Pescadero RR
Field Size: 15
Teammates: Shelley
Weather: cool, sunny (NO FOG!)
Course: 2.7 laps; 25-mile hilly loop
I was very disappointed to find out, upon registering, that there were a mere 15 of us. Even Mike was disappointed, and never led us around on the moto. The race started slow, with just 15 girls. It seemed we were all recovering from Mt. Hood or other races and very few of us had the energy to put in an attack. Plus, this course is brutal ending on a 3K climb, and no one was silly enough to put in an attack so early in the race.
And on with the race: Velo Bella’s Barbara put in a huge effort to take the first prime in downtown Pescadero! We all cheered for her after her incredible, elbow-throwing effort. After the big town sprint, we chatted until we got to the main climb and got down to business. A few girls got dropped, chased on, and through the next downtown sprint we were back together. This sprint Bri (Tibco) dug deep to take away the “minimal” (as the announcer at the start described it) cash prime prize from Barbara. Shelley and I sat in to save our legs for the final climb. ;) Again, we cruised around the course until the climbs. I whispered to Shelley, I legs feel horrible, don’t wait for me if something happens.
On the second lap, Sarah Bamberger (Cheerwine), Bri, and Maria Monica (Touchstone) all put in a huge effort up the main climb. Shelley and I quickly organized together and I chased Shelley down the hill (I just wasn’t ON today, braking too much down the hill), and we rotated for about a mile at the base of the decent until we caught back on the three who were off the front. The five of us rotated a few miles, just to keep the pace up to make the straglers work a bit more, and to keep the race moving. Slowly, a few other riders caught on and we were about eight. This time I whispered to Shelley, I feel horrible, except when I am going uphill. Along the backstretch, Sarah taught Shelley and I the ‘booty clap’. I am sure the follow car enjoyed this lesson. (On a side note, I have been practicing, but still can’t wiggle like Sarah. Shelley, you got it yet?)
Maria kept the pace high into the final climb and it finally felt like we were racing again. Sarah asked if Shelley or I were going to launch an attack, as we were the only team left with numbers (Flavia, Bri’s teammate flatted along the way and seemed too tired to get back in?). Shelley and I kinda laughed as neither one of us felt the energy to go for it. We came into the feed zone at the base of the climb and I felt the tension. I was sitting about 3rd wheel watching Maria and Sarah, as I thought they would be the ones to stay with. I was looking around and heard and saw Sarah make her move, attacking at the base of the climb. Here we go! I thought, and sprinted after her. I took about 15 seconds before I turned around to see the damage. We were off the front, with a gap on Maria and Bri, and there was Shelley sitting on! I couldn’t believe it. I watched my heart rate up the hill, knowing what I could sustain--after the hundreds of miles climbing at Mt. Hood I freakin’ better be able to hold this for 3K. The suffering seemed short, and I paced Sarah up the hill, checking to make sure Maria or Bri didn’t catch us. Shelley informed me they were both rotating attacks, but just could not get us. I signaled to Sarah to pull around. Again…right elbow…left elbow…nothing….Dang it, I thought. She is going to work me. Come on, I said/pleaded, help. She then jumped me with about 300m to go. I tried hard to catch her, but couldn’t. She got too good of a jump on me. I suffered in for second, Shelley for fifth. Thanks Shelley for being such a supportive teammate! - Kristina
Field Size: 15
Teammates: Shelley
Weather: cool, sunny (NO FOG!)
Course: 2.7 laps; 25-mile hilly loop
I was very disappointed to find out, upon registering, that there were a mere 15 of us. Even Mike was disappointed, and never led us around on the moto. The race started slow, with just 15 girls. It seemed we were all recovering from Mt. Hood or other races and very few of us had the energy to put in an attack. Plus, this course is brutal ending on a 3K climb, and no one was silly enough to put in an attack so early in the race.
And on with the race: Velo Bella’s Barbara put in a huge effort to take the first prime in downtown Pescadero! We all cheered for her after her incredible, elbow-throwing effort. After the big town sprint, we chatted until we got to the main climb and got down to business. A few girls got dropped, chased on, and through the next downtown sprint we were back together. This sprint Bri (Tibco) dug deep to take away the “minimal” (as the announcer at the start described it) cash prime prize from Barbara. Shelley and I sat in to save our legs for the final climb. ;) Again, we cruised around the course until the climbs. I whispered to Shelley, I legs feel horrible, don’t wait for me if something happens.
On the second lap, Sarah Bamberger (Cheerwine), Bri, and Maria Monica (Touchstone) all put in a huge effort up the main climb. Shelley and I quickly organized together and I chased Shelley down the hill (I just wasn’t ON today, braking too much down the hill), and we rotated for about a mile at the base of the decent until we caught back on the three who were off the front. The five of us rotated a few miles, just to keep the pace up to make the straglers work a bit more, and to keep the race moving. Slowly, a few other riders caught on and we were about eight. This time I whispered to Shelley, I feel horrible, except when I am going uphill. Along the backstretch, Sarah taught Shelley and I the ‘booty clap’. I am sure the follow car enjoyed this lesson. (On a side note, I have been practicing, but still can’t wiggle like Sarah. Shelley, you got it yet?)
Maria kept the pace high into the final climb and it finally felt like we were racing again. Sarah asked if Shelley or I were going to launch an attack, as we were the only team left with numbers (Flavia, Bri’s teammate flatted along the way and seemed too tired to get back in?). Shelley and I kinda laughed as neither one of us felt the energy to go for it. We came into the feed zone at the base of the climb and I felt the tension. I was sitting about 3rd wheel watching Maria and Sarah, as I thought they would be the ones to stay with. I was looking around and heard and saw Sarah make her move, attacking at the base of the climb. Here we go! I thought, and sprinted after her. I took about 15 seconds before I turned around to see the damage. We were off the front, with a gap on Maria and Bri, and there was Shelley sitting on! I couldn’t believe it. I watched my heart rate up the hill, knowing what I could sustain--after the hundreds of miles climbing at Mt. Hood I freakin’ better be able to hold this for 3K. The suffering seemed short, and I paced Sarah up the hill, checking to make sure Maria or Bri didn’t catch us. Shelley informed me they were both rotating attacks, but just could not get us. I signaled to Sarah to pull around. Again…right elbow…left elbow…nothing….Dang it, I thought. She is going to work me. Come on, I said/pleaded, help. She then jumped me with about 300m to go. I tried hard to catch her, but couldn’t. She got too good of a jump on me. I suffered in for second, Shelley for fifth. Thanks Shelley for being such a supportive teammate! - Kristina
1 comment:
exciting recap. Almost like being there.
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