Wednesday, June 25, 2008
NC State RR Championships, Salisbury, NC
SATURDAY Women 30+ and Under 23 (26 riders): 1 pm start.
HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT. Maybe it was only 91 degrees, but it felt hotter than Philly. Maybe it was the lack of any appreciable ocean breeze in central North Carolina. Our team set up a tent to ready for the race in some shade. There were 7 of us teammies on both days with a couple of different faces on each day.
I wasn't feeling well on Saturday. Very tired from working and not catching up, then nauseated. Our team strategy was too set Cara up for the win. I attempted to work the front a couple of times in the first lap (3 laps to total 41 miles), but I was feeling lousy. I finally threw up at the feed zone and the frappuchino on second round didn't taste so yummy. I decided that I'd better just sit in the back for the ride for the rest of the race. I had contemplated dropping completely, but I am not one to quit a race and the thought of riding by myself in the heat just wasn't appealing. The efforts of the pack weren't many or particularly difficult to stay with. The heat was brutal and I vowed to stay hydrated. I had three water bottles with me with my Motor Tabs (love them!)... one in my back pocket which I struggled to remove at one point. I also took a feed to make 4 total bottles. On the last lap I took in a yummy Carb-boom.
I still felt awful in the heat, but I guess everyone else was too. The last lap was pretty slow. On the final stretch, I was searching for a good wheel. I debated between this Barkley girl that was looking strong and Christina (who is always strong). I decided for the Barkley girl who was looking more determined today. We came out of the back of the field for the final sprint. Some others had started the sprint early and fizzled out while we came through the middle. I think Laura helped us get through, too, but don't remember how. It felt like everyone was standing still. I didn't understand why it felt so easy to move to the front of the line... and then passing Cara... I figured I'd play with her at the line but she didn't take bait so I crossed in front of her (ok, that wasn't the plan). The Hincapie girl won (go figure I always talk myself out of the win)... but then everyone told me she was from Virginia so that I won the Women's 30+ championship jersey.
The only thing I can figure is that I did a great job in hydrating and fueling while resting in the back of the pack most of the race. I usually work in the front of the pack trying to make a break happen or chasing down a break, so this was a different strategy (or lack of) for me. The heat also wore down the field more than any one person or team could do. It also helped to be behind the right person in the end AND not go out too early in the sprint.
After the race, I headed straight to the air conditioning.
SUNDAY Women Open race (18 riders)
1 pm start
Still HOT, but not as stiffling hot.
I felt better today and was hoping to get Cara her win. I worked really hard at the front with teammie Amy. In fact, after the second lap, I got to the feed zone and got dropped from the pack... far enough that if they had seen me back there, I'm sure they would've picked up the pace and I would've never gotten back on. I hid behind cars to avoid this from happening, and finally got back on. No one noticed. I tried a couple more efforts on the front, but I about got dropped again. I backed off with the last half lap. I wasn't so sure I'd make it up that last easy hill with the pack! Then I heard a loud shotgun noise behind us. What was that? I thought maybe someone's tire blew in the heat. Found out later that there was a big crash. Then someone said it was a teammie down. The pack was split. Who was down? Should we go back? No, we were close to the finish line and near cars and help. We flagged down help at the feed zone. The pack felt disorganized and unenthusiastic about the finish... or was this my thoughts racing around. Where was Cara? I knew I had no legs for the finish. Oh well. I did my best and finished behind Amy... 8th? I don't know because I didn't stay around to make sure I got scored (and apparently I didn't get scored). Melissa got up in the top 5.
I fought with the dang car as I felt overheated and lightheaded. Bending over to find the dang key was just too much. Melissa and I headed over in the other BMW to get Cara. The ambulance was already there and Cara was holding her arm and unsure if it was broken. We headed over the the hospital to see what was up with her arm. Fortunately, her arm faired better than her spirits. Nothing that a cold Coke wouldn't fix? :)
HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT. Maybe it was only 91 degrees, but it felt hotter than Philly. Maybe it was the lack of any appreciable ocean breeze in central North Carolina. Our team set up a tent to ready for the race in some shade. There were 7 of us teammies on both days with a couple of different faces on each day.
I wasn't feeling well on Saturday. Very tired from working and not catching up, then nauseated. Our team strategy was too set Cara up for the win. I attempted to work the front a couple of times in the first lap (3 laps to total 41 miles), but I was feeling lousy. I finally threw up at the feed zone and the frappuchino on second round didn't taste so yummy. I decided that I'd better just sit in the back for the ride for the rest of the race. I had contemplated dropping completely, but I am not one to quit a race and the thought of riding by myself in the heat just wasn't appealing. The efforts of the pack weren't many or particularly difficult to stay with. The heat was brutal and I vowed to stay hydrated. I had three water bottles with me with my Motor Tabs (love them!)... one in my back pocket which I struggled to remove at one point. I also took a feed to make 4 total bottles. On the last lap I took in a yummy Carb-boom.
