Racing Union had three at the Poolesville Road Race on Saturday -- Jeff and me in the 4/5 race; Bryan in the 3/4 race.  I was sailing along pretty well with the lead group until there was a fairly large crash on the 3rd lap.  While I wasn't involved in the crash, I was directly behind it and ended up with a tour of the grassy ditch.  After I got back on the road, I kept slogging away, but ended up retiring when I was unable to close the gap with the lead group.  Newbie mistake on my part, as I didn't realize there was a group of around 15 somewhere behind me, including Jeff, who I could have helped.  Live and learn!  Jeff finished the race with the pack; Bryan ended up in 20th place in his race.

Sunday at Bunny Hop went much better.  Bryan and I represented the Union in the 30+/40+ race.  Both of us stayed with the pack, which caught the break on the linal lap.  Bryan came in 7th in the 30+ and I managed 24th in the 40+  Given all the talk on the D-20 listserv about Cat. 5s not belonging in the 30+/40+ race (I believe I read something about how they were going to drop all of us Cat 5s right off), I was particularly proud of hanging in there and coming in 38th overall out of 60 who finished (I'm pretty sure it was more like 75 who started).  It was a boost in confidence I really needed; and it felt great to be racing with Comrade Billington.  A fun, smooth, fast and safe race - Artemis did an awesome job putting this one on!  Putting on a race that's accessible by Metro is definitely Union-approved.  Below are some photos I took at Poolesville.  (No pictures from Bunny Hop, I'm afraid - I was too busy fretting about my race to snap any!)

Above:  Bryan in the 3/4 race; Below: the women's race.

Below: Er, I think this is the 1-2-3 race.

-- posted by Chris