Muddy Monroe to Muddy...LA?

If you have been keeping up with me on my blog you must know how much I love my local scene.  My local team, my local competitors, everything about them I love and miss.  I love walking around saying hello to everyone, knowing my competitors and knowing how much love everyone shares for each other, so I had to race the final race of the Seattle Series, as a bonus the weather promised mud (and mud was delivered).

The race was fantastically wonderful, the course rode really well, super smooth, no choppy weird corners, the steep decent was actually rideable this year, and there was a HUGE mud puddle plus some slippery corners.  The sand high way was in fact a high way, not a power zapping slog (like usual).  I got into a groove, and just rode my little heart out with a huge smile on my face the whole time.  I love my local scene, and because of this I have learned a few lessons along the way at the uh..not local scene.  

CXLA Cross After Dark Finale

In order to feel comfortable you need to know people, you need to talk to people and be friendly.  Don't be shy, when you meet someone, say hello when you see them again.  Running around the country racing sure isn't the local scene, but it is what you make it.  Sure these women aren't my local friends but they can be my traveling friends, they can be the ones I look forward to seeing when I travel, they can be the ones who congratulate you when you do well, and they can be the ones to push you beyond what you knew you could do.  I am thankful for my national competitors, I am thankful for their smiles, their energy, their hard work, their enthusiasm for the sport.  I am thankful for those I have met a long the way, for those that have helped me get through my races with confidence, for those who have helped me when I didn't know where to turn for help, or when I had no one.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be where I am today.

The weekend before Bend I chose to head down to sunny LA...excuse me, rainy La, for the finale of the CX in the Dark series.  Looking back at it, I shouldn't have gone, but I'm glad I did, because every weekend I learn something new.  The trip was quick, fly out of Bellingham at 5am Saturday, fly back into Seattle at 10pm SUnday.  The trip left me exhuasted all week long and straight into the trip to Bend.  The positives of LA:

I was able to visit my friend Marielle who I haven't seen since she moved, I scored a few more UCI points, it was muddy, I met some awesome people.  I showed up to the race on Saturday with my bikes still packed in their bike box and my luggage trailing behind me.  Thank goodness for Downtown LA Bicycles, they built my bikes for me and acted as my support for the weekend, I truly don't beleive I could have gotten through the weekend with them.  It was also nice to have some local help from Bellingham Promoter and friend Ryan Rickerts, who pitted for me Saturday night and cheered loudly all race long.

On Sunday my dad's friend and wife came out and cheered LOUDLY so I could hear!  It was fantastic.      After the race, I cleaned myself up (kind of), packed my bags, had the kindness of my lovely Downtown LA Bicycles support crew pack my bikes up for me, and away I went with my dad's friend.      They where SO kind they even let me shower at their home!  I would say the highlight of the weekend was driving by my Grandparents old home in San Marino, CA.  SOOOOO many memories in that home, it was such a treat to see it again.  Oh yea, I had a 7th and 8th place finish for the weekend.  Not too bad, considering the field was full of fast ladies.

Once again a large shout out to Dorothy Wong for putting on a fantastic race.  The course was awesome, full of fun features, and she even delivered rain and MUD!  I can't wait to attend next years UCI races in LA.

Thank you SCX for putting together a lovely local series, I am proud to say I am a part of (when I was home) the local scene.  I know every weekend you guys work hard to pull together some fantastic races and AWESOME courses.  Thank You!

My Tour of the Midwest Part 2: Iowa City Jingle Cross Rock

No matter what happens between now and 1 year from now, this race will be on my calendar.

It all started Friday morning.  I packed up my bags and was picked up in the great big van and we drove to Iowa City where I continued on my Gypsy Rein.  I was a little worried about driving for 5 hours in the car before my race, so I made sure to ride around a lot and get a good warm up in (it was also quite cold once the sun set).  

All it took was 1 lap around the race course and I knew I could do "well" (Courtenay well, everyones definition of well is different).  The Friday night course was under the lights and had this awesomely long and steep run up, with a blazing fast decent to the bottom.  Then the rest of the course was prety flat with lots of turns and with the exception of one short steep up to an off camber then another short bumpy fast decent.

We lined up under the lights and then the race began.  I had a fairly decent start and then passed more people once I arrived at the run up. The last couple of laps I found myself in a group of really strong women, and for some reason I was having a very difficult time turning my bicycle in a particular section of turns (which it wasn't until the 3rd race that I actually figured those darn turns out)!  The group ended up falling apart and I finished 6th.  Friday night was ladies night, so it was the big payout night.  Not too shabby to get handed a check for $425 (the most money I will ever make in 40 minutes).  

The following day we were in for a good technical decent.  This time, instead of running up the hill they made it so we could ride our bikes up the hill (what a concept right?  I prefer the running part though).   At the top of this steep climb was a just as steep (or perhaps steeper) technical, switch back, off camber decent.  Did I mention it was bumpy?  After a good tough battle (for 40 minutes) of me sucking at those turns (once again) I ended up 8th.  I was pleased with 8th.

Friday night mount under the lights

Sunday the course made a change for...the better?  The climb was now half a run up and half a ride up (or if you have real strong legs and a smaller gear than a 25 the whole thing was a ride up).  I chose to run half the hill and ride the other half.  I did end up passing quite a few girls by choosing to run it, because there comes a point where you just can't pedal anymore and they would bobble.  I think my technique worked well.  The first lap I found myself in a group and then solo chasing a group in front of me.  The wind...oh the wind!  I wish it wasn't windy.  The group in front of me was able to work together and every lap they put a few seconds on me and stayed in no mans land for the entire race, not losing ground to the women behind me, but certainly not making up ground to the women in front of me.  This time I finished 7th.

A 6th, 7th, and 8th place finish for the weekend.  I'm pretty happy with that.  I will be back next year, because this course and race was by the far one of the most fun I have had at a cross race in a long time.  Thank you to the promoters for putting together such fantastic-ness and for letting me call, email, and text you to get into registration when I had a brain F@rt and forgot to register.

The following day (Monday) I was in for a long travel day.  Out of Cedar Rapids, into the Chicago, then to Seattle, then the drive back to beautiful Bellingham.  Thank you to my husband Chris for picking me up every weekend.  I love you!

My Tour of the Midwest Part 1: I felt like a train wreck

Let me tell you what it feels like to be a train wreck.

It all started in Louisville, KY.  I don't know what happened, but somewhere between Seattle and Louisville I lost my confidence.  Maybe I should have gone home to pick it up.  My time in Louisville was great, I had great company, stayed in this incredible mansion, and ate amazing home cooked food.

Enough of that.

I don't need to tell you how my races at the USGP went.  They didn't go well.  I was a head case and a cluster F***.  I couldn't ride my bike in the sand, I couldn't run, and I couldn't find my confidence.  Saturday was terrible, I literally felt like I was scooped up, chewed, and then spit back out to deal with the mess.  I thought Sunday would go better, but then my mental health got the best of me, I broke down and became a head case.  Crashed in the sand...on my bike, not sure how that happens, lost a place and lots of seconds.   Then I slipped on the stair case, broke my shoe, lost a place and lots of seconds.  Broke my shoe, the first thing that came to mind was "can I quit".  I didn't quit, even though I so badly wanted to.  I finished, had a mini panic attack by myself, had a full on crying session with someone else, and then tried to re-group.

