Due to unforeseen circumstances - I may or may not have been out too late on the bike -I missed pre-reg for the AVC road race (formerly known as the All American road race). I saw some of my favs were signed up, including two teammates, and decided I would roll out to Poolesville and pay the day-of fee.
The skies were ominous as I rolled out Saturday morning. On the drive up I got a message from one teammate saying she was out - it was storming at her place and loading up in the rain, much less racing in the rain, wasn't on her to-do list. Oh, and by the way, this is a different course than the one I know since I didn't race last year.
Arriving at the race venue I found the Shaggin' Wagon and pulled in to assess the conditions. Dana and I were of the same opinion regarding racing in the rain on this course. As in, not. It was legitimately raining by this point and I was signed off - I could just drive home and call it a day having sacrificed only a little time and gas money. About 20 minutes before start time, the skies cleared. The sun came out. And I cursed as I rushed through registration, setting up the bike, donning the Colavita colors and pinning on a number. That, my friends, was my warm up.
We had a nice field (by current MABRA women's field standards) and I wasn't in great position on the roll out. The infamous yellow-line rule was in effect so I packed my patience as I worked my way up to a better spot. Despite (or maybe because of) my hectic "warm up" I felt pretty good and cleared the Mt. Nebo stretch in decent position even when I audibly said "another one?" on the last bump. Approaching that section on the second lap we were directed to "slow roll" as another field was about to pass. I was surprised how this confused some in the peloton and that a couple girls thought it was the right time to gain position. Not cool.
The next lap was a little more contentious. I think some of us (me included) were getting toasty as the sun was out in full force after a cool morning under clouds. Racers were getting aggressive, fighting for wheels in limited space and coming up on the yellow line to shove their way on a wheel by pushing someone off the wheel into a spot that didn't exist. I admittedly had some words to say when this happened to me - I wasn't a complete jerk but I do tend to be ... less friendly ... when someone risks my safety without so much as a - hey, can I get in? When we organized a pace line of sorts I asked someone to let me in (in front of them) so I could take a pull. I got a smart-ass answer saying I could go to the back of the line. Fun.
Best moment of the race - one of the Mermaid girls was off the front on maybe the 3rd lap. NCVC and ABRT jumped to chase and somehow I hopped on. We had a gap on the field and were gaining on the girl ahead until they decided to stop working. I had one teammate in the field, both of them had at least 3. I muttered we're letting her get away and got a raving earful about how she's not going to be the one to chase, if someone else wanted to, go ahead but it won't be her. Then they looked back at the field that was catching us and shouted for someone else to go chase. There was nothing for me to do but laugh.
The field eventually came through and the pace picked up enough to catch the solo rider. My legs were getting tired on the last lap and I attacked off the back at the 3rd "bump" on Mt. Nebo. I chased the whole back side of the course. At one point I picked up two girls and when I pulled off the front they left me behind. I DEFINITELY was not having that. Sheer obstinance kicked in and I chased harder, picked off the two girls and made contact with the field before the final turn. As the pace picked up for the sprint I gave it all I had to come across 13th. After a good cool down ride with some great ladies I was glad I pinned on that number and stupid happy for what I felt was a good effort all around.
Progress - all progress.
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