Racing is Fun

Yea! I was able to race my bike on Sunday. 1st was Saturday, I spent all day hanging drywall that my drywall guy didn't finish, I am still in need of two more sheets and one more day of cutting and hanging then the mudding fun will begin, *sigh*. All day I kept telling myself "drink water, eat and DON'T hurt yourself" but by the end of the day my back and wrist were sore. I made a nice chili lime shrimp and rice dinner with a glass of wine and iced various spots on my back and wrist, packed all my race stuff and went to bed.

Sunday morning woke right up and got to the routine of dressing, eating, and double checking my race bag. My ride showed up right on time and we were off. Seattle actually looked like it would be a nice day. My hopes were up for good weather in Sequim. Once off the ferry the rain started and I began to have doubts that the banana belt would pull through for the day. It was wet and grey until we hit the big elk statue that welcomes you to Sequim, oh lucky day no rain!

Once in the field (the grassy one) I became nervous, but I went about my routine that I did all last year and I started to feel better.

Things I did right...
I warmed up for 40 minutes three burns but not all out.
I stretched my back and legs
I dressed perfectly not too warm not too cold.
Timed the port a potty stops and getting my gear on to be at the line right on time.
Kept myself at the front end of the pack.
Attacked at the right moment when I saw a TGH going. Was in a break of two that turned into at final break of 11 used blocking, timing communication to get our girl in the winning break at the end awesome! We talked about strategy and we put it into motion. Attack - counter attack, keep up the pace but don't chase down our own team. Everyone got it. Personally I was worried going in that I couldn't hang or possibly finish and before the my attack I had even said I think I am done my back hurts. Luckily instinct kicked in when I saw the other girl getting ready to go I didn't think I went, gave it just about everything but reserved enough not to blow myself up when we were caught I recovered and hung in pulled and ended up getting 10th.

Things I learned...
I still don't hold a wheel well enough on the headwind sections, I worked like hell because I was off the wheel in front of me and couldn't quite close the gap with the wind. I would have had more for the sprint if I was closer. Good to learn (yet again), but in reality I didn't want to come in ahead of either teammate that was with me because of the point standings besides a STBX gal took out a TGH after the line! If I had been any closer I too could have gone down. Everyone is OK but there are lessons that I hope others came away with yesterday as well.

Next up
Boat Street, never done it. I will pre ride and make a day of decision based on weather and how safe I feel I can make it. It will be the 1st crit of the season and the 1st time for a CAT4 only on this coarse. I am mostly worried about others ability here, I have done plenty of technical crits and we will have our corning clinic on Saturday so I think my team will get it, not sure about the others. If I do it plan A is warm up good and hard, start good and hard and don't slow down! Plan B $20 isn't worth loosing teeth or breaking bones and bikes so if it is sketchy as hell, quit!

I am racing again that makes me happy.