We met Celeste and Dave Drumm at Pedros Fest in 2002. This was the year Dave was the Mud Bog King and put Mr. Vicious Cycle in the dirt. Ever since meeting Dave and Celeste, we've kept in touch and were fortunate enough to have them both race for Hup United this year. Celeste is having a cross season to write home about and we caught up with her shortly after the Verge race in Sterling, MA.
1. How long have you been racing cyclocross and what motivated you to begin racing?
This is my 3rd year racing. Dave fell in love with cyclocross about 5 years ago & I was traveling with him to the races. I was extremely tired from my first years as a teacher, so didn't have much interest in racing. However, I decided that if I was going to the races, I may as well compete. I have competed in different sports (running, cross-country skiing, road racing, mountain biking) since I was 13, so why not add another to the list? I must note that I thought cyclocross was the stupidest sport going - why would anyone want to jump off their bike in the middle of a race, carry their bike, and then have to do some fancy re-mount that could potentially injure you?!? I got my first cyclocross bike at the Pittsfield race 3 years ago - about 1 hour before the race (a Zanconato!). With a camelback under my jersey, I started out in my first cyclocross race. I did well on the off camber, the roots, grass paths, etc. But I didn't like everyone passing me in the barriers, so after the third set, I remounted - without injuring myself!
2. We know you have been working with a coach this year. Can you give us an overview of your training at a high level?
Training for this season began in March with base training - low intensity, lots of hours. The intensity increased over the summer, but it was still much more focused on low intensity, rest, and recovery than I have ever done before. It was a totally new approach to training for me, as I have really only ever trained for cross-country skiing, where strength, endurance & technique are all equally important, but the route to get there is different than for cycling. I remember thinking if I wasn't sore for a couple days after a workout, then I didn't work hard enough. I was amazed that training for cycling didn't have to hurt for a few days after a hard workout... well, except for a 22 mile time trial! and that I was able to go fast during races. Also, I was surprised to learn that running and road racing "go together like oil & water". It seems like the more variety of sports you do to train for skiing, the better. Again, totally different mind sets.
3. You had a great start at Sterling; is this one of your strengths? Where do you excel in cross races and where do you see room for improvement?
Starting has never been a strength, although Richard Fries supposedly mentioned me yesterday as being one of the stronger starters?!? Usually I end up lost in the field and spend the entire race working my way back to where I belong. Learning how to properly warm up and prepare for the extremely fast start lap has been a huge help. Also, getting a call-up to the front line always helps! I excel in endurance. Many people have strong starts, then fade. I tend to stay strong physically, as long as the mental strength holds.
I definitely see room for improvement on the mental end of things. I should work on holding onto people's wheels longer, pushing up & over any run-ups better, accelerating out of corners, after barriers, etc. faster.
4. What has been the most memorable course/race this year?
I still have a bruise on my knee from Putney - that's a reminder every time I bump it! Gloucester Day 1 has been the most memorable race this year. I felt like I worked so hard, and only ended up 15th! Granted, many of the women ahead of me are pros, former national champs, etc, so 15th is pretty good. I was only 3 or 4 minutes off of Ann Knapp. The competition has definitely gotten stiffer - just in the last three years! It's better for the sport to have more strong women out there, but wow, are they fast! I was disappointed when two strong local women were not at Sterling to race.
5. You are a high school science teacher off the bike. How do you explain to your colleagues and students what you do each weekend in the fall?
Dave does most of my PR. The science department chair two years ago only knew that I raced after going into the shop & saw a picture of me from Putney covered in mud. The current science chair learned from Dave that I was ranked top 10 in New England after the Verge Series last year ( I didn't even know that until Dave informed me!) when she went into the shop this summer.
One of my colleagues asks if I'm racing before some weekends ... sometimes she asks how the race went upon returning Monday morning. One of my students searched under Google Images for "Celeste Drumm" and found a couple pictures of me! I showed him the Hup United site, but seemed less than impressed - those teenage boys. Sometimes I share how I did, but they always want to know "6th place, but out of how many, Mrs. Drumm?!?"
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