No Longer a Two Lap Racer

Picking Up the Pace

PreRace Workout:  OK, four to five rides a week at first but getting a little overworked and exhausted so the last two weeks before this race, I backed off to two rides a week and WOW!

PreRide:  NONE, serious migraine on Saturday - didn't think I'd even make the race.

Back in the Dragonfly outfit and ready to ride!

Not starting in the last position.

Starting out my goals were:  Beat Julie (+3), don't get lapped by Anya and get three laps in.  Wasn't sure how this was gonna go as I just came off a two day migraine and could still feel the headache but it was being controlled at this point.  I knew I was a lot stronger coming into this race, but was very nervous about the headache kicking in somewhere out on the trails.

I loved riding with this girl - note we are both in pink/black ensembles.


Lap 1:  Darius was able to snap a great pic of me chasing down another rider.  For the whole first half of this loop there were three of us together.  Right before this drop turn, a young girl in blue wiped out in the sand and we passed her up.  I held my own with this racer for 30 minutes or so.  On the back section of this loop there is a quick down then up and I lost my chain on that up.  Having to stop cost me a lot in this race.  I never saw my pink partner again.  Clearing the first lap at about 33 minutes, I knew this was a fast race and if I could hold my pace, I would clear all three laps. 

This is the counting corral.

Lap 2

Lap 2:  Coming through the counting corral and starting lap two was awesome.  I felt great.  No headache and I knew I had a great time at this point.  The corral is designed to be a slowing down point.  Typically they put in a hairpin turn or place it in the grass on an uphill slope.  There is no way I can ride quickly through here.  Even though it is a planned slow down point. . .it would be cool if you could rip through here since it is also the point where everyone sees you.  Anyway, I walked a couple hills on my second lap.  I lost my chain three times in this loop and just couldn't get my rhythm back.  I was now gasping for air and desperately trying to hold any semblance of a pace that would get me through lap two by 1 hour 30 minutes.  I completed lap 2 at 1 hour and 15 minutes.  OH YEAH!

Arm warmers are down - its getting hot out here.

Lap 3.  What was that?  Lap 3:  Ahhhh!  When I heard the counters tell me I had one more lap, I thought about how awesome that was.  As I started up that wicked hill afterwards, I began thinking how stupid I was.  I hadn't been riding 15 mile practices.  I had been riding 10 milers.  I now had to complete 15+ miles just because I pushed myself to go faster.  What was wrong with me?  As I gasped for air after walking up that first big hill, Cory (a riding buddy) is preriding the course behind me and catches me off my bike (could I be more embarrassed?)  He checks that I'm OK and off he goes on a side trail.  Me?  The mortification gives me a new ooomph so I get back on my bike and ride.  My new mantra was 30 seconds. . .30 seconds. . .I can ride this pace 30 more seconds.  My chain fell off a couple more times (total 6 the whole race, I think) and I was getting a little frustrated and trying not to let it rattle me but failing miserably.  As I clear one of the last big hills, my chain drops and I know someone is behind me.  I jump off the course only to see Lee (another riding buddy).  As I put my chain on yet again (BTW getting faster at this task), I wonder why I am always off my bike when the people I KNOW go by?  I push to the finish with a final time of 1 hour 45 minutes and 36 seconds.  Four seconds off my two-lap time the previous race. 

I am in heaven!  Two more goals were accomplished:  Complete 3 laps and Anya didn't lap me.  Still chasing down +3 girl - would it be wrong to hope she gets too busy to ride and slows down enough for me to catch her next race?  Nah, I'm gonna do it the hard way (I always do).  See you in July Julie - watch your back!