This race was super important to me – I’ve never ever wanted to win so badly in my life before! Two years ago, I came in last place, and last year was 14/17. Besides redeeming myself, I wanted to win today because I am nearing an upgrade and I want the points I accumulate to come from winning races. I plan to stay in Cat 4 as long as possible to gain experience, and I don’t know how competitive I will be once I upgrade to a 3 so this is my time to shine!
My experience racing this course before showed me three main challenges: first, it is a fast start and everyone hauls ass right away to get a good position up the hill; second, climbing the hill itself; and third, the 90 degree right turn from Marshall at the Costco gas station. Those are all places I’ve been dropped before.
I always raced on my road bike before which up until this year had eggbeater pedals so I could wear mountain bike shoes. This year I finally got road pedals on it, so I thought I better ride my CX bike in case I have to run up the hill. I was encouraged by Coach Alison (the best coach ever!!!) to ride my road bike and just be first up the hill so unclipping would not even be an option. I have a triple and had never gone up the hill without using it before, and Alison also gave me the confidence that I don’t need it, and it turns out that I don’t!
One goal I had for the race was to be first up the hill at least on the first lap, and I’m happy to report that I was first up for all three laps! Thank you Donna for cheering for me – it really, really helped! I also had friends Anna, Wendy, Courtney and Amy from Title Nine (now Outdoor Divas) cheering, plus RM company from Breeze, Athena, Allison and Gretchen who also raced.
I rode up front for much of the race. I tried to make some attacks, but quickly noticed the whole field on my tail so I slowed way down. I kept looking over my shoulder to watch for anyone to attack so I could grab their wheel, but it never happened. After the hill on the first lap, a Natural Grocers girl asked if I wanted a break from pulling, so I said sure! and got on her wheel. When we turned right onto Marshall, I encouraged her to step on it and said let’s try for a break. Didn’t work, so again she and I sat up front and I was only doing about 160 watts, super mellow pace.
I stayed up front setting the pace and then hustled to be first up the hill for round two, and again tried to attack at the top of the hill to take advantage of people trying to recover. I just couldn’t drop anyone so I slowed down. I made an attack as soon as we turned right onto Marshall, but the whole darn group just accelerated with me again so I slowed down but stayed up front. It was a short enough race that it seemed more important to me to be up front to choose my own line than to conserve energy drafting, however I think at this time I decided to drop back a little bit because if I wasn’t going to be able to break away from the field then I’d better rest up to beat 12 girls in a sprint.
Third and last time up the hill and I was nervous that I still had so much company. Once we turned right onto Marshall, Breeze said some kind words of encouragement that was perfect timing. The pace picked up and I realized this was all going to be about taking the sharp right in a strategic way to set up for a sprint. I was not happy about that because that turn is one of my weaknesses on the course. I pulled to the front again and Gretchen was up there, too. As soon as I turned right I stepped on it. I’m lucky that I stayed away because thinking about it now I think that was pretty far from the finish to start a full gas sprint. You can bet that after last week I was looking behind me left and right to see who was there! When I crossed the finish line first, I yelled, “YES!”
I am so, so happy J I have so much support from Alison coaching me, and all the awesome athletes on our team. It is amazing how different I am riding this season than ever before, and I really attribute that to Alison’s training plans for me and all the great mentoring and camaraderie on the team. Thanks for reading!
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