Hopkins Park....Slippery When Wet!

Hopkins Park was the third CX race this season and my sixth ever. It started out cold and it was no use warming up. I did a partial recon lap, at least enough to recognize that the runup was pretty challenging and that the off camber downhill was likely to lead to some sideways sliding down the hill. This was readily apparent because the two guys in front of me on the practice lap promptly slid off the hill. I did not, but mainly because I stopped to try to scope the line out. 
I started the race with my teeth chattering, I obviously did not really have exactly the right clothing on and I had shed my jacket, figuring that I would roast in it as the race went on. Good news is that the sun started to come out a little as the whistle blew for the start. I wasn't in too bad shape by the time I reached the runup but I was breathing hard at the top. I slowly slid backward through the field with a slide on the off-camber hill putting me solidly in the caboose. By this point I was mainly interested in surviving, staying ahead of a guy who was still behind me and trying to catch a guy from South Chicago Wheelmen who was tantalizingly close. Didn't catch him but I worked up a great sweat and some serious leg pain giving it a try.
Bottom line: need more power and less weight. Got to ditch the double ring up front for a 42 single ring. Could use a bike upgrade next season, but in the meanwhile, technique getting better but still needs work. More power intervals needed....:)