Needless to say, when it was time to leave, I couldn't have been more excited.  So, I piled into a car with 3 other people and we drove to Sheboygan, WI.  Look it up on a map if you don't know where it is.  I was excited to literally sit around and not do anything for the week, to let my body and mind rest a little after the train wreck of a weekend.

Monday I slept in, well I think I literally slept all day.  It's amazing how travel, racing, and mental craziness can cause you to be so tired!  That evening I had my first experience in a Piggly Wiggly (I don't really want to go back), there is no Organic Section.  This made me miss my home town with home grown organic deliciousness and buy local stickers everywhere.  The week ended up being quite relaxing, ate a lot, rode around Sheboygan, checked out Lake Michigan, slept, played iPad games, and then the week made a turn for the "worse".  I was too relaxed, I forgot to register for the races in Iowa the following weekend (and my sunglasses fell out of my helmet and were hit by a car).  Train Wreck.  I wasn't sure if this was a sign that I shouldn't race that I should just fly home.

After talking to my ever relaxing husband on the phone, a phone call to the race promoter, and lots of breathing, we figured it out and I was set to race.  So Friday morning I was piled back into the large van and we drove to Iowa City for some bike racing!

Cracked

Cracked.

That's all I have to say about the USGP in Louisville.  

I cracked.  Better luck next time.

Success - Courtenay's Dictionary

Success.

Everyone defines success differently (in terms of racing).  Success to one person might be winning a race, achieving a PR, finishing a head of a nemesis, making the podium, or not finishing last.  I have reached the point in my racing endeavor that success to me is no longer winning.  

Enumclaw.  SCX #5.

Dennis Crane Photography

One of my top favorite local courses I have ever raced (that and Woodland Park).  I had been looking forward to Enumclaw since the start of the season.  Enumclaw means mud, a nasty run up, a sweet decent, and a HUGE smile on my face.  Last year after this race I remembered why I race cross, why I have such a love hate relationship with rain and cold and last year was successful.  Enumclaw defines the reasons why cyclocross is fun (some may beg to differ).  So, to say the least, I was EXCITED to race this course, I made sure I was home and not traveling around.  Un-successful describes my race.  To an every day spectator and reader you may wonder "un-successful, but you won".  Who cares that I won?  I don't (okay of course I do a little bit, but that's besides the point).  


Success to me:

A successful race to me means smooth cornering, getting into a groove, becoming "one" with the course (that's total hokey I know), no fumbling around, no slipping and falling on your @$$ (or face).  Success to me is having fun.  All of those words I used to describe a successful race make it fun.  Fun is smiling through the mud that is caked in your teeth and flinging into your eye balls.  Fun is leg cramping run ups with an equally awesome decent, fun is getting into such an awesome groove that you don't want the race to end.  Fun is success and success is fun.  

None of this happened last Sunday.  I learned a lot (like I do every race).  I don't have to be racing at the national level to learn that the tires I have are not mud tires.  I'm still so new to this sport that I don't know anything.  I finished the race in first, but I don't feel like I won.  I couldn't get into a groove, I couldn't corner to save my life, and I crashed in the most silliest places.  WTH.  My bike wouldn't go in a straight line, no matter how hard I tried to get it there, I finally figured out I had to slow down to negative miles per hour in order to corner.  I couldn't accelerate out of the corner until my bike was facing forward, or else I crashed.  It was embarrassing to say the least.  I crashed 3 times.  3 times.  3 times.  That's not fun.  Okay, 1 of those times my hand slipped off the bars on the bumpy decent and I hit the ground HARD.  I went over my bars…in a cross race.  WTH.  This is NOT success.  So let me tell you and everyone else out there.  I may have won the race, but I didn't deserve the win.  I don't even know how I won.  I had an embarrassing showing of my performance and I didn't have fun.  I finished the race disappointed and honestly…I wanted to cry.  I tried hard to hold it in, but I just couldn't put on the "happy" face.  I'm sorry.  I'm sorry to those who had to deal with me, I'm sorry to those who had to witness my lack of amazing performance.  I'm sorry to the 2 men who got caught up behind me (and thankful that they didn't hit me) when I endoed.  I'm sorry to the man who I tried to pass in an un-passable area and made us both fumble.  I'm sorry it looked like I was learning to ride a bike again.  

From Sprinker.  The embarrassment of the giant hole.
Thank you Chris and Mel!

On a positive note, I'm glad this happened at a local race and not a national race.  Now I know which tubulars are mud tires and which ones aren't.  I'm learning.  

I am also very thankful for Redline Bicycles.  They have offered a Co-Sponsorship for me for the rest of the season.  What does this mean to me?  This means a "B"  bike, pit help, wheels, a place to warm up at the national races (and a team), this means help.  Help, boy do I need it.  The last 1/8 of the last lap at Enumclaw I pitted for a new bike with actual mud tires (the lap before I came through complaining about how much the tires where sucking).  I was able to handle my bike, it went straight, and I could corner at speed.  Wow, what a difference mud tires make in your performance.  Thank you to Redline Bicycles for that extra help.  I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.  

I'm currently headed to the USGP in Louisville, KY, then heading to Sheboygan, WI for the week, then over to Coralville, IA for 3 days of racing this Jingle Cross Rock.  Which to be honest..I'm a little nervous for!  I hear lots of mud, a huge run up, and a scary decent.  Okay…maybe that's everything I really enjoy?

Can you ride a bike in heels?

Wedding Day

I just had to post this picture to honor my husband.  I think this picture says a lot about the two of us.  First off, it's been just over 1 month since we tied the knot, that's about 4 weeks (4 weekends too).  I have been home for 2 of those weekends.  That means, we have hardly seen each other.  Look how supportive he is.  When I can't pedal the bike because my dress is long and white and I have bright fuchsia colored heels on, I know I can count on my husband.  Okay, not only is he reliable but he helps lead me in the right direction, look at how excited he is to steer us towards the right path in life.  He is always the one to work hard (after all he is pedaling the bike) and I'm the one who gets to sit and enjoy the ride of my life.

