Palmer Library Road Race: Do You Believe In Good Luck Charms?

What happened Sunday is completely beyond me. After Saturday I was beat. I drove straight back to Erik’s and basically explained I would be going to bed…it was maybe 1:30 in the afternoon! And it was there I would stay for the rest of the day…and night…getting up for dinner ( a trough of pasta) and to put in a DVD.

At some point in the evening I would speak to Brooke. Of course I didn’t mention the extent to which I was feeling the dreaded “T” word. Unaware of how I was really feeling, Brooke instructed me in a very straight forward fashion to simply shoot for a top 3 finish. Oh, yeah…no problem…I thought (note: sarcasm). Ha, little did she know that at that point I was feeling more like I would be lucky if I didn’t get dropped on the first lap – probably going downhill! Despite how I felt I decided I was going one way or the other. Afterall, I had already pre-registered.

So Sunday, after a pep talk from my teammate Susanne (thanks Sus!) I pull into the lot and who is there but my Green Mtn. good luck charm! Part of me was happy to see him, but part of me couldn’t believe he had driven all that way – I wasn’t even thrilled about the drive and I was the one racing! While I could use the support, I wasn’t convinced even my Green Mtn. good luck charm could help me at this point. I tried not to let on too much, but my warm up (if you can call it that) was poor at best.

By the time the race would start I wasn’t even concerned about the course – much less the whereabouts of the finish. I was more concerned that the good luck charm had my keys (all five lbs of them)…and what would I do if I got dropped and couldn’t get back into the car? (Important practical considerations.)

Well, one lap in it seemed I was not the only one with tired legs. And despite the tired legs, they seemed to wake up a bit once actually in motion. By the second lap I began to realize my legs might just be alright.

As we approached town on 97N, a deceptively gradual incline, I began to think about the finish (better late than never right?) I did something I never do – I actually made a plan. I decided (ha! ha! ha!) I wanted to be second going up the hill and with 200 meters would try to go for the win. (Go for the win??? Not thoughts I usually have. I even chuckled to myself – ok, Sam, whatever.) But…as we came into town and began the climb towards the line…it was if we were all watching each other…no one was leading anyone out…there was no train to catch on to…as the 200 meter mark approached…someone would have to go…although I was getting itchy to go, I didn’t want to go too soon and get passed at the line (being the hugely powerful sprinter that I am!)…finally out of the corner of my eye I could see Kim (the eventual winner) go…she was on the other side of the field…and then I went…with all had...not quick enough to catch her, but enough to get 2nd.

I was really surprised – especially given how the day had started. But placing aside, I was very happy to have given everything to the line. If you have the time, you can train your body…but I am beginning to appreciate training your mind is actually much tougher!

Sturbridge Road Race: 200 Meters Is A Long Way

In keeping with my new tradition of electrolyte overload (given the cramp episode at Turtle Pond) – preparation for Saturday’s race began with a trip to CVS for my Friday pre-race Pedialyte cocktail. I highly recommend grape (…if you’re feeling adventurous maybe add some red bull and vodka…there’s an idea!). After a liter of that and you can imagine how I felt (a pint of beer – good, a liter of pedialyte…not quite so good.) Well, anyways….several trips to the bathroom and I was good to go – ready to load up my rolling trash compactor (the Jetta) and hit the road! Next stop - the fabulous and talented, Guy Bedau – massage therapist extraordinaire. For weeks I had been meaning to get a massage (since the quad incident at Turtle Pond), but just couldn’t fit it into the schedule (or the budget) …but then Friday I realized I would be passing through Harvard (where Guy’s office is located) on my way to my friend Erik’s (who graciously allowed me to free load this weekend) – and as luck would have it, Guy was able to fit me into his schedule (thanks!!!)

Despite staying with Erik in Holden, I was still about an hour away from the race. With an 8:40 start time that still meant an early wake up call – 5:50 to be exact. Erik must have thought I was insane – I made him check the alarm clock no fewer than 5 times before going to bed Friday night. Are you sure it’s set right??? (Paranoid are we? As if I’m actually going to sleep!) Fortunately, Erik did in fact set the alarm correctly(!!!) and I managed to get out the door in plenty of time to pick up my number and warm up.

I must admit I can never really tell how I am going to ride based on how my legs feel when I wake up. I don’t usually feel good first thing in the morning. But on this particular morning I was definitely shaky. Although that being said, sometimes shaky walking doesn’t translate to shaky on the bike…we would have to wait and see…then of course all you can think about is all the things you shouldn’t have done during the week (ie: one too many hills with Brooke on Wednesday.)

So the race finally starts – we are instructed there will be a neutral start for the first 4 miles – essentially up the first climb. Wanting to get a good look at the climb and the finish line which would be at the top I decided to take advantage of the neutral start and sit on the front, get a good warm up. Well, let’s just say the first time up the hill it didn’t seem so bad. Two laps later was another story!

Throughout the race I’d have to say the women of Capital Velo did a nice job of launching attacks and counter attacks. Fortunately nothing stuck. At one point I got a little impatient with the women who would later win the race – she refused to chase anything, saying “they’re not going anywhere.” Well, that the hope anyways…fortunately her energy conservation strategy worked!

