CycloHell - Be Careful What You Wish For...

Ellie loves racing cyclocross, especially when it involves mud and snow. But yesterday, well... we got a bit more than we had wished for. After a week of shorts and sandals kind of weather, a storm rolled in at about 2:00 a.m. on Saturday and set up a new challenge - bitterly cold, relentless rain.

Ethan, Ellie and Ariana

But the kids opted to race anyway - they love the mud! But soon they were frozen to the core. Ellie wore two jackets, one of them even a rain jacket, but was still soaked all the way through. The spectators were, too.

I think it would have been more fun if they weren't so cold that they fingers and toes were numb.

Stephen

Still, they proved that they are fighters.

Maxl

Hats off to those hearty enough to go for it.

Ellie had a pretty good race. She had a great start and was in fourth place for a few laps. Then came the all-too-slick mud that took down a girl right in front of Ellie. After a quick recovery, she was back in the game, but by then she lost a good bit of time. She placed 6th or 7th, not a bad standing considering that many of the national hopefuls were racing, too.

You go - my tough girl! I am proud of you.