How does this work?
I posted Athens report on my blog and don't see it.
I'm such a blog idiot.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Athens Twilight
I've been blog-lazy for some time now. I thought I must write about Athens so I remember my mistakes for next year. Maybe next year, I won't get pulled until I am at least halfway through the race!
Tony was great support at the race. He set up the two pop-up tents at turn two. We got there at around 4 pm to stake out our spot. We shared the corner with Aaron Rents Pro Cycling and a beer garden. We hung our BMW banners and set up our trainers. There were four of our team (BMW-Bianchi) racing in the Womens 1/2/3 race at 7:45 pm... myself, Cara McCauley, Christy Blakely, and Laura Wieslo.
Laura Bowles had given me a 30-45 minute warm-up on the trainer (and a one hour easy spin in early am) with some hard efforts. I should have taken notice when she started warming up more than an hour before our start time. I took the time to mean hop off the trainer at the last minute to be warm at the start...
Mistake #1 -- Getting to the pre-line late. That's right the line before the line on the backside of the course. I've done this race before, how come I didn't remember this line? Apparently, folks had started lining up here at 7:20. I had barely started my warm-up. So I pulled out at 7:35ish to find the entire pack ready.
They called up a few of the riders... Tina Mayolo-Pic was there. Melissa Sanborn from the West Coast. Laura Bowles, my coach, riding for Team Advil-Chapstick. The only time I saw these riders was at the gun and when I was taking photos (that's right) the last half of the race.
Mistake #2 -- Being too polite? In the back at the start. I was behind someone who couldn't get clipped in... I almost ran into her... but really it just blew me off the pack at the gun. I managed to get back on the back of the pack, but it strung out in the first lap and riders started to gap off early. I kept getting behind these gaps, and I just don't have the extra power to keep fighting this without getting completely steamed.
Mistake #3 -- Letting others do my work. I got behind this girl in pink and she gapped off, too. But she looked strong? So I thought I'd just let her work back up. Oh, no! She is letting it go! I was so steamed... I went around... tried to bridge... maintained the speed of the pack but no extra... finally, Cara came around me! Thanks for the pull. My naive self thought that with my teammies help and a pack of chasers we might get back on, or at least not get gobbled up and lapped by the field. Ha ha. We still did. For a moment I saw a flash of Laura Bowles. Then the pack. I can hang on ! Ok, I did for a bit... but I was so steamed from my time-trialing effort it didn't last. I dropped from the pack. Aw no! And the official did the gesture of slicing my neck off... PULLED! I hate that. 26 minutes with 22 laps to go... pulled. Ugh. How many times had I done this race and not finished? I wanted to do it again... I guess next year is my next chance. No instant gratification.
Apparently, Christy had gotten off to a great start... the photos show her in great position in the front! But the pace eventually steamed her, too. Next year, Christy! What a difference this race is from the regional ones we've done! Casey Gale... a new rider who has gotten so competitive so quickly... she was even seen leading the front break... how awe inspiring. She finished the race with the pack... I don't think she realizes what a great accomplishment just finishing this race is. Kudos to Casey.
At least I got to take some fun photos of my fellow racers... got some photos of Laura...easy to spot in her light blue. None of my own teammies were left, either. :( The crowds were thickly lining the course... wow! So exciting. Turns out some other photographer got my photo in my kit taking photos of my own race on the sidelines... and they are on the net... pretty embarrassing. I guess someone will get a laugh, anyway.
The rain held off the entire night, so it was SO much fun hanging out and watching the PRO Men. There were a couple of exciting crashes after turn 2. They managed to avoid crashing in the turn, however. :)
Teammies... I had so much fun hanging with you gals at the race. I love my team. We'll get it on next weekend! Love you gals!
Tony was great support at the race. He set up the two pop-up tents at turn two. We got there at around 4 pm to stake out our spot. We shared the corner with Aaron Rents Pro Cycling and a beer garden. We hung our BMW banners and set up our trainers. There were four of our team (BMW-Bianchi) racing in the Womens 1/2/3 race at 7:45 pm... myself, Cara McCauley, Christy Blakely, and Laura Wieslo.
Laura Bowles had given me a 30-45 minute warm-up on the trainer (and a one hour easy spin in early am) with some hard efforts. I should have taken notice when she started warming up more than an hour before our start time. I took the time to mean hop off the trainer at the last minute to be warm at the start...
Mistake #1 -- Getting to the pre-line late. That's right the line before the line on the backside of the course. I've done this race before, how come I didn't remember this line? Apparently, folks had started lining up here at 7:20. I had barely started my warm-up. So I pulled out at 7:35ish to find the entire pack ready.
They called up a few of the riders... Tina Mayolo-Pic was there. Melissa Sanborn from the West Coast. Laura Bowles, my coach, riding for Team Advil-Chapstick. The only time I saw these riders was at the gun and when I was taking photos (that's right) the last half of the race.
Mistake #2 -- Being too polite? In the back at the start. I was behind someone who couldn't get clipped in... I almost ran into her... but really it just blew me off the pack at the gun. I managed to get back on the back of the pack, but it strung out in the first lap and riders started to gap off early. I kept getting behind these gaps, and I just don't have the extra power to keep fighting this without getting completely steamed.
Mistake #3 -- Letting others do my work. I got behind this girl in pink and she gapped off, too. But she looked strong? So I thought I'd just let her work back up. Oh, no! She is letting it go! I was so steamed... I went around... tried to bridge... maintained the speed of the pack but no extra... finally, Cara came around me! Thanks for the pull. My naive self thought that with my teammies help and a pack of chasers we might get back on, or at least not get gobbled up and lapped by the field. Ha ha. We still did. For a moment I saw a flash of Laura Bowles. Then the pack. I can hang on ! Ok, I did for a bit... but I was so steamed from my time-trialing effort it didn't last. I dropped from the pack. Aw no! And the official did the gesture of slicing my neck off... PULLED! I hate that. 26 minutes with 22 laps to go... pulled. Ugh. How many times had I done this race and not finished? I wanted to do it again... I guess next year is my next chance. No instant gratification.
Apparently, Christy had gotten off to a great start... the photos show her in great position in the front! But the pace eventually steamed her, too. Next year, Christy! What a difference this race is from the regional ones we've done! Casey Gale... a new rider who has gotten so competitive so quickly... she was even seen leading the front break... how awe inspiring. She finished the race with the pack... I don't think she realizes what a great accomplishment just finishing this race is. Kudos to Casey.
At least I got to take some fun photos of my fellow racers... got some photos of Laura...easy to spot in her light blue. None of my own teammies were left, either. :( The crowds were thickly lining the course... wow! So exciting. Turns out some other photographer got my photo in my kit taking photos of my own race on the sidelines... and they are on the net... pretty embarrassing. I guess someone will get a laugh, anyway.
The rain held off the entire night, so it was SO much fun hanging out and watching the PRO Men. There were a couple of exciting crashes after turn 2. They managed to avoid crashing in the turn, however. :)
Teammies... I had so much fun hanging with you gals at the race. I love my team. We'll get it on next weekend! Love you gals!
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