VANDENBERG ROAD RACE - So Cal Districts

The course was long: two 38-mile loops on the air force base at Vandenberg. I work out there on occasion, overseeing the cleanup of groundwater pollutants left over from decades of rocket and missile launching and more pollutants left as a legacy from the Army and Navy. But, it keeps my employed. Well the point is, I knew the course, and assumed most girls did not, so this was a slight advantage I had. Everything helps. This race is the SoCal District Road Race Championship. Living in San Luis Obispo, I am technically in the SoCal circuit but usually race up North, so I don't know many of the ladies. Helen's/Trek and Bicycle John's were well represented, the rest of the ladies were like me, racing for a win on my own, without the help of my teammates. The race started slow, then attacks were made. I made a few and countered a few, I was feeling strong. There was a break of 3 at about 15 miles, a local SLO Nexus rider, and a Trek and Bicycle John's girl. We caught two of them maybe 20 miles later, then the third much later on. With 15 miles to go, Jane Despas (an awesome TT girl) rode away from the field on one of the climbs, a Helen's/Trek girl jumped and it got all strung out. I was behind a Bicycle John's girl and we tried to get up there, but we couldn't. Then, we all sat up. NO ONE would work. I was frustrated. John's had like 3 or 4 girls, some not feeling so well, I am sure, but they would not organize to do any work. A few more attacks, but there was no way we were catching Jane, I knew it. I asked some girls if they would work, and only a few were interested (there must have been 15+ of us by this time in the race). We ended up catching the Trek girl who couldn't hold Jane's wheel with 2 miles to go. Her teammates countered and other girls were attacking. I just held a good wheel and waited for the end. Many of the girls popped off the back b/c all the attacks. Came into the sprint 3rd wheel, but we were sprinting from just under 1K. By the time we got to the line, I was not accelerating and 2 girls nipped me! Ahh! Well, I still got 6th and was content; it was a long, hard race. During the sprint all I thought about was my 1-minute sprint interval practice. The sprint was long and painful, just like the ones in practice. It was fun. I ran home after to start up the BBQ for my 26-th birthday celebration. As Geoff would say "Happy Birthday to me!" (Reference: Geoff on his 26th, drunk downtown yelling to himself.) I drank lots of wine and tried to forget about the pain in my neck and back. And, I think I am losing my toenails. Does anyone else have this problem? - Kristina