This past weekend our local Velodrome hosted a National Qualifier event boasting both sprint and endurance events. A sprint event is usually classified as less than 3k and an endurance event more than 3k. I've been having some success as of late with track racing and decided to give it a go.
We