Hagerstown Challenge

So there was an impetetus behind this weekend's race. A well-admired former high school history teacher of mine teaches at a private school outside of Hagerstown. Now that I also work at a private school, we've reconnected (our schools are athletic rivals). I'd let him know late in the week that I may be in his area for a race on Saturday. It's been several years since I've seen him, although we kept in touch while I was in college, I gave myself the goal of racing so that I might have the opportunity to visit with him.

Keep in mind, after completing (barely) the Fitchburg Longsjo stage race a week ago, I was facing the so-called wall and lacking some motivation to get back on the bike. However, it's my favorite time of year--the Tour de France is on 24-7 in my house, on my pc, on my phone. If those guys can do what they do so well, I can get my ass on a bike and race for 45 minutes. So I drove up to H-town and zipped around the course. It was a combined 3/4 field, something I am getting used to. I was encouraged by the results of the Bryan Park Circuit Race from a few weeks before, so I wasn't dreading the race--I just wanted it to be over.

The course had some peculiar corners and some interesting lines to say the least. The first few laps went pretty well and I remained with the pack. A small group fell off the back soon after and we worked together as best we could. Despite a good warmup, it took my legs several laps to get into the zone and it didn't last too long. I rode strong, averaging 20 mph, but my legs were tired. I followed the chase group, about 10-15 seconds behind them. I was working hard, so it didn't bother me too much.

Alas, a last place finish, but at least it was over. I am a little discouraged, as I was trying to make it a season of no last places, but so far I've got a 10-3 record. And the season isn't over yet. This coming weekend it's the Cobblestone Crit and the VA State TT Championships. That will satisfy my 15 race requirement, but my road season lasts until mid-september with a few more races lined up before I seque to cross! I can only hope that all this road racing is preparing me mentally and physically for another go at the A races in the fall.

Enough already, right? How was the history teacher, you wonder? Just as I remembered him--only a little older and greyer, but as charming, captivating and entertaining as always!

Fitchburg Longsjo Day 3

July 1, 2006

Today was the hardest race I've ever done. But before I begin my tale, I would like to report that I didn't come in last in yesterday's circuit race. As dumb luck would have it, I came in 60th (out of 78) and my rank in the GC
was 73rd at the end of Day 2.

Today, however, I am sure that I am right back at the bottom. At 9am Cat 4 men, Juniors, Men 35+ and Womens 3/4 set off on a road race up/down Mt Wachusett. Women 3/4 was racing 4 laps of a 11.4 mile course. It began downhill and wound along a nice rolling 5 miles. Then it was all uphill. a nice steep climb separated the men from the boys, so to speak, right away. I slipped to the back of the pack and then slipped away completely. But that was not unexpected. After climbing the hill we rounded the corner onto another off-cambor hill that gave way to a neutral feed zone and some flatter, welcomed terrain. Back at the top of the mountain I descended until the 1km King of the Mountains then tucked myself into a nice aero position that sped me 40 mph down the mountain and back around again.

My legs felt very strong and were very helpful in leading me up and down mountains all day. Four laps later, as I came back to the top of the mountain, the course lead me into the state park where a 2 mile ascent from hell awaited me. This was the only part of the course that I had not been able to drive, as it was a service road only accessible to state park officials. it proved itself to be the most treacherous soul-sucking experience of my life. The finish line was up there somewhere, but not close enough. As I slowly climbed (my road bike is blessed with a triple ring and I ran out of gears on this climb), I couldn't believe how I'd make it up to the summit. however, I did--with great support from other competitors and spectators alike. Without them, I might be still on that hill!

So I finished 46 miles in 3 hours 18 minutes. I don't think I made the cut to compete in tomorrow's final stage--a criterium. The women's winner completed the course in 2 hours 33 minutes. However it doesn't really matter as I had already planned to leave on vacation to the Hamptons! But, if it turns out that I did qualify, I might think about staying around, just to say I did it all! Regardless, this was a fantastic race with great planning and fabulous, friendly roadies from all over. I might just do it again next year!!

Thank you all for your wonderful words of support--It helped more than you know!

Fitchburg Longsjo Stage Race Day 1 & 2

June 29-30, 2006

As many of you know, I've been in Massachusetts since Monday. Planning back in March for a conference in June in Boston, a quick Bikereg.com search revealed the 4-day stage race known as Fitchburg Longsjo. Longsjo was an athlete from Fitchburg, MA (where the race is held) who was the first athlete to compete in both the summer (cycling) and winter olympics (speedskating) in the same year! The Fitchburg Lonsjo has been won by Lemond, Phinney, Armstrong and Hamilton in years past, letting the race promote itself as the race that paves the way to France! Listening to the latest news, perhaps this is the race that leads you to controversy, as wel!