Why don't I tell you about my enjoyable life.  I flew to LA Friday morning of the 20th to race my bike (what's new).  A smaller UCI race, means an easier way to get lots of UCI points.  The race was "Spooky Kross" and "Krosstober fest".  The races where freakishly fantastic (at the LA County Fairgrounds in Pomona, CA).  The course (same for each day) started out on a fast pavement incline with a swooping right hander onto an even faster horse track (yes the place where horses race).  We then rode real fast on the horse track before taking a left hander onto some rocky somewhat loose dirt, up some stairs, down a hill into a shaarrrp 180 degree turn, into some berms, under the fly over, through some sand, and onto the grass.  Once in the grass you wove in and out through turns, sprinted on the straight-a-ways and then you where back on a short section of the race track, went behind the track past some barns and then back onto the super fast and wide open track, where you then took a slow loose left hander back on the grass.  Once on the grass you did some more turning, accelerating, and this time leaping (over the barriers).  Once you filed you way through the grass we found ourselves accelerating up onto an awesomely steep fly over, onto a table top straight into a berm, onto another table top, to another berm, to another berm (large berms) and then a BMX pump track, around a turn, over a blip, onto the race track, make a turn and back through the finish area to do some more laps.  Whew that was a mouthful.  Say that really fast, and that's how fast the race was.

I had one thought in my head, and it was "be smart".  Looking back at the race, of course there are things I would change, but it's all a part of the learning experience, and when I'm the one teaching myself, sometimes it just takes a little bit longer.

Saturday night podium

The first day was a night race under the lights, and it was blazing fast, before I knew it, I found myself in front group of 4.  I started realizing how awesome I felt, how it felt so good to not be racing at elevation...I could breath.  My legs didn't feel like lead.  I felt good, I could do this.  With an awesome course, great spectators (including my dads friend!!!!!), and strong competitors I knew this could be a good race.  Yes, like always I fumbled in areas, got passed on sections that I sucked at (like the BMX pump track) but I knew what I had to do to finish the race.  No need to go into detail about how every lap went, but the last lap the race dwindled down to 3 of us, then 2, and then we where all alone and I was sitting in 2nd.  I finished 2nd place!  YES!!!  That's a lot of UCI points!  I was ecstatic at the end of the race, I couldn't believe what I just pulled off.  That's when I realized...I can do this.  I have it in me.

Sunday's Podium

Sunday's race I didn't race as smart as I did on Saturday.  It was the same front group of 4 and we just kept attacking each other, wearing ourselves out.  I feel like I did a lot of leading (which is probably pay back from my lack of leading on Saturday) but hey, if it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger.  On the last lap (or was it 2nd to last lap?) a rider made an attack and held it strong to the end, I did everything I could to hang onto the gal in 2nd, but I just couldn't do it, and every time I turned around 4th place was RIGHT on my wheel!  I tried everything to get her away, and then finally on the last straight section before the fly over I hit it hard (especially since I knew she was better at the BMX stuff then me!!).  I was able to get a small gap coming out of the BMX stuff, thought I would be able to hold her off and next thing I knew I hear people going "OOOOWWWWWW" and I hear a sprint taking place.  I turned around and she was up out of the saddle going HARD, so I did what I had to do to hold onto 3rd place.  I had to work for that 3rd place finish, but once again I am beyond excited with my results.  I think I can do this, I think I handle this racing business.  I only hope to go harder, faster, and further.

Overall I had a fantastic weekend in Southern California.  Of course mud would have been great, but Dorothy Wong (race promoter) put together a fantastic race and was able to hook me up with some great host housing for the weekend, it was Courtenay and the dudes.  They where all great, my host housing was extremely helpful and fantastic, the weekend couldn't have been better!

After two weeks of travel I had the privilege to stay home!!!  This last weekend was the SCX Sprinker Park.  I couldn't wait to race a local race and see my CX family!  What a fun course, wow they made some huge improvements on that course, I had a blast, plus the women made me work for the win!  I also was sporting a halloween costume.  Unfortunately for you (and fortunately for me) there are no pictures of it, I called it "The Striptease".  Yes...a piece of wire sticking off a tree tore my skin suit and there was a giant hole right on my left hip, it was probably about 4 inches long!  I couldn't quit the race and I still had 4 laps to go after it happened.  So I just tried my best to keep my cool and ride on.  I thought for a prize I was going to get some needle and thread, but I didn't.  Today I dropped my skinsuit off at the seamstress to fix it, she will surely have some needle and thread.


We got our wedding pictures back!  So here are a couple to enjoy!

My Girls and I
www.alyssabrownphotography.com

Married!
www.alyssabrownphotography.com

USGP Ft. Collins

Not a fancy title... I know, but today, I'm not creative.  Instead, I'm tired.  I had the privilage of waking up at 3am (mountain time, 2am PST) to catch a bus out of Boulder at 3:30am to get to the airport in time for my 6:30am flight back to Seattle.  I know 3:30am sounds early, but the next bus was just a smidgen too late for my comfort.  Who cares about what bus I took to get to DIA, lets hear about racing.

I always try to keep my words short and sweet, but sometimes when I think it's short, it turns out it's quite lengthy, for that, I apologize!

Day #1:

The day started out looking like it was going to be some epic Washington Cyclocross conditions.  Lots of rain, a little wind, rain, mud, cold, did I mention rain?  Oh and some mud.  Boy was I looking forward to my first cross race of the year in the MUD!  I pre-rode around 12pm, and by 1pm the rain stopped and the course was drying out.  What-the-heck!  If that was Washington the mud would have gotten deep and peanut buttery, but To-To I don't think we're in Washington anymore.  Much to my surprise the course was actually quite tacky and was drying quickly, just in time for the Elite Women's race.  Lucky me, I drew number 43, so I had the privalge of starting in the back (you know, the last row).  I chose the right side of the course to start on, knowing lots of people would move left and that way I could swoop past them on the right side.  It worked pretty well, but I did find myself mid pack in the 3rd corner.  As I looked up ahead of me I watched the front of the race ride away about 3 corners away.  Starting in the back sucks.  I managed to crawl my way to a 12th place finish, even though my legs kind of felt like lead.  That was a weird sensation, but I heard thats what altitude will do to you.  This was my best UCI finish!  I had a great time, scored some more UCI points, made some bucks, and had a ton of fun.  I love this racing business.

Day #2:

The luck of the draw.  Literally..I wasn't so lucky with my drawing a number out of bag, number 38.  Maybe it's the 2nd to last row, WAHOO!  I started on the ride side again, made the same moves, but they didn't go too well for me this day.  My start didn't put me as far forward as I would have liked.  The bonus for today was how my legs felt.  SO-MUCH-BETTER.  But the racing was much faster, that the whole race I don't think I ever caught my breath (altitude?  I thought I was suffocating).  I was extremely tired working my booty off trying to move forward.  I was flimsy, un-graceful, and..choppy (for lack of a better word).  I was redlining it, gunning it, the whole time.  Come the last lap I found myself in a group of 3, all vying for that 10th place finish (UCI POINTS)!  On one of the up hill climbs I put in 120% effort to get in front of the girls, and I did.  the outcome?  Fatigued legs, a tired face, lack of oxygen, and a 12th place finish.  The girls passed me with about 1 minute to go in the race.  Lesson learned, suck wheel more, trust your sprint.

I can't wait for this years UCI points to kick in.  Truthfully, I am done starting in the back of the pack!  When I look at my lap times they are very comparable to 7th, 8th, 9th, place finishers, but it's that first lap time that is 15-20 seconds slower than theirs because they get to start in the front and don't have to work through all that traffic for the first lap of the race.  They don't have to work 193% to get past all 30 riders.  Soon enough I will be rewarded!

