Navy Weekend

Well, it's been awhile since I last posted something, but I recently found some new motivation. Staying on my bike. Two weekends in a row now I have crashed in collegiate races. Fortunately I finished the crit this weekend but I still have decided to make a conscious effort to stay on my bike through my races. Overall my Navy race weekend was average, 12th in the crit and 14th in the ITT, but this also motivates me to train even harder to get to the top of the B category.

In two weeks I will be participating in my largest race to date. The Jefferson Cup Road Race is a full Cat 4 field of 125 riders. This will be my first big test of nerves this year. Collegiate racing seems relaxed compared to what I have seen in other races. So this race will likely be faster and more serious than any race I've ever been a part of. On top of that the number of people makes the racing even more dangerous and therefore a perfect test of my newest mantra to stay on the bike.

Bryan Park Circuit Race

I have not been able to find the results of this race anywhere so I'll break the race down. There were only seven riders in the junior (15-18) race, and the cobblestone pavement was nice and wet from an early morning shower on May 31, 2009. The race officials warned us of a nasty first turn and of course (us being juniors) didn't listen. So, the very first turn of the race took two victims and broke the five people left in the race into two tiny "packs" (if they can be called that). I was stuck in the back group with two other people and right away one of the people behind me faded and eventually fell out of our group. Then this other rider and me started trying to reel the leaders back towards us, but me being out of shape faded as well until I was time-trialing a circuit race. Somewhere in the middle of the race I caught a second wind and the rider who had previously dropped me in my sites, and that's when I heard a noise... The next lap I was out of the race with a flat (a nice chunk of glass)! And that was my second road race experience.

Tyson's Corner Circuit Race

http://usacycling.org/results/?permit=2009-411
This was my very first road race experience, and it was harder than I expected. I never got lapped, but I was the last person on the lead lap (I saw the sprint for the finish unfold behind me...). A fun race and definitely a very fun course (although the hill going towards the finish is a killer).

Ride Sally Ride Crit

http://usacycling.org/results/?permit=2009-1613
In this race I discovered how hard it is to race by yourself against an experienced team.
It was a great course and if anyone gets a chance to ride this fast 1k loop... do it!