I've been a cyclocross fan for the past couple years and bought a frame last fall which I built as a winter trainer/cross racer.  Nothing too fancy, a Felt F1X frame with centaur, proton wheels etc. 

Today I finally got a chance to see what this whole cyclocross scene is about from a racing point of view.  I have had no time to train during the week due to my occupation (settlement risk manger for a custodial bank) but I figured my base miles would carry me through.  Also my expectations were to finish and stay upright.  With the exception of a spill during training, mission accomplished there. 

Here are my impressions of the sport.  Running was minimal in today's course. I didn't do any running as training, and I doubt it would have made a difference.  What I did need to practice though is the dismounts/mounts and hurdling 18" high barriers (which feel like 3 feet by the 4th lap).  In todays course there were two sets of barriers, one big log that required a dismount and a short run up of 20-25 meters. 

What I noticed though was how important bike handling skills are.  The course snaked through a hilly field and a bit of singletrack with lots of 180 degree turns full of ruts and even some mud (thankfully it was dry today).  I found myself struggling to maneuver my bike through the course, but the legs felt fresh for the full 40 minutes.   It had more of a MTB feel to it than a road race (IMHO). 

My bike equipment was ok.  I would have prefered a larger tire than the 30mm Michelin Cyclocross Sprints that I'm running.  I spent most of the time in my small ring (34t), but mostly because I was too lazy to shift.  The 46t was fine for the few moments i was in it.  I needed a granny on one climb, but honestly a 46/36 or even 46/38 would be fine with a 26 or 27t in the back.  My Crank Brother Eggbeater pedals were perfect.  I didn't miss or need the platform of my Candy's that I use on my MTB, and the 4 sided entry was ideal.  They shed mud and grass perfectly.  No complaints.  The Centaur shifting was solid too. No surprises here.  One issue I had was the old sticky headset that came with the frame.  It felt like it locked on me a few times, and you need to really be nimble.  A new one has been ordered and will be installed before my next race.   The headset and wider and better tires will be the only changes I'll make for this season. 

Overall, I had an absolute ball.  I already signed up for another race in 2 weeks and could see this being my main source of 2 wheel competetion for years to come.  It's a super workout, a lot of fun and the crowd has a festive feel to it (those silly cowbells really force you to work hard for the fans).  I urge you to try it if you haven't already.  You wont regret it.  I wish i was racing again tomorrow...