Evan did an awesome job helping us to learn how to read the road and pick a safe/fast line during our preride on Friday. This helped me so much. Thanks Evan! Lesley and I decided where we needed to be together and near the front for the finish. We practiced ramping up the speed before the last turn, taking the last turn together, and where I would start my sprint( at the bottom of a hill!)
On Saturday morning Jennifer and I scraped frost/ice off the car windows with our ID's. It was cold, but warmed up fast when the sun came up. It really got warm when we got on our trainers. I was in a nice sunny spot.
I was really excited to be in a field of 50 riders. Evan, Lesley, Kim, Jeanine and I lined up at the front. I thought the promenade would be fun. Being new to racing, When I hear the word "promenade" I think of the "Promenade Deck" from " The Love Boat" where the people lazily walk or lay around with fancy drinks, checking each other out and looking at the view.
Apparently, a few women forgot to warm up on their trainers, and decided to do some hard efforts during the promenade. The race official on the motor scooter was happy to oblige, and kept up the lead gals pace of about 19.5 mph. It was not like The Love Boat at all. It was clear that the race had unofficially started. I wouldn't be surprised if some racers dropped of the back during this supposedly "neutral" promenade. No drinks with umbrellas for us.
So the race continued to be very fast, except at the corners. The front slowed to about 14 mph before most corners. The people at the front thought this was safer, but those of us who were in the middle of the pack were taken by surprise, especially when the leaders practically sprinted out of each corner. Near the end of the first lap, I heard racers calling out that there was a bottle in the road. I saw it, and pointed it out for those behind me. I curiously looked over my shoulder and saw that my warning was pointless, because there was no one behind me. I was now the last wheel in a group of about 25 remaining riders. I looked forward, and noticed that many of the larger teams had lost a few teamates.
I spent the the next loop and a half trying to stay near the front, but not on it. I did slip back a few more times. At one point the gals at the front were pulling so hard, we were all practically single file, but no real paceline ever formed.
We were flying along, when our group was "neutralized". Apperently there were some guys passing us. I was pleased to have a chance to recover. Other riders commented that it was annoying to have to slow down to let men pass.I was just glad to spend a little time in upper zone 3, hidden from the wind in the middle of the pack.
As we neared the last turn I got a little excited I remembered the finish of My 1st road race in San Ardo, and how I got boxed in, never having a chance to sprint. I thought of Evan, telling us to be patient, but also playful. I really didn't know who the sprinters were, and I figured that the people on the front were exhausted. I thought about how I could let the race happen or make it happen.
I pulled out of my cozy spot in the middle and began moving up the side. We started a slight downhill that led to the last turn. This was the place where Lesley and I had planned to be together for a leadout. Who will be my leadout? I thought.
Rather than picking someone else to be my leadout (as I probably should have) some thing in my gut said "just go". I turned on the gas and flew around the corner. Brains no longer working, I peeked over my shoulder to see who was there, and was suprised to see I had opened up about a 30 yard gap on the field. I thought no one is chasing me, because this attack is ridiculous. There was a headwind and I was alone.
When I finally reached the place where I had originally planned to start my sprint, I looked at my heartrate - it was 188 and I thought I'd die. There is a zone 6 afterall. I realized that I much preferred chasing others than being chased. My wish soon came true as a Metromint rider passed me. I struggled to get on her wheel, and nearly made it when a CRC Hill & Co. rider passed the both of us. I got out of my saddle and gave it my all. I was amazed to see that I was gaining on them, but the road ran out. The "Mintie" beat me by inches, and the winner got us both by a bike length. It was third for me. I
At first I was dissapointed in myself for not sticking to the original plan. I took off way too early. I felt like a kid who knew the stove could burn you, but I had to touch it anyway just to see what it felt like. Ouch! A voice inside my head kept saying. "You're so stupid! You know better." I got tired of saying that to myself, and changed it to "I'm not stupid, I'm just a beginner." I needed to learn this lesson for myself - the hard way. In retrospect, I'm proud that I took the race into my own hands and made something happen at the end, rather than just letting the race happen to me. Thanks again Evan, for believing that I could win the race, and encouraging me to try.