All in all I had a great weekend.  Russell Stevenson and Nikole hosted me for the weekend, I got to meet their adorable little man, hang with cool people, and see a new city.

Total UCI points since Vegas and after USGP: 10

Next time I race a USGP I will get a call up and wont have to draw my number from a bag.  YIPPEE!!!!

Lets Chase the Dream

It's here...my reality has struck and it's time I admit to myself and everyone else...I guess you could say "I'm chasing the dream" along with 2947305936202 other riders.  How I'm supposed to stand out from those riders, I don't know, but I'm sure as hell going to try.  Maybe I will just smile a lot and wink at the attractive men (do they exist in the bike world?).  Okay, maybe I wont.  Maybe I will try riding really hard at all the races, maybe I will race them like I'm going to win, because everyone has a chance to win (even if it is REALLY small).

For some crazy reason people believe in me (what the?!), they think I have the ability to go further, to go beyond what I'm doing now.  It's crazy to me, I have a large desire to, but I'm also scared.  What am I most intimidated by?  What is everyone most intimidated by?  Fear of failure.  Fear of being embarrassed, of letting someone down, of not being up to par.  I have never wanted to admit to myself, or anyone else for that matter, my desire.  My desire to race in the big leagues.  I have never loved a sport as much as I love Cyclocross.  I have never felt such a community as I do every weekend at the races.  Which brings me to why I sat down to write this blog post.

Fear

Fear of what?  Fear of the unknown.  Fear of not knowing the girls I'm racing against, of not having the friendly faces cheering for me, fear of failure, fear of not loving the sport anymore.  Fear that what I might love most about the sport is my team, the cookies, the camadarie, the family I have gained the last 2 years of racing.  Fear that it's possible I could lose it all, fear of missing the fun at home.

The other day I sat down and looked at my personal calendar.  I looked at the dates of some UCI races and then I looked at the dates of our Local races, they over lap.  My heart sank, but then it started beating faster and faster, my nerves increased, and I almost felt sick.  That's when I realized that if I do those UCI races, I'm going to miss my Local scene, the scene that has developed me as a rider, the scene that I look forward to every August.  It aches to think about not being there every...single...weekend.

I love that I can show up  and smile and feel like I know everyone.  Because really:

"Sometimes you want to go 

Where everybody knows your name, 

and they're always glad you came. 

You wanna be where you can see, 

our troubles are all the same 

You wanna be where everybody knows 

Your name"

If you can name that song...good for you!  Back to seriousness...it's incredible, people I don't even know (should I know them?) know my name!  When I pass them in the race they say my name.  Sometimes it makes me want to cry, its just so amazing!  Thank you to everyone for all your support!

Tonight marks the end of my first weekend being a "competitor" in a USGP race.  It's bittersweet not being at home racing within my comfort, but I had a good time.  Race report to follow.  

Cyclocross thus far

It's taken me a bit to write this post because I don't quite know how to fit everything I want to say into one blog post.  I have a lot to say, a lot to process.  Lets put it this way:

3 years ago when I first started racing cross if someone told me I would be where I am right now, I would have dropped my jaw.  Let me tell you about my first cross race...ever.  It was at Maris Farms (for those of you who know the course...yuck) it was at the beginning of November and I had no idea what I was doing.  I showed up to the race with my stock tires inflated to 60psi, with 10 minutes of practice on how to dismount and mount my bike (practiced the night before), but boy was I ready to race that cross bike.  I lined up in the back row for the Cat4 women's race nervous as all heck, there were pumpkins lining the course, how was I supposed to dodge those????  Well to put a rough 30 minutes into a couple of sentences...I didn't know how to turn my bike, I crashed in a corn maze, I crashed going straight in the grass, I fell on my face on the "run up", I think I crashed 10 times, I could hardly mount my bike, but man was I stoked on life.  Even with my lack of ability and knowledge of the sport I finished 5th.  I didn't think that was too bad!  I think I fit in about 5 races that year and then I went to collegiate nationals and finished 5th!  After those first 5 races I knew I was hooked, and there was nothing better than cyclocross.  The rest is history.

Rocking the Mad Fiber wheels at Labor Day CX

This year, I decided it was time for a new bike.  I bought a new Redline in August, and I LOVE it!  It's fast and carbonliscous.  Then my dear friend Dave (last name not listed to protect the innocent) told me I needed fast wheels.  He hooked me up with Paul (last name not listed to protect the innocent) from a Seattle based wheel company Mad Fiber.  Paul set me up with a sponsorship for a set of wheels, especially for this big race I signed up for (CrossVegas).  I have never had fancy equipment before, this was BIG for me.  Since CrossVegas was September 19th I decided I needed to practice my CX skills before the big race, so I did some early races (even though I didn't really want to).  I certainly didn't want to embarrass myself in front of a lot of spectators and Pro CX racers.

I raced the Labor Day Cyclocross Championships, and that was quite a fun course for a dry fast September course.  I finished 1st in the women's race, and decided I wasn't tired enough that I decided to race in the Cat3 men's race, and finished 3rd!  The following weekend was MFG's first race of the season at Big Finn Hill.  I won again!  I felt really comfortable on my bike and with those new Mad Fiber wheels, I was FLYING.  I was accelerating out of the corners quickly, and I felt confident on my bike (and wheels) with their abilities to carry me through the turns and the straight sections.  I didn't feel like my wheels where going to going sliding out from under me (unlike my bike from last year).  I could rail the turns (given it has been bone dry) with a HUGE amount of confidence.  The dry courses always tend to be a bit bumpy, but with those wheels I hardly noticed ANY bumps.  They absorbed it all, they seriously ROCK, and they look cool too.  Did I mention how awesomely light they are?  Basically, I am one lucky girl to ride those wheels.

Lets talk about CrossVegas.  I hate Vegas (the city), it's not for me.  If I can't ride my bike out my front door, I'm typically not a happy camper.  I can't ride my bike out the front door there...well I could, but I think it would be suicide.  So for about 2 days I was stressing.  Then race day came.  The morning of the race we pre-rode the course, which doubled up as opening up our legs AND getting to know the course!  Chris was racing the USAC category race, so we had to get to the venue extra early and soak up the sun rays.  Chris raced at 5pm in the blazing heat and finished in a whopping 13th place!  With a start close to the back.  Good job husband!  After his race I started getting a little nervous, and as the night crept on, I started getting REALLY nervous.  This race would be the biggest race I had ever done.  Did I mention the best part about it...my last row call up.  If you have UCI points you are called up based on how many points you have, if you don't have UCI points then it's a random order.  Lucky me I was given number 55...of 60?  Yes folks, that's a last row call up.  To say the least I was a bit nervous, disappointed, and anxious, but there's nothing I can do about it but try to work hard to get to the front of the race.

