The Not So Quicksilver

One of the races I was mostly looking forward to all season, sprung up with surprise. It is June already? Why, yes it is.

How had I not predicted how chaotic my life would certainly become when I laid out my training plan in January? Had I been so cynical to think that I would be resigned to the same old, same old of the last 4 years and have plenty of that thing called time to train accordingly in hopes of tackling the A races I'd so strategically planned out? As it turns out, yes.

Of course, as many of you know, since February, I've taken on 2 new jobs and since March, I'd taken on 2.5 more. Even though my day begins before dawn and finishes early enough to idealistically get in a decent workout, more often than not sleep and whatever food I am able to scrape together from my bachelor(ette) refridgerator wins over.

Anyway, the Quicksilver had long been destined to be my A race. Last year's race was great as I proved my mettle staying with the pack for most, if not all of the race. This year, I knew enough to not expect too much. Again, I had a great start and stayed with the pack for a few laps, until again it broke up. A new tactic developed, born out of laziness and past failed attempts to govern a paceline from the stragglers; I became a wheel suck. I found a wheel, any wheel and just held on until I was able to pull and get myself to the next rider. The wind was something fierce and drafting anything made more sense than going it alone. I wasn't opposed to a paceline formation, but I wasn't going to facilitate it.

My legs felt it this time around. I was strong, but definitely not at my best. Maybe it was the wind. Maybe it was the loss of bike time. Regardless, the bike and I are going to spend some quality time together, no matter what it takes. Until I regain some of the training required to get me back into focus, my goals of the season have shifted a bit. I realize that it wasn't too long ago that it was a fairly common occurence for me to finish in last place (hard to believe, I know). But it's true. And while I could look at my past few races as a rather discouraging display of hard work and effort gone to pot--I am choosing instead to see the silver lining (on behalf of the Quicksilver, no less!). Out of the 8 road races this spring, I have yet to finish last. A small accomplishment, maybe--but promising progress, no doubt.

Finished 16/20.

Boring Baltimore Bike Jam (BBBJ)

On Saturday, May 27 I returned to the Baltimore Bike Jam. After a week seemingly spent on overdrive, I welcomed the opportunity to leave the state, even if it meant bolting after 630a crew practice and putting pedal to the metal in order to meet the 945a start time. A bolt that inevitably required us to return right back around and retrieve my wallet from my car (at least it wasn't on top of the car)! Fortunately, we made great timing and arrived without much ado.

The women's cat 3/4 field was big. The women's pro123 field was rumored at 80 riders. That's huge and with a fast course--anything was possible. I had an incredible start of the line, holding with the pack for about 2 laps, until it just split up. Soon after, a crash off of the second turn (a straight away, no less) divided up the field and left most of us to wind our away around the carnage strewn about the back stretch. I rode with a few pockets of riders, trying to close up on some riders in front.

My legs felt decent despite a week not spent doing more than chasing dogs around a back yard and a few 40 minutes runs. A pretty boring race too, as races go. I was pulled with 4 laps to go. Finished 26 out of 34.