Anyway, the race started on Thursday morning with a time trial/prologue. A short 6.2 mile course of gradual inclines that ends a quarter up the way of Mt. Wachusett. There was no hold at the start and I was immediately faced with a head wind and an immediate incline. I think the race bible indicated that we would climb 500 ft over 6.2 miles.

Despite a good warm-up, hydrate, etc. I didn't find my legs until it was too late. I also didn't want to spend too much shifting and lose my place in the aero bars, so I messed up strategically by staying too long in my middle ring before the imminent climb at the end. My time was good for me at 22:16 but put me in 82nd place (read: DFL).

Day two was a circuit race around the campus of Fitchburg State College. A 3.2 mile course that women 3/4 would have to ride 7 times. My dad accompanied me to the race (it would be the first time he'd see me race)! I warned him this is where that unconditional love would come in handy, as I couldn't promise a great race! I stayed in the middle of the pack on the first lap where the top 10 in the GC lead us around comfortably. The pack blew up, or rather my place in the pack blew up shortly after rounding the final corner of the course: a rather intense climb. I fell to the back trying to stay on the others that also fell off the pack. However, soon
enough I found myself riding solo. However, I kept a good tempo and worked on my cadence. After the hill, the course was great will fast corners that helped give a much needed push. Each time I climbed the hill well, just not fast! The Men's 35+ race started a minute in front of us and they lapped me twice, but I was comforted by the cat 35+ stragglers that rode beside me. I was intent on keeping the women's peloton from lapping me, as I knew I was facing the chance of elimination from the next day's event if I didn't stay within 20% of the leaders time. The more laps I did, the better I got at climbing. My legs felt reasonably good. The women's field caught me on the last lap. My dad said I was never more than 5 minutes behind them, so I'll see if I am allowed to start tomorrow morning.

On one hand I want to qualify for tomorrow's race, even if I have finished last in last two day's events, just to continue my progress in this classic race. On the other hand, tomorrow's road race has us climbing Mt. Wachusett, a local mountain whose slopes keep skiers active in the winter. The women's field only needs to do 4 laps of this mountainous route, however the means we get to come downhill 4 times as well!! I'll keep you posted!

The GC for today's race hasn't been posted yet--but considering one of the cyclists in the top 10 didn't show up for today's race, I have moved up in the rankings by one. If others dropped out of the race or didn't finish today, I could possibly move into a high 70th ranking!! I love advantage as the misfortune of others (Just kidding--well, sort of!)

How do I feel about being DFL? I'm taking in it stride. The races have been fun and have gone well on a personal level. As some have said, It's just an honor to participate!

Bryan Park's Circuit Race

What better way to beat the 90-degree heat on an almost summer's day than to ride around in circles? Sounded good to me--so that what I decided to do on June 18 in Richmond, VA. I drove down from Alexandria and Nate drove up from his posh military set up in Hampton, VA.

The women's categories 1-4 would be racing together, although they'd be scoring Women Cat 4 separately. It was a fun course with grand turns and very accomodating gradual inclines that favored my legs. Some of the course featured nice shady stretches--a great way to avoid the sweltering, dry heat that awaited us at the beginning of the course.

This was a great race as I kept with the pack for a record 4 laps. It was fabulous and it gave me great encouragement. Though I finally lost contact with the main field, I was a chase field of one between them and another pack of women. For the first time ever in my crit racing experience, I lapped a cyclist (twice!), and yet kept the peloton off of me until the very last lap. I didn't know it at the time but the group of women chasing after me were Cat 3 cyclists. I finished 5th out of 7 in my category. I was very pleased--however these are the unofficial results, as I never went back to the start to check results.

After I finished, I went back to the car to deal with my dehydration and then sat at the bottom of the hill to cheer Nate on. Had I checked the results I would have noticed that they left me off of the results. However, I didn't notice until days letter when results were posted online. They couldn't change the official results, as it was well after the 15 minute protest period and so the race promoter agreed to change the unofficial results. I am a little peeved that they left me off the initial results and a little annoyed that they failed to acknowledge their mistake officially. I think most racers take it for granted that they will accounted for, at the very least for showing up.

Regardless, it was a great race, one of my best for the season and very encouraging-- considering the races I had lined up in the days to come!!