HELLYER TRACK WOMENS OMNIUM - WIN!

Was it all worth it? Well, after over a 2 hour drive (had to pick up lorraine in Financial district normally would take 1 ¼) down to Hellyer I was beginning to think not. To add to it I went to get changed and realized I had forgotten my shorts. I have my weekend racing prep down to a science but racing on Wednesday nights when I would normally be meandering through Fairfax Farmer’s Market threw me off track. Lorraine wasted no time and proceeded to the P.A system where she humorously announced that I was in need of shorts. What a weird thing to need to borrow! I saw some skinny mini juniors with extra shorts but knew they wouldn’t fit my sprinter legs. Douglas Northcott came to the rescue, a fellow rather portly ex patriot. Oh well, better than nothing I had already considered cutting the legs off my Capri pants. The big man shorts were indeed big but they worked, I had to roll the legs up 5 times and Lorraine wanted to tie knots in the shoulders of the bib part. I decided quickly against this as the knots were as big as oranges on my shoulders. Just suited up and the official called the women to the line. Yuk! No warm up. The first race was A Point A Lap. I had not been to the track since last year so I was eager to do well and also with the way I looked I thought I’d better be fast! A gal went for the first 2 sprints, I panicked and immediately made my way to the front and gobbled up the rest of the points. Lorraine sitting on my wheel, just getting a feel for the first race back since her accident. I basically redlined the last 6 laps, not knowing what the hec I was doing and still buzzing from my no shorts drama. My lungs were burning. The next race was a Madison and then the next a Points Race, which I won also in a more calm manner, I went for the first sprint and got a gap, I wanted to wait but no one reacted so I rode tempo for the rest of the race. Lorraine rode very well but conservatively as this was her 2006 race debut. The competition is slim at the track on Wednesday nights but none the less it is great training and a lot of fun and there were enough gals for upgrade points. After 2 more Wednesday sessions racing with the gals I will race with the men. I’d like to get some upgrade points first. Thanks for reading - Nicola and yes, it was worth the horrible drive down!