front of the 14,000 fans.
Oh yeah, if anyone is reading this that has any connections in making trading cards, I really need to have these of myself for next year when I am here.
NCE