Once the race started and we went through the start lap I found myself in the top 20.  I then found myself vying for spots with the top riders at the race.  Within the first 2 laps I realized I was riding with the pros, I was number 55 amongst a sea of sponsored riders.  I realized at that moment, that I could keep up, that I belonged there, that I could do this.  I fought for my placement in Vegas.  I fought for my 13th place, and I couldn't be happier.  13th place out of 46 starters.  What?  I'm still trying to soak this in.  The week after Vegas I had a huge out poor of support from my community, from my team, from people I hardly even know!  I feel like a celebrity, at the races people know my name, they know who I am, and I don't even know if I have ever seen their faces!

Lake Sammammish GP Cat3 Men

With the support I have received from my team (and others)  I will hopefully be able to race all the USGPs, I will hopefully be able to get my name out there, and I will hopefully find my spot in this crazy bike racing scene.  The only love (besides Chris) that keeps me going, that gives me reason to keep riding, to keep moving every day, to wake up early every Sunday and drive for 4-6 hours total to race for 45 minutes, this is Cyclocross and for 4 months of the year I devote my life to this silly sport.

And they lived happily ever after...

Wow, I just had the best week of my life...thus far.

Two Saturday's ago, September 15th, Chris and I shared our vows in front of all of our friends and family (almost 180 people)!  The day was such a blur I don't even know if I remember it!  It was seriously one of the best days of my life.  Yes, timing ran a little...over, with..everything, but I had a ball.  I spent some serious girl time with my best girl friends, and I wed my best friend.  The wedding was amazing.  Chris and I wrote our own vows, we left the ceremony on a tandem bike, then left the wedding on a fire engine for some alone time!  The reception was a blast, even though my father chose to roast me instead of toast the newly wed couple, but I guess it's all for the name of love.  The day and night would not have gone any better without the help of some awesome vendors.

My dad and mom.   

My dear dear (and 8 months pregnant friend) Stefanie did my hair.  She always cuts my hair and I always love it.  She rocks, and works at Salon Bellissima in Fairhaven.  Sarah Rorvig helped me feel like a beautiful princess by doing my make up perfectly!  I wish I could have her make up skills, she is awesome!  Alyssa Brown and her trusty sidekick Andrea Devisser (who was Alyssa's assistant for the day) did a fabulous job acting as our own personal paparazzi.  I am in love with our little bit of what I call "teaser photos" that Alyssa posted on Facebook.  Drew Graham (Wanna Dance, the mobile DJ) was our DJ for the Ceremony and the Reception, and boy did he do a fabulous job.  Lots of feedback regarding his awesome playlist, his ability to manage a crowd, and his amazingly fantastic personality.  I don't think I left the dance floor all night, every song was a hit!  Renea Roberts of Glacier Lily Design acted as our Day of Coordinator, and I couldn't have had a better person for the job.  She was on site the Friday before the wedding making sure set up went well, ran us through the rehearsal, and didn't flinch (too much) when we told her we were riding out of the ceremony on a tandem!  As we all know, I love deserts, so naturally I picked the best dessert shop in town to make my cake.  Pure Bliss Desserts, thank you for making my cake so beautifully simple and elegant.  I didn't want to cut into it!  My new cousin did our flowers, and I LOVED my bouquet!  It was just perfect.  I can't thank my bridesmaids enough. They were so helpful and supportive on the day, I couldn't have picked a better group of girls to stand next to me as I said goodbye to my single life!  

www.alyssabrownphotography.com

Even my brother showed up dressed to impress

It was a perfect day.  Could life have gotten any better after that night?  Stay tuned for my next blog post.  BIG STUFF!  Well...sort of.

What The?

Don't worry, I'm still alive.

I know it may seem as if I have passed, but I'm still here running in circles.  Let me bring you up to date.

June was crazy busy with a race every weekend.  I had fun, rode my bike really hard, lost one of my jobs, and tried to not curse at the weather.  The last weekend of June my friend Tina threw me a bridal shower!  It included my closest friends, and I had such a good time!  I seriously have the best friends a girl could ask for.  THANK YOU!

Happy 5 years!

July came around (faster than I could have asked for it) and then all of the sudden Chris and I had been dating for 5 years.  We did the usual trip to Winthrop for the weekend and we had a blast.  Although unlike the past couple of years, it was HOT!  As in 90 degrees plus.  The first day Joe Brown (owner of the Methow Ski and Cycle) sent us on (what I called) a death march up some long fire road climb, to some pretty awesome single track.  Although I felt like I was only climbing the whole time on the single track, it was pretty fun.  You know it's going to be a long weekend of riding when your legs are already tired and it's only Friday. 

The usual ride!

The folllowing day we did a "mellow" ride called "bear mountain figure 8".  Last year we tried to do this ride but they hadn't cleared one of the trails out, so we did bear mountain figure 0.  Then on Sunday we did the usual highway 20 ride up to Washington Pass.  We left ultra early to beat the heat, but it was still hot as hell when we came down.  We both went through 6 water bottles, it was THAT crazy hot! 

The following weekend I was blessed with a weekend at home!  I didn't have to drive anywhere, but it was also the weekend of the Padden Mountain Pedal.  And since that was literally in my back yard, I HAD to race it.  I wasn't looking forward to it, especially since I was the only open women, but I went out and ended up having a ton of fun.  I love to support as many local races as I can.  Besides, there is nothing like riding the padden course for 5 laps.  The following day a couple of my teammies from Voler/Bicycle Centres came up and us Bellinghamsters played tour guide in the Chuckanuts. 

The weekend after Padden was the last race of the Fat Tire Revolution series.  This race was in Roslyn and I had never raced it, but I wasn't looking forward to it.  To say the least, I was pretty burnt out on racing.  The race didn't start well, or end well.  It was hot and I didn't hydrate pre-race...at all.  So when I stopped sweating and started getting goosebumps I decided to call it quits.  I ended up 2nd in the series overall.

The rest of July went really fast. I had been working on crazy fun wedding plans, and figuring out the fun details of wedding planning. Then we took a vacation to the usual Vancouver Island. We had a complete blast and it was seriously awesome to leave town and not think about anything, espeically wedding planning!

At the top of Mt. Washington.  We climbed, climbed, and climbed!

In case you couldn't tell....

On the decent down from the top.  The Valley is behind us.  Seriously...beautiful views up there. 

Too funny not to pass up



We spent some time on the beach, as usual

Had some river days



Mountain biking on the forbidden plateau, looking down onto Comox Lake

A sand bar island.  Watching as the tide engulfs the fam



And lots of rides to other beaches. 

Alright, we had a really good time.  I almost cleared the toughest stuff ever on the Forbidden Plateau(on my mountain bike), but after having enough jitteries from decending real scary steep downhills, I decided I didn't want to push my limit.  Then...I had a minor crash and decided to walk the rest of the scarys teep stuff.  Next year, my goal will be to clear it ALL!  We spent 11 days on the Island, and it was just right, especially with a wedding right around the corner.  The views in the Comox Valley are absolutly breathtaking.  I love being there so much, I feel so lucky to have a beautiful and awesome place to visit every summer. 