I still felt awful in the heat, but I guess everyone else was too. The last lap was pretty slow. On the final stretch, I was searching for a good wheel. I debated between this Barkley girl that was looking strong and Christina (who is always strong). I decided for the Barkley girl who was looking more determined today. We came out of the back of the field for the final sprint. Some others had started the sprint early and fizzled out while we came through the middle. I think Laura helped us get through, too, but don't remember how. It felt like everyone was standing still. I didn't understand why it felt so easy to move to the front of the line... and then passing Cara... I figured I'd play with her at the line but she didn't take bait so I crossed in front of her (ok, that wasn't the plan). The Hincapie girl won (go figure I always talk myself out of the win)... but then everyone told me she was from Virginia so that I won the Women's 30+ championship jersey.
The only thing I can figure is that I did a great job in hydrating and fueling while resting in the back of the pack most of the race. I usually work in the front of the pack trying to make a break happen or chasing down a break, so this was a different strategy (or lack of) for me. The heat also wore down the field more than any one person or team could do. It also helped to be behind the right person in the end AND not go out too early in the sprint.
After the race, I headed straight to the air conditioning.
SUNDAY Women Open race (18 riders)
1 pm start
Still HOT, but not as stiffling hot.
I felt better today and was hoping to get Cara her win. I worked really hard at the front with teammie Amy. In fact, after the second lap, I got to the feed zone and got dropped from the pack... far enough that if they had seen me back there, I'm sure they would've picked up the pace and I would've never gotten back on. I hid behind cars to avoid this from happening, and finally got back on. No one noticed. I tried a couple more efforts on the front, but I about got dropped again. I backed off with the last half lap. I wasn't so sure I'd make it up that last easy hill with the pack! Then I heard a loud shotgun noise behind us. What was that? I thought maybe someone's tire blew in the heat. Found out later that there was a big crash. Then someone said it was a teammie down. The pack was split. Who was down? Should we go back? No, we were close to the finish line and near cars and help. We flagged down help at the feed zone. The pack felt disorganized and unenthusiastic about the finish... or was this my thoughts racing around. Where was Cara? I knew I had no legs for the finish. Oh well. I did my best and finished behind Amy... 8th? I don't know because I didn't stay around to make sure I got scored (and apparently I didn't get scored). Melissa got up in the top 5.
I fought with the dang car as I felt overheated and lightheaded. Bending over to find the dang key was just too much. Melissa and I headed over in the other BMW to get Cara. The ambulance was already there and Cara was holding her arm and unsure if it was broken. We headed over the the hospital to see what was up with her arm. Fortunately, her arm faired better than her spirits. Nothing that a cold Coke wouldn't fix? :)
Hot Philadelphia and "The Wall"
I suppose I should at least write a little about the Philly experience since it was a memorable one.
Cara and I drove the BMW up for the 8+ hour trip. We spent the night at her aunt's near Hershey, PA (go chocolate!).
We stayed at the Embassy Suites in downtown Philly, just a couple blocks from the finish line of the race. We had an 18 story view of City Hall which I enjoyed one evening while talking with my Mom on the cell. Even at night, it was hot in Philly.
There is a 16 mile path that goes to Valley Forge. Only half of it is paved, however. It follows the river and under some historic bridges (such as the Columbia).
We pre-rode the race course as much as possible... the "Wall" on Levering Street and Lemon Hill. Is the "Wall" really 20%? I could believe that it is in one section. This hill was much longer and steeper than I had imagined, yet it was doable. The only problem is that I had only one speed up the hill which was the same speed on our pre-ride as on race day. Yes, the pack quickly pulled away from me during the race on this hill. Hmmm... maybe I should've been training on Kitchen's Branch this year instead of so much flat River Road. Even the hill on Dicks Creek would've been better training... the one I would avoid by turning around before reaching the hill on training rides.
Could I have stayed with the pack if I had trained more on hills (and not gone to Spain the week before)? Hmmm... not sure... these women were all bone and muscle... not an ounce of fat. Looked like men unless you looked close (did I register for the right event?). I'd have to lose some of this extra paddling to compete with that. Oh, and maybe not work full time nights, either. Ha ha. Race full time? Is there any other way? Who knows.
I actually enjoyed riding in a pack of 200 women for those first 7 miles. I played the game of jockeying for position to the front. Was successful until we started to climb... then my heart rate made a big leap from fairly comfortable to big effort. The pace seemed to pick up here, too, which sank my confidence going into the "Wall". All my teammies passed me on the hill, too. And for a moment, I thought that maybe this was an ok pace because I'd catch the pack on the downhill and not be blown out. Ok, I never saw anyone again. Didn't work out that way (poor strategy). I managed to ride with a girl until we got pulled after the second lap (yea for riding 30 miles and twice the "Wall"). She had crashed herself early on before the climb.
