Cyclocross State Championships, 2003 -- Stephen Balslay Looses it!

by Stephen Balsley

Missed a pedal off the line. Came off the track in dead last. Was sitting on the back of the main group on the second lap when all of the fluid and gunk that has been trying to come out of my system exploded on the back section of the course. Rode a good 500 meters while coughing/hacking/spitting up and officially had snot stretched from my stem to my face at one point. Very sexy.

By the time I got back to the track - I could see the front group already going up the hill - and I could see dead last half a lap ahead of me on the track. After holding back the puke - I actually started to feel better. Passed some people. Caught up with Andrew. Rode with Andrew for awhile. Moved ahead again and finished like 13th one spot behind the guy who beat me at most of the races. Because of how far back I was - I got to see the finishing group attack the race track and even asked someone if Mark had won. If only he could sprint - if only...

Best moment of the whole race was afterwards when Jim Holmes came up to me as I stood just off the track and asked me how it went right before I threw up everywhere. Quit reading now if you dont like puke stories. But suffice it to say that 1. there was a lot of snot in the puke which effectively cleared out my lingering cold and 2. PBR still tastes damn good after throwing up (I remember that from high school/college).