I thought my life would calm down in August, but it didn't.  I had another Bridal Shower, this time thrown by Chris's mom, Sue.  It was a great time!  We had a wedding, and my Bachlorette party to attend!!!  My girls and I decided we wanted to go to Leavenworth, and that we did!!!  What a blast.  We hiked, floated the river, played games, drank tequila, and sang Kareokee.  I couldn't have had a better time.  I would do it again in a heart beat!  LOVE YOU (my friends). 

I am going to make you wait for the juicy details of how the early season cyclocross racing has been going.  I need a whole new post to tell you about that.  Besides, it's time for me to go for a ride in this beautiful sunshine. 

Sun, Beer, elevation, and 60 miles of mountain biking

Mountain biking update #1:  Bavarian Bike and Brews 2012. 

One of the 4 stream crossings in the race

This was my 3rd year at the Bavarian Bike and Brews.  For some reason I keep going back, even though the course is sorta torture!  My first year at this course I raced in the Sport (Cat2) category.  I rode for 2 laps and finished with a time of 1 hour and 42 minutes (and something seconds) average lap of 51 minutes.  I was pretty proud of myself, I climbed to glory (1st place), but I won by a lot of minutes.  So the next year I decided to race in the open category.  I finished with a time of 2 hours and 23 minutes (and something seconds; average lap of 47:30 seconds) with a 3rd place finish by 15 seconds.  I let the girl who placed 2nd pass me about 3/4 of the way up the climb on the last lap, I was SO tired and hot I couldn't push any more than I already was.  Now for this year:

This year I finished with a time of 2 hours, 13 minutes and 58 seconds, practically improving by 10 minutes over last years time (average lap time of 44:30).  This year I finished in 2nd place.  Natasha (who won last year too) won this year...once again, she climbed herself to glory, and boy is she strong.  Even though I finished in 2nd place, in my books I won.  I improved my time by nearly 10 minutes, I climbed faster and I decended better.  Every year I can see my improvement and it's SO awesome to feel so accomplished. 

Mountain Biking Update #2:
Next up was the Echo Valley 60 miler.  My first Epic Series race, and LONGEST mountain bike race and ride to date (aside from the 5 laps at the 24 hour).  After being on race high the week post the 24 hour race, I signed up for this 60 mile race.  I'm not really sure what I was thinking, I just wanted to do an epically hard race, and it was pretty tough.  First off I need to tell you how the race promoter judged me and didn't think I was capable of 60 miles. 
If you are reading my blog, you probably know me.  I'm pretty un-assuming, I don't flaunt myself, I just really enjoy riding and racing my bike.  And, to top it off, it's exciting when you see yourself getting faster.

Friday afternoon Chris and I packed the car and headed to Chelan for the race.  We camped out in a big field at the race venue (the most plush camping I must say) <--- but that's because I bought an air mattress and slept in the back of the car.  Saturday morning I woke up to pee around 7 am.  I walked to the bathroom half asleep, but decided since thats where number pick up was, I should get my number while I was over there (the walk was far).  Okay, number pick up was not in the bathroom, but somewhere close by. 

When I stood in front of the sign that said "60" the two men behind the table said to me:
"The 30 miler is over here"
I look at them confused
Judgemental men: "oh, um, uh, are you doing the 30 or 60?"
Courtenay: "oh, for some reason I signed up for the 60 mile race"
Judgemental men: "oh, okay, you just uh...you look so...uh, sleepy.  What's your name"
Courtenay: "Courtenay McFadden"
Then I grabbed my baggie and walked away.  Of course I looked sleepy...I just camped out in your big grass field, and I literally just rolled out of the trunk of the car.  I was confused...I think the men judged me right off the bat, thinking how I could not possibly finish a 60 mile race.  Maybe it was my hot pink Victoria Secret sweatpants?  Who knows...but I showed them!

Riding your road bike for 60 miles is kind of a long way.  Riding your mountain bike for 60 miles is even longer.  I didn't really know how to pace myself for the race, I just knew that I wanted to finish in 5 hours.  The laps where confusing, I don't know where they started and where they ended, and I packed a lot of food and a lot of water.  Thank the weather queens that it wasn't a scorching hot day, we know that Chelan has the potential to be HOT!  I knew that if I wanted to finish in 5 hours I needed to have a 12mph average.  So in order to maintain my pace I made sure that at the start of every (what I thought was a) lap, I made sure I was above a 12mph average.  It worked out pretty well for me.  After the first lap I found myself leading the race.  From there, I think my gap continued to grow.  I was having a blast; passing people, singing, flying down hill, talking to people, just generally having a grand ol' time.  I did pass a lot of grumpy old men who don't know how to hold a pace.  They know how to go slow, sprint, then go slower.  Move way my elders, there's a young doe in town...erg, coming up.  On a positive note, I always try to pass the men with a big smile and a cheer.  Maybe that's what makes them grumpy, a young girl passing them, smiling and saying "good job" even though in reality they are probably hating life and really suffering.  I finished the race with a time of 4 hours, 59 minutes and something seconds.  I finished UNDER my goal!  HECK YEA! 

Some stats: my garmin told me the race was 61 miles.  My garmin also told me there was a total of 7353 feet of elevation gain (ouch)!

For the first lap, I had the privlage to ride with Erika Krumpleman (sp?), an eastsider who totally rocks at mountain biking.  She soloed the 24 hour race and WON!  I can only hope to be as fast as she is when I'm in my 40's.  I am seriously amazed at these women I race against.  A lot of the women I race against are in their 40's.  They are fast, skilled, fit, and challenge me (and kick my booooty)!  For any women out there who thinks she can't get into mountain biking because she's "too old".  Bite your tongue and go for it, you will be amazed at the women out there.  It's inspirational, I thank you all for motivating me every day to ride and race hard!  Seriously, it's a life long commitment to fitness and a healthy life.  Ya'll ROCK!

Next shout out goes to my friend Logan who seriously dominated the course with a finishing time around 4 hours and 12 minutes.  Seriously?  For real.  My fearless team (Voler/Bicycle Centres)leader Russell came in shortly there after (like 10 seconds or something redic). 

Check out some race photos:
http://stevesandersphotography.com/p1028610453/ed6fd7e2#h2356733 (this is is really special)

http://stevesandersphotography.com/p1028610453/ed6fd7e2#h3be8b576

http://stevesandersphotography.com/p1028610453/ed6fd7e2#h2d96fe9f

I am not a photogenic one on the bike. 

Life in the fast lane

Holy smokes, life is going by REALLY fast!  Can you believe I only have 100+a handful of days until the wedding!  People have asked me if I'm stressed yet, I say no, what is there to be stressed about?  I just hope everything falls into place! 
Recently things/life/riding/racing have been going pretty well.  We had a couple weeks of nothing but sunshine and I was able to get in some awesome riding on both my road bike and mountain bike!  I have been on some pretty epic mountain bike rides and it's been fanfreakin' tastic.  You can check me out on Strava to admire my rides. 