The second lap was blazing hot... I ran through my water and had a difficult time getting a water feed... no one wanted to feed me since I was off the back. I finally discovered a bottle. Will have to scope the feed zone better next time. Apparently, the temperature had gotten to 98 degrees and over 110 on the pavement. It was humid and sweat poured off my brow. I unzipped my jersey wide open. The only thing worse would've had to be a cop marshaling the course in their hot black uniform, not being able to move out of the sun. No wonder they weren't smiling.
I watched and took photos of the women's finish and some of the men. The whole racing scene was big and exciting. Impossible to describe.
Before the men's race was over, I wandered about trying to find some food and cold drink (I was starving). It was Sunday, so not much was open. I found Starbucks and a cold frappuchino while running into someone who pointed me to some real food choices... the 12th St Market. It wasn't a long walk and inside it was air conditioned. There were so many choices from Philly Cheese Steaks and falafel to the crepes that I enjoyed. And, of course, there was candy, smoothies, and other treats. The only thing missing was someone to share the experience with. :(
I used my stair conditioning from Spain and climbed the stairs twice to our 18th level room. It didn't take much longer than the elevator because the elevator often had a long wait. 18 stories did feel much harder than the 6 I'd been climbing in Spain. Definite quad burner.
Cara and I drove the BMW up for the 8+ hour trip. We spent the night at her aunt's near Hershey, PA (go chocolate!).
We stayed at the Embassy Suites in downtown Philly, just a couple blocks from the finish line of the race. We had an 18 story view of City Hall which I enjoyed one evening while talking with my Mom on the cell. Even at night, it was hot in Philly.
There is a 16 mile path that goes to Valley Forge. Only half of it is paved, however. It follows the river and under some historic bridges (such as the Columbia).
We pre-rode the race course as much as possible... the "Wall" on Levering Street and Lemon Hill. Is the "Wall" really 20%? I could believe that it is in one section. This hill was much longer and steeper than I had imagined, yet it was doable. The only problem is that I had only one speed up the hill which was the same speed on our pre-ride as on race day. Yes, the pack quickly pulled away from me during the race on this hill. Hmmm... maybe I should've been training on Kitchen's Branch this year instead of so much flat River Road. Even the hill on Dicks Creek would've been better training... the one I would avoid by turning around before reaching the hill on training rides.
Could I have stayed with the pack if I had trained more on hills (and not gone to Spain the week before)? Hmmm... not sure... these women were all bone and muscle... not an ounce of fat. Looked like men unless you looked close (did I register for the right event?). I'd have to lose some of this extra paddling to compete with that. Oh, and maybe not work full time nights, either. Ha ha. Race full time? Is there any other way? Who knows.
I actually enjoyed riding in a pack of 200 women for those first 7 miles. I played the game of jockeying for position to the front. Was successful until we started to climb... then my heart rate made a big leap from fairly comfortable to big effort. The pace seemed to pick up here, too, which sank my confidence going into the "Wall". All my teammies passed me on the hill, too. And for a moment, I thought that maybe this was an ok pace because I'd catch the pack on the downhill and not be blown out. Ok, I never saw anyone again. Didn't work out that way (poor strategy). I managed to ride with a girl until we got pulled after the second lap (yea for riding 30 miles and twice the "Wall"). She had crashed herself early on before the climb.
The second lap was blazing hot... I ran through my water and had a difficult time getting a water feed... no one wanted to feed me since I was off the back. I finally discovered a bottle. Will have to scope the feed zone better next time. Apparently, the temperature had gotten to 98 degrees and over 110 on the pavement. It was humid and sweat poured off my brow. I unzipped my jersey wide open. The only thing worse would've had to be a cop marshaling the course in their hot black uniform, not being able to move out of the sun. No wonder they weren't smiling.
I watched and took photos of the women's finish and some of the men. The whole racing scene was big and exciting. Impossible to describe.
Before the men's race was over, I wandered about trying to find some food and cold drink (I was starving). It was Sunday, so not much was open. I found Starbucks and a cold frappuchino while running into someone who pointed me to some real food choices... the 12th St Market. It wasn't a long walk and inside it was air conditioned. There were so many choices from Philly Cheese Steaks and falafel to the crepes that I enjoyed. And, of course, there was candy, smoothies, and other treats. The only thing missing was someone to share the experience with. :(
I used my stair conditioning from Spain and climbed the stairs twice to our 18th level room. It didn't take much longer than the elevator because the elevator often had a long wait. 18 stories did feel much harder than the 6 I'd been climbing in Spain. Definite quad burner.
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