A mud-filled cyclocross event

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Last Sunday was the Singlespeed Cyclocross World Championship, and what better way to celebrate than to take the Major Taylor kids and let them race as well. With forecasts predicting heavy rain, we were lucky to have anyone show interest when we suggested the field trip.

The day of the event, five intrepid students from Global Connections High School in SeaTac turned out for the event.

The course was long, with what seemed like an endless number of switchbacks, mud coated hills, barriers to jump over, and even a man made bridge to ride under and over. In the hour prior to the race, we had to register and warm up with rain pouring down, so we hid under tents as much as possible. Luckily, as the kids were about to line up, the rain stopped and their whole race took place rain-free, but not mud or puddle  free. They had 30 minutes to complete as many laps of the course as they could, with the goal being three. Each and every one of them achieved what I see as the main goal for cyclocross: mud splattered not only on their backs, but on their faces and even behind their ears. And they finished with enough time to get inside and warmed up with pizza before the real storm hit.

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