Jess rocking the climb...every lap.
 I'm suffering behind

Way back in the middle of May was the Mutual of Enumclaw (MOE) Stage Race and when I look back at it, I can't be all that upset with my performance (just my results).  The race starts out with a 10k TT, I love it because it's short.  My goal was to improve my time from last year, and I did, so I should be happy right?  I improved my time by 40seconds, that's pretty good.  It put me at 19th place though.  My teammate Jess won the TT, so she was in the leaders jersey for the crit!  My job was to try to get as many of the time bonus's as I could, and oh yea...try to win.  At the begining of the race I sort of played some idiotic moves and nearly fried myself and ended up being way too freakin' tired to go for the first time bonus prime, but Jess ended up getting 2nd for it.  So I sat in as much as possible after that, and when the 2nd time bonus prime came around I played it MUCH smarter, until the last corner.  I was sitting just behind a gal in 2nd place thinking "Man I can try to take her for this time bonus".  One of my teammates was on the last corner and yelled "get on her wheel" so I got motivated and acted as the CAT4 racer and pedaled too early, clipped my pedal on the ground and performed some fancy moves to stay upright, didn't get to sprint, but won a 2 second time bonus...OH YEA!  I finished with the pack...maybe in 10th?  Moving me up to 16th in the GC



Another lap...miserable weather.

Looking back on the race I am finally seeing how much better I am at staying near the front and playing it somewhat aggressively, and not just sitting in.  Being scared doesn't get you anywhere, and I am finally figuring that out.  I also am learning that being in/near the front, is SO much better than having 20 of my closet friends surrounding me as I/we corner at 23 MPH.   I am also learning it's all about positioning to finish well.  If you want to finish well, position yourself to finish well.  Position yourself BEFORE the last lap and then hold your ground!!!

Riding through the master mens field

After such a lovely warm day on Saturday, the weather decided it needed to go back to it's normal Enumclaw weather and on Sunday it poured...all...day...long.  The weather was miserable and I didn't want to race.  Since it has officially almost been a month since this race and I am now finally finishing this blog post, I don't want to go into details, and you don't really care either.  The 60 mile race went something like this: I was having a great race, climbing strong, working hard staying with the leaders.  SO, after working realllly hard for basically the whole race and feeling pretty good about my performance, I pull the group (of...5 riders) to the final climb, and just as we start to climb I shift down to my small ring, and guess what happens.  My chain dropped to the inside and wouldn't get back on.  So I pulled over to put it back on and couldn't get the damn freakin' chain on!  It took me about 3-4 minutes of fiddling with it to get it on, and I lost a lot of time and a lost of positions.  I did however, remain quite calm.  I'm proud of myself for not freakin' out and finishing the race.  I am pretty sure I could have finished with the top 3 leaders, which would have put me in the top 4.  OH WELL!  You can't change things, and I can be proud of my performance.  So I am! 

Enumclaw pretty much wraps up my road racing for the season, it's time to get on my mountain bike and race it!  I can't wait for some dry warm weather and some mountain biking adventures!

Lets thank Kevin Tu (one of my teammates husband) for all of his wonderful pictures.  He comes and supports us at all the races Carly does and he takes pictures while he is at it.  Such a fantastic husband! 

Tah Tah For Now!

My solo finish home.  That's a sad faceunder the helmet. 

24 hours of mountain biking...oh my!

This memorial day weekend I decided to take a break from Ski to Sea and instead drive to the other side of the state (Spokane) and race in the 24 hours around the clock mountain bike race.  I was given the opportunity to race with the Cycle-U/PopCap off road team in the mt bike race and decided it was time to change up my life and opt out of Ski to Sea.  The team consisted of myself, Kristi Berg, Mel Lewis, Kristy Kelsey, and Jodi Connolly.  We basically had a big powerhouse team, and we rocked it.  Since you already know the outcome why I don't I just say WE WON (the 5 female team category).  I feel so grateful to have the oppotunity to spend 24+ hours with such an awesome women's team, and with such awesome, strong, and experienced riders.  It was such a fun weekend and experience I am glad I did such a feat.  I also learned quite a bit about myself and riding! 

Why don't I give you an inside scoop on MY perspective of such an event, I am going to give you details of the good, the bad, and the ugly.  You can choose to read on, or stop now. 
Going into the race I honestly knew it would be challenging, but I didn't think it would be that challenging.  It was hard, everything about the race was hard.  The racing was hard, the eating was hard, the sleeping was hard to time, the hydrating was hard.  It is a race where you honestly need as much help as you can possibly get.  I needed my own personal chef. 

After many many many hours in the car on Friday, we arrived around 7pm to set up camp and get ourselves situated.  We didn't have time to pre-ride so we just chose to go into the course blindly.  Saturday morning my team had a little meeting to get ourselves organized for the next 24 hours, I was the 2nd rider to go.  Jodi took one for the team and went first. 

The start was a lemonds start that consisted of a 600m run and then get onto your bike and go.  Jodi had a great start and an awesome first lap.  She handed off the timing chip to me and I set out on a mission to catch as many women as I possibly could.  I started out the race in cross mode (pedal as hard and as fast you can because you will only be out for 1 hour or less).  I was breathing SOO hard, but my legs didn't really feel much burning, so I pedaled harder.  I passed 4 women on the first lap and finished with a time of 55:59.  The first lap was a total lung burner and my legs felt GREAT!  When I was done, I thought "wow that was soo much fun, why would I ever do Ski to Sea again"??  I immediatly drank some chocolate milk and spun out my legs, I would ride again in 4 hours.

4 hours later I went on for my second lap (around 6pm), and the time went by SO much faster.  Knowing the course was a huge benefit.  This was when I discovered that the last 5 miles of the course took about 25 minutes...not 10.  The last bit of the course had most of the hills, and most of the twisty single track.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the whole course, but this part took more concentration and time.  So on my second lap when I was thinking that I blew my first laps time out of the water...I actually didn't.  I finished with an official time of 55:38.  I felt awesome on this lap, and I thought "wow that was great, this isn't bad".  I drank some chocolate milk, spun my legs, and changed into non sweaty clothes.  I then made myself and Chris some pasta and chicken sausage for dinner and rested in the back of the Kelsey's van. 

Here is all the food I bought
thinking I would want to eat it.

My third lap was awful.  I felt awful, the hills turned into mountains, it was pitch black and REALLY cold (around 11pm).  Last Fall I invested in some quality lights (Light and Motion) and did a lot of night rides, so riding in the dark wasn't too terrifying, you just need to get used to the corners and rocks when you might not see them.  I am very pleased with my set up, a 300 lumen light on my helmet and an 800 lumen light on my bars.  I feel quite confident with those lights!  After approximately 3 hours of wondering when the lap was going to be over, I encountered the last hill (who put this hill here??????).  Okay, okay it was actually less than 1 hour.  I fnished my third lap in 59:38.  4 minutes slower than my last lap..how is that possible????  When I finished I wanted to cry, "crap, that was hard" I thought. 

