Pumpkin CX

Well, after fighting off illness for much of last week, I felt up to racing on Saturday. Eric was doing his first race and I was doing this race as a way to wake up my cx legs. So even if I had to drop out it wouldn't ruin my day.
As I was waiting for my race it actually began to snow and get a little sloppy during the 3 race, it was shaping up to be a good day for cx. But by the time we lined up for our start the sun came out and it was just cold and super windy.
I had no expectations for this race so when the whistle blew I let everyone fight for the hole shot and I took up my place in last. However, it was clear that my handling skills were better then some other guys and after the first off-camber chicane I picked up a few spots. I was geared high I guess because a: I wasn't really getting dropped on the long paved straightaway *32mph max speed for the day* and b: there was no way I was riding up the big hill, even though some other ss'rs were.I was being a bit conservative so I didn't really race as much as just ride my own ride. By the third lap the lead group and chase group had about 100 meters on me. At the same time, nobody was catching me either.
I suppose I should say that my handling was good for a while. Lap 3 I didn't get my left foot out in time and tripped over the first barrier, and hopped sideways over the second one, holding my bike by the steer tube as it flipped up onto my back. At least there was a large crowd to see it. And the let me hear about it.
And then, with 2 laps left I ask the official if that was 2 laps total. He says yes. Then I ride around the corner coming back towards him and he yells something, so I look at him. Which was stupid, because the corner was not one where speed needed to be scrubbed, that is, only if you are paying attention. And I wasn't. So as I saw the tree coming I put my shoulder and head between the tree and the Major Jake. I hit pretty hard. The official was a bit concerned but I hopped right back on and did a body and bike inventory as I rode the pavement.
For a second I thought maybe I did mess up my collar bone--but thank God I didn't.About lap six I started running down a ss pro,1,2 rider. He was riding the hill, I was running it, and in 3 laps I dropped him. Halfway through my last lap, (10 or 11?) the lead two pro,1,2's caught me and I got out of their way.
So I ended up a lap down, but not out. I took 9th. I think my goal this season will be to move up the master 30 + to top 5 and not get lapped by the pro,1,2's. We'll see, I really need to get my intensity up.