Cadence Time Trial Series #1

After a winter spent on the trainer, maniacally following the color-coded grid of workouts, the first contact my race tires had with pavement was last Sunday at the Cadence Time Trial Series in Lancaster, PA. I knew I had become stronger and fitter during the past 12 weeks, but it is always hard to know how exactly it will translate on race day. The time trial course, though shorter than usual, is hillier than most. I raced on the same course two years ago, where I held my own in first place during the series (not hard to do when you’re the only female competitor)! Anyway, my personal record on the course was 40:38 and I was determined to break it.

My life, these days has evolved into a whirlwind of work and play, starting in the wee hours of the morning as a coach for two local rowing teams in the area. After that, I split my days between two places of employment, only to find myself out on the town catching up with friends and family during the evenings. Such was the case on Friday night. After catching a late showing of Brokeback Mountain (which I highly recommend) with Gretchen, my beloved friend (and PVC teammate), I ventured home around 1 am. Four hours later, I was up packing for the race. Nate and I were on the road by 6am. I awoke only for a pit stop at Big Apple Bagels, my favorite bagel place in Pennsylvania. By 830 am we were on location.

Having not raced on this course or in this series in 2005, it was exciting to witness its growth in the racing community, especially among the women’s fields. My field had expanded considerably with more than 12 women represented. Unlike other time trials, the Cadence series starts racers in order of registration, not by category. Therefore, I found myself eightieth in line to start. As starts go, it wasn’t my best. I was a little slow off the line, for no good reason. However, it didn’t take me long to get into a good position on the aero bars and put the hammer down.

It’s funny how much can change in two years on the bike. I remember the very first time I raced on the course. It was only my second road race ever, and my very first time on the aero bars. I remember how I seemed to ooze painfully around the course—how every mile seemed like a lifetime; how the hills went straight up without mercy. Yet, last Saturday, the course wound along at a pretty good clip and the hills weren’t nearly as painful. Was I improving as a cyclist after all? It’s a step in the right direction.

I finished the course in 10th place among the women, 99th out of 106, but best of all I shattered my personal course record by more then 2 minutes (38:06). A decent start to a very long road season ahead.