My next lap was in approx. 65 minutes.  I was a sad sight once I finished my 3rd lap, shivering violently, curled up a sleeping bag in the back of a van, eating a plain baked potato out of tin foil.  After about 45 minutes of trying to get warm it was time to go wait for Jodi.  I headed to the timing tent, and waited.  Then it hit me, my stomach started cramping and I had to PEE, but I had no time to go pee.  Then I saw Jodi and she handed me the timing chip for my 4th lap.   The only thing getting me through the 4th lap was having to pee SO bad.  I was SO tired, I could hardly even keep my eyes open!  My left eye was sagging half way down my cheek, but I stayed awake and handed off to Mel after a lap time of 1:02:12.  I could finally go to sleep.  I drank some chocolate milk, grabbed an extra blanket and curled up in the back of the van for the night. 
We switched up the rotations for the night time so we could get some more sleep, so the first 2 riders alternated for 2 rides each, then the next 2 riders alternated while we slept, and then in the AM our 5th rider went out.  After a nice 3 hours of sleep I woke up with the WORST stomach ache ever.  My belly revolted and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to ride my  lap when it was my turn.  After forcing many cups of oatmeal into my belly and a nice chat with my teammies, I was able to take the last lap of the day, which gave me a full 8 hours since my 4th lap.  My teammies saved my life, I seriously wasn't sure I was going to be able to get through any more laps, but with enough recovery I managed!

Us on the podium.  #1

The last lap couldn't have gone any better.  I didn't feel like crap, and I made it to the finish line 18 seconds after they shot the gun concluding the race!  I finished my 5th and final lap with a time of 58:42.  I couldn't be any happier that I didn't have to continue on!  I am SOO proud of myself, and my team for accomplishing such an awesome feat, and winning (by an hour) to boot!

Now the question comes...would I do it again?  Aboslutely!  Now that I know what to expect, I would do it again without a doubt.  I want to try to perfect my eating regimen, and I now know what I will crave and what I will NOT crave!  All I need to find is a personal chef to go with me!

My awesome team and all our hardware!

When you have nothing, you have nothing to lose

Okay, I had to let this soak in for a few weeks before I felt I could actually post this. 

I can now check off the first stage race of the year from my list.  I love stages races, I don't know why, because I'm not very good at them, but I love them.  I think I love the challenge of racing 2-3 days in a row.  I love being pushed to go above and beyond what I believe my body can do.  Walla Walla was one for the books, probably one of the most "humiliating", frustrating, demoralizing weekends of my stage racing career.  I don't feel this way because of my performance, but because of the vibes in the group.  Road racing isn't my forte, I don't really have a lot of confidence or aggression when I'm in a group of riders (especially when I don't know them).  I prefer to stay upright, so I'm pretty cautious when I ride in a group, but when you aren't staying on the wheel in front of you, yes I will move there, and no don't yell at me for going for a wheel you can't stay on.  Don't say "excuse me" in the middle of the group, don't make fun of me for being poor and not having fancy equipment, and don't try to take me out. 

Sound Frustarting?  It was.  This was the most serious, mean, and frustrating group of ladies I have been surrounded by.  I would NOT do well with big timing ladies and that's probably why I don't have ambitions of being a "pro" bike racer...on the road.  I don't like being pushed around or yelled at or told where to go or what to do.  Okay...now onto the race report.

Fridays race was 44 miles with a "hill top" finish.  Which means a 3k climb...I LOVE finishing climbs.  I didn't really know where I was going to be in the whole scheme of things so I sort of hung out mid pack, but would always find myself in the back of the pack.  It's like I'm learning how to race again, or I just crawled in to the skin of a scardy cat.  Which ever it was, it didn't really help me all weekend.  The first real time up the climb there were some QOM points at the top, so girls where attacking left and right...really hard, so I did my best to hang on for dear life.  Then at the top there was a small break, we sort of got it together, then we got caught.  Then we got caught by the men and where neutralized, then the rest of the group caught us.  So we toodled around until the base of the climb when everyone decided to go really hard again.  I finished 6th with the main group.

Saturday at 12:25 was supposed to be the start of our Crit.  After a last lap crash in the mens field we where very delayed, and it was hot.  We sat at the line for quite some time...working on our farmer tans.  Did I mention a black kit is hot?    Eventually they let us move to the shade because we must have looked hot or something.  After about 5 minutes of sitting in the shade we finally could start our race.  I think there were 4 merchandise primes and 3 time primes.  Our race was also only going to be 30 minutes, they cut it short becaue of the delay, so we raced for 25 minutes, and it was fast.  There was a prime nearly every lap!  I did not go for them.  I played the scardy cat role in the pack, but on a good note I didn't get dropped like last year!!  YYYAAAAA go me. 

Since I was so freakin' fast on Friday (I'm such a jokester) I was the 6th to last lady to start my Time Trial.  My go time was 5:59 and 30 seconds.  I wasn't in the mood to TT, after all I have some pretty freakin' sweet TT equipment.  Even ask the ladies who lined up behind me.  I wasn't in the mood to warm up.  So I sort of just pretended to warm up on my trainer in the scorching heat.  Actually I was in the shade guzzeling water.  All of the sudden I looked at the clock and I had approx. 1 minute until it was go time.  This is when I had the best (not) convo. EVER.  As I stolled up to the line the ladies mocked my "equipment".  Did I ever mention I have some sweet aero bars to clip onto my bars of my road bike?  They make me go fast.  I clearly went fast because I finished 18th.

The next day was the "big" road race of 60 miles.  I wasn't super stoked on racing when I woke up (I think that was the weekend trend) but I tried to hype myself up for it anyways.  A coupe of us went out to breakfast and I ate a plate full of buttery pancakes soaked in sugary syrup.  After eating that breakfast, I had no option but to race.  The weather man predicted hot weather.  For once in a lifetime, he was right.  It was hot.  The race started out kind of slow, and every time I turned around I found myself in the back of the pack (once again).  When I would try to move up I would get yelled at.  I got sick of it and I wanted to quit, but I knew I couldn't quit because I ate all those pancakes.  So intead of quitting, I did the next best thing.  About 20 miles into the race I decided it would be best to make an attack, after all I was 16th in the GC and I had nothing to lose if I burned my matches on this attack.  So I pushed real hard, and when I finally took a breath to turn around no one was behind me.  At first I thought SH*T I HAVE to follow through with this.  But then I thought, well this is better than being bored and yelled at in the pack.  There also was another rider up the road, so I decided to try to bridge up to her, and I did.  Then she got tired and fell behind, and it was just me and my lonesome until about 6 or 7 miles to go when the group finally caught me and we toodled our way to the finish where I had nothing left for a sprint and I finished 13th.  That finish bumped me up to 13th in the GC.  IN THE MONEY!  I'M RICH!!!!  (not really)  The whole time I was riding alone I just kept telling myself how much more fun it was to be off the front and how much stronger I would be in 2 weeks. 

I think I'm a touch stronger these days? 

anyways, riding in the 1/2 pack is very different than I anticipated, so we shall see what the future holds for me in this road racing business.