Monday, monday

For my CSC race in a picture, click here. My race report to my coach included the following:

never got off the line as girls in front of me crashed out. Went to the pit and got pushed into the race. Was in ok position for a few laps but drifted back, couldn't regain position. Gapped off by (unnamed rider), i knew i shouldn't be on her wheel. Worked in a group until the peloton lapped us, then worked in for a few laps. Started yo-yo-ing off the back again and pulled myself. was disheartened about who was in the peloton, but found out later most of them were lapped, and I was actually in a decent spot if I hadn't talked myself out of the race.

I have decided that my fitness is finally where it was pre-2007-training-issues, but my mental status has yet to fully recover. Dammit. My fault, no doubt, so not pointing any blame. Just stating the facts.

Saturday's Murad race was a bit better .... we were lucky as the Rain Gods smiled upon the women yet again and we managed to finish out the day staying dry. We started out with a semi-stacked field - local strong-women matched up against some girls from Advil and Hub (in town for the Big-Girl-Race on Sunday). Team CycleLife brought 4riders to the line.. Most of the race was tame, with a couple of breaks going off and being reeled back in. At one point, a break of about 8 riders went up the road and CycleLife was not in it. Sara and I moved back and forth across the road looking for an opening to chase, but we were on Partnership Road, which had a yellow line, which Stephan was vigorously enforcing. Advil, Hub and HPC were actively spread across the road, blocking. Side note: At what point does that strategy become negative racing? In my book, physically blocking the entire road is just wrong - go with the moves, screw up the paceline, chase back chasers ... but to physically block ? Not cool. Even when my team made up half the field (last year), we NEVER physically blocked. Anyway.

Making the last turn into the hill, the physical blocking finally broke up and off we went. The race was back together with 2 laps to go. Melanie and Sara did a great job patrolling the front the entire race, Leslie stayed really smart and didn't waste any energy (she did make an amazing bridge to a move earlier in the race, but that was brought back). The skies got a little dark and I swear I saw lightning in the distance - on Partnership road on the 4th of 5 laps, we were informed that we were finishing on this lap. This changes EVERYTHING. The pace picked up, people started jockeying for position. Leslie was in a good spot and I tried to let her know there was a good leadout train to her right ... Sara tried to get on Leslie's wheel but got boxed out. We made the final turn onto River in a fury - everyone stood up to go, but there was still 1k left ... stand up, sprint, sit down. Leslie yelled at me to go but I was stuck on an Advil wheel (that apparently wasnt going to sprint). Thankfully, Leslie went on another wheel and sprinted for what seemed like FOREVER. For the first time this year, I actually jockeyed for a sprint - only to be shut down as (unnamed riders) swerved into each other, almost taking each other out and shutting down my line. Leslie, meanwhile, was still sprinting and took the win for Team CycleLife. I found another line and restarted - again - to wind up right next to Melanie and just ahead of Sara for the finish. All four of us were in the top 10 in the semi-stacked field, which made for a good day for everyone. I was 6th in the 1/2s, Melanie and Sara were 2nd and 3rd, respectively, in the 3s. Nice.