Masters Nationals

So... my trek towards Masters Nationals is now over.  It was a long time coming, but once it happened, it was a whirlwind.  An awesome, fantastic, really fun whirlwind!

I stayed with a couple of the lovely ABRT ladies in a charming little house very close to downtown.  It put us within riding distance of the crit course, a very short drive to the road course, and a 45 minute jaunt out of town to the TT course.

I got into town late Monday night and didn't have to race until Thursday.  This gave me time to watch some of the other races, get a few rides in, and... of course, preview the TT course.  When I did that, I managed to run into none other than Kristin Armstrong - who gave me some advice about the race!  She was unbelievably nice and helpful and was really happy to chat for a bit before she took to the road to check out the course herself.

My first race was the crit on Thursday.  I skipped the Road Race, thinking that three races back to back to back might make it too difficult to do the TT.  If I go back next year (yes, please, Mr. Porkchop???), I think I'll do all three.  Why not?  It's just such a great experience and doing them all would be fun!

The crit course was changed at the last minute.  I'll be honest, I thought the new course looked wonderful and a lot better than the original.  It went from a three corner triangular course to a highly technical twisty course with some nice features.

I got all pinned up and, with the support of Fluffy Unicorn, was ready to rock.

 The race was fast and active - with a lot of attacks and a lot of speed.  No one was willing to watch anything go up the road more than just a few meters, though we all gave it at least one good try.  In the end, a late attack looked dangerous and capable of hanging off the front just a bit.  Mary Breed from NCVC went to the front and drilled it for the last lap and a half.  She caught the rider off the front and continued the run in to the line - taking the top step of the podium.  I positioned myself well and, in the end, managed to sprint past a few riders to take 5th on the day and a step of the podium myself!  A PODIUM!!  At Nationals?!?!?  In the CRIT????  Who'd'a thunk it!??!

 It must have been the good luck kiss from Fluffy!!

 Friday was the TT.  The course was HARD.  Eleven climbs in each direction for a total of 22 climbs in 20 miles.  OUCH.  The steepest was about 6% - and there were maybe 4-5 of those.  The rest were long draggers of 1-3%.  On top of the really tough course, it was HOT.  Stupid hot.  Melt your brain inside your alien helmet hot.  Ugh.

As per usual... I gave it my all... it wasn't quite enough for the podium - as I finished in 7th on the day.  But, man... those women were FAST.  I was so impressed by the incredible competitors in the TT.  They had me in absolute awe. 

Long story very short... I came home with a beautiful medal and a smile on my face that just won't quit.  I'm proud of myself and I know that my amazing family, friends, teammates, and coach are proud of me, too. I'm ready to take the momentum from Nationals and keep churning away at the year of racing.  There's a lot in front of us (it's not even JUNE!!), and I'm thrilled to get back out there with my phenomenal teammates.

See you next year, Winston-Salem.

Home Field Advantage

Greentree... how do I love thee?  Let me count the ways...

As of yesterday, I've managed to take the win at Greentree a total of 4 times.  I don't get to win a lot in my cycling career - I'm usually yelling at my sprinter to go from mid-pack as they cross the finish line ahead.  But, for some reason... when I race at Greentree... I just feel like it's MY place to race.  Like it's MY course to win on... like I've got home field advantage there.  And, who knows... maybe I do?

Wilmington wasn't so great... but, I knew that it was going to be a huge challenge.  So, I'm not really surprised, nor am I going to dwell on a rough day of racing.  I got my frustration out there and then turned my sights to racing for the NJ Masters State Crit jersey on Sunday.

The race was not greatly attended, unfortunately.  But, Deborah, Andy, and I made up a strong team of three (two from NJ with the chance to take the podium), and had a goal of winning another championship for the team.  Also lining up with us was Caryl Gale, Betty Tyrell, Robin Wahl, Denise Matheny, and Tina Pic.  Yeah, you read that right.  Tina came out to have some fun with us and ride bikes in circles.

Things went pretty much according to plan.  I launched an attack and got away briefly.  Deborah launched an attack and got away briefly.  Andy launched an attack and got away briefly.  All of these attacks were chased down by our biggest competition, Caryl.  With very little additional firepower with her in the field, she was definitely fighting a difficult battle... but also showed her unbelievable strength by chasing breaks again and again.  She's really a powerhouse!

After Caryl chased Andy down, I saw the chance to counterattack and launched again.  This time, getting some solid daylight and putting all of my chips down on making it stick. Looking back through some of the corners, I saw that the field wasn't far behind - with Caryl still at the front making the chase.  But, I just kept at it - pushing hard through the headwind and up the hill and resting a bit when I had a brief downhill/tailwind section.  Soon, the men's field came around us.  I took advantage of that to try to up my pace a bit - thinking that it may have caused a bit of disorder in the chase. It seemed to work because when I looked back again, I couldn't see any bright orange helmets of the chasing field.

I was away for about 9 laps total to take the win and the jersey for Team EPS/CSS p/b Shebell and Shebell!

Deborah and Tina sprinted to the line for 2nd and 3rd, with Caryl close behind in 4th overall and 2nd in the state and Andy following her for 5th overall and 3rd in the state.  We were really happy with a 1-2 finish overall and two steps of the State Championship podium.

Tina, Deborah and I jumped into the Men's 45+ after that and spent another hour riding in circles!!  All in all, it was a great day and a really fun event.

Next up - Nationals!  I can't believe it's finally here.  I've been training so hard and racing so hard.  Now, I just have to get out there and give it all I've got.  Fingers crossed - and... not to worry... Fluffy Unicorn is coming with me to give you all the play by play!  :)

It's All Paying Off...

While my ultimate goal for this year is to set my feet upon the podium at Nationals, I can honestly say that as of right now, I'm so happy to know that all of the hard work I've put in over the last several months is paying off.  

The last couple of weekends found us racing at the Navy Yard, the Pedricktown Road Race, and the BLP at Greentree.

Things as a team are really coming together and we're solidifying our tactics a little more each time we race as a group.  It's amazing to be on a team with so many women willing to sacrifice themselves for one another.  No one is THE designated rider on this team.  We are all able to do well in races in different ways - some of us can sprint, some of us can ride the break, some of us just diesel engine at the front of the race to pull back dangerous moves or charge toward the finish for our sprinters.  And, I've yet to hear someone say, "I can't" or even unreasonably, "I won't" do that.  Instead, what I hear on a weekly basis is, "What can I do to get us a podium or win today?"  It's awesome.

And, we've been getting podiums and wins!  Which is even more awesome.

Navy Yard was a stacked field and we knew that the finish was going to be tricky as it was a REALLY long sprint.  The Femmes got a rider off the front with one to go.  I went to the front to chase her down and got the peloton within striking distance.  She was able to hold the lead to the line, and we finished strong in 5th and 7th.  Not bad for a tough race that shredded a field of 30 to 17 before the sprint.

Pedricktown was a race for me.  YAY and scary!  I always get most nervous when I think I can get away or (on those VERY rare occasions) win a race.  I never get nervous about leading out my sprinters... I love to watch them fly to the finish!!

With a crew from ABRT and H&H, Pedricktown was destined to be a breakaway day.  And, after a few thwarted attempts, we finally established the break of the day with me, Lauren, and Ainhoa.  I knew that I was outgunned for the sprint, so I tried to make a move late in the race, but to no avail. Still, to stand on the 3rd step alongside those two amazing riders made for an excellent day.

A rainy morning greeted us for the BLP at Greentree.  The field was mostly Cat 3/4 riders, other than Meredith and I, but these gals are no slouches... one has been winning every Cat 4 Time Trial in the Cup series, and I've seen some of the others sprint and know that if it came down to that, we'd definitely have our work cut out for us.  And, you know me... I didn't want it to come down to that.

Meredith and I launched from the line, hoping to get a 2-woman break from the start and just team time trial the 22 laps of the race.  But, it wasn't to be and we were pulled back in in about a lap.  Tactic reset, we decided that we would launch single attacks to wear down the chasers and then try the double attack again.  But, when I launched our first attack, I got a solid gap.  A rider from Houlihan-Lokey came across the space and we worked together for a few laps.  But, I decided to go it alone, and attacked up the small climb to establish a solo break with 14 to go.  I put on my time trial hat and rode steady and hard until I saw the back end of the peloton in front of me!  I'd lapped the field!  WOOT!  

There was some confusion with the officials and the peloton, which caused some riders to miss that they were given the bell with me.  Needless to say, some riders didn't sprint for the finish - leaving us with 1st and 5th on the day.  

I'm just so happy to have brought home two podium finishes in the last two weeks and to get another win at Greentree.  That's the 3rd time that I've won on that course, and I really love racing and training there.  

As always, a HUGE thank you to my amazing Team EPS/CSS p/b Shebell and Shebell ladies for their support and for their belief in what we do each weekend.  And, of course, to our amazing sponsors who make it all possible.  We're lucky to be able to do this each weekend, and we could not do it without them!

Up next - racing with the big girls at the Wilmington Gran Prix!  YIKES!  It's my first pro race of the year.  I'm nervous and excited and ready to rock.  It's a REALLY hard course with a stacked field, so it will be mostly about hanging in and feeling good.  But, I'm ready.  Definitely ready.