Cat 4 - 80/82 - 3hr43min57s

I decided to write this race report a few days after for a chance to reflect more on this race.  I went into this race with the goal of a great training ride to get me ready for some later season races like Housatonic but after a few of the hill rides I’ve done lately I had hoped for a better result, then again I was not expecting the first 30 or so minutes of the race to be quite as fast right before taking on the first climb nor was I expecting the climbs to be at least twice as steep as most of the ones I’ve done. I was having a hard enough time keeping myself attached to the field so I already knew that I was going to have some issues, and then as soon as we hit the first hard climb I was immediately shot off the back.  I was able to chase the field back down a few times but I quickly ran out of steam to do this repeatedly.  After this I had decided to fall back to plan B and just ride my own race, making this a great training ride, and boy was it a great training ride.  As my 2nd longest ride to date this year and possibly not only the hardest but most exciting course I’ve done EVER, I’ve crossed this race off my list as a big success for 2009. The fact that I had simply completed this race without any major issues was good enough for me and even better is the fact that I had some INSANE descents on both pavement and dirt, great support from teammates (Thanks Lodrina!!), spectacular views, a well marked course, and tons of spectators pushing me on.  

The race however was just the icing on the cake for this past weekend.  The real fun was the rest of the weekend, the riding, the people I stayed with, and the farmhouse out of a storybook.  Staying with my teammates from the HUP crew as always was an absolute blast, big thanks to Robert for his cooking on Friday night! We were staying at a friend of a friend’s house only 3 miles from the start line on top of a huge hill! This little white farm house had two sheds, a barn, and even horses.  We even watched the sunset from the top of the hill and had a fire going at night! What else could you possibly ask for? I got some much needed relaxation this weekend and had a great time with my teammates and new friends (Mike and Alia).  

If this weekend has taught me anything…it’s to push aside any doubts you have before a race and just take in as much from the experience that you can.

Cat 4/5 - 34/54
WU: 30min @ ~10miles
Race: 55min46s @ 20.18miles
CD: ~10min? or 1 lap

Two words come to mind when describing today, WINDY and COLD. It was at least 10F colder at the race than at the house and crazy wind was coming off the ocean. Race seemed to be plagued with crashes which actually ended up working in my favor since I missed them all just barely and was able to stay with the lead pack. 1st crash was when a few guys hit a parked car, 2nd crash took about 12 guys out, and the 3rd crash took another 10 or so. Close calls for all of them but I managed to get around them. The 3rd crash was at the start of the last lap and I ended up chasing to get back on, I caught the lead group right before the last little rise before the finish and had NOTHING for the pack sprint and finished off the back. Thanks to all the crashes I still managed to finish with a placing of 34/54 with ~75 starters. Either way I’m glad just to have finished with the lead group since that was my goal for today however it would have been nice to finish near the front but I had a very hard time moving forward in today’s race, all I could really do is hang onto the wheels in front of me and not let any gaps open up…that and stay out of the wind!!

One thing I’m sure of coming off of this race is that I need to get some more speed work in.

From Man On Wire:

"To me it’s really so simple, that life should be lived on the edge of life, you have to exercise rebellion.  To refuse to taper yourself to rules, to refuse your own success, to refuse to repeat yourself, to see every day, every year, as a true challenge, and then you are going to live your life on a tight rope."

Happy Birthday Christine!!!

Forever Loved, Never Forgotten!!