MSC #2 Results on the way

I'd like to tell you how I did this weekend....but I don't know. The results of the cross country race (and pretty much every race) are still in contention. Not a big deal to me, since I know I wasn't podium. But in the contention period that follows the race, many a racer was very upset.
But results or no, I had a great time on the course. The long and brutal climb led to the long and brutal descent. I led out of the start (ha!), then got passed by a fair number of women as the climb progressed. Long climbs have historically been my weakness, though I've been getting better. But if climbs are my weakness, descending is one of my strengths. I passed six women between the top and the bottom. Man was that satisfying.
Unfortunately I didn't have the same performance on the second (and final) lap. In a freak incident, I managed to hock a giant loogie (gross but necessary when racing) directly on my handlebar. My grip was rotating all over the place, and right about when I figured this out, I ate it HARD. I crashed in the big ring, slamming down in some open singletrack. At least it wasn't the trees.
Thankfully, I only garnered some cuts and bruises as well as a horrendous goose egg on my shin. I hopped back on the bike but my rotating grip had me pretty well put off. I couldn't hold on to my bars, let alone concentrate on riding well. I just went for survival: Make it down the hill without putting myself out of action. I crossed the finish line in one piece, and I have no idea what place.