As we came into town on the last lap, Amy (the eventual winner of the race) decided to attack. With a 4 mile climb ahead I think the rest of us were basically like – “good luck” but the chances of you holding your lead is highly unlikely. Be that as it may – she did just that! To her credit, she rode a very smart race and not only took a big chance, but she pulled it off! Given my propensity to go too hard too soon, I decided to sit tight in the field and not over react. In the meantime, another woman (who was eventually 2nd) would take off in pursuit – another smart move. OK for those counting - I now missed not one, but two big moves.

So with those two off the front, the question was how would the field respond? Basically it came down to a fight all the way up to the line. There were probably 4 or 5 of us elbow to elbow, doing our best to maintain the pace in between gasps for air. It is usually at critical junctures like this that I mentally crack. This time, this weekend, I swore it would be different (ok, Bruce made me swear it had to be different! Thanks Bruce!) This weekend I was determined to stay mentally focused. After a little jostling, the third place rider (Julie of IBC) would surge…just enough that I couldn’t get out of traffic in time to catch her. And fight as I may to the line…200 meters can really seem like an eternity…I had to settle for 4th.

I say “settle” but honestly I was very happy with that result. Although I missed the two critical moves that would account for 1st and 2nd, my mental focus was much improved this week – I fought to the line. Julie had a nice surge to the line for 3rd. Woulda, coulda, shoulda…on this day 4th was actually very satisfying.

Though the mystery remains (and the debate continues) - had I not ridden the power tap wheel, would I have had a better result???

Battenkill-Roubaix: Got dirt?

Thanks to the hospitality of Bill and Pat Edwards, the team enjoyed a fantastic meal and a good night’s sleep prior to the race. Unfortunately the morning was not without some trials and tribulatons. First, as we headed out to pack the cars, we noticed Rebecca’s car, affectionately known as “the roller skate,” appeared to have a slow leak in the front tire. Not wasting any time, Rebecca pulled out the floor pump and went to work – hoping we could at least get to the race! Nothing like a little pre-race stress to help that heart rate!

Once we finally arrived (after a short detour following the course route), I realized there was a problem with the skewer and drop out on my rear race wheel. Running late already and not being very mechanically inclined, I decided to just go with my Power Tap wheel. So while everyone else was at registration and warming up, I was futzing with wheels. After a spectacular 15 minute warm up (!) we all managed to make our way to the start area. Needless to say this was not the relaxed state I had envisioned!

OK, so…with a dose of pre-race drama complete, it was time to see if this race lived up to all the hype! In nervous anticipation of the first climb – non dirt that is, I rode up to Mary to ask exactly how long is this? Armed with data from last year, her reply – 3 mins. It was probably a good thing I was at the front – it gave me the chance to float back a little and recover, given my less than ideal warm up!

With the warm up portion over, it was time to face the first dirt climb - for me this set the mental stage for the rest of the race. Suddenly I was reminded of why I have not been quite so successful with cross – I get on dirt and for some reason I automatically slow down – it’s an involuntary response that I can’t explain. Complicating matters further, we ended up sharing the road with another field…so you’re riding at or above threshold, trying to keep your momentum while staying seated (or risk losing traction)…there are riders everywhere and cars honking trying to follow their respective fields…and in the midst of what seems like pandemonium you’re trying to concentrate and most importantly breathe! As I approached the top there was so much congestion and chaos I was forced to hop off my bike. Fortunately I was able to remount on the top and catch back on…

While the second dirt climb was marginally better… by the third climb I had lost the concentration/desire to fight through the dirt. Rather than redline, explode, and rapidly descend backwards I decided to go at my own pace. Fortunately I would regroup with 3 other riders. Eventually we got a nice rotation going – soon the four dwindled to three and by the line it was an Advil-Chapstick rider and I. She of course sprinted at the line! Although I must admit I didn’t see the point at the time, I realize the importance of racing until the end and mentally finishing the race – an important lesson.

In retrospect, while the promoter may have recommended a 39-25 – I would say, break out the compact cranks and/or bring your 27. Afterall Anna Milkowski, the winner of the race, had a 34-50 compact with an 11-26.

Turtle Pond: aka "Operation Pork Chop!"

After team pictures Saturday the NEBC women had the chance to enjoy a meal together and talk about tactics for Sunday's first race - Turtle Pond. Over the course of dinner our team director, Brooke, introduced the concept of what she calls "tenderizing the field"! We, of course, did not miss the opportunity to have some fun with this concept. Somehow we got from "tenderize the field" to an association with meat, to what we would affectionately refer to as "Operation Pork Chop." Every great strategy has to start somewhere, right?

Well, Operation Pork Chop essentially involved a series of attacks (hence, pork chop 1, pork chop 2, pork chop 3...etc. - anyone listening to our post race meeting would have died laughing.) Sally had the distinction and honor of launching the first "pork chop"! (All that training with the back pack and fireman's outfit has certainly paid off!) And once the field caught her she had the legs to do it again! (If I am not mistaken, she asked for permission to attack again, just for training!) Rebecca would soon follow, countering with a strong pork chop of her own - which nearly stuck. But on the final climb it was Mary who took it to the line for the first win of the season!!!

Next stop: Battenkill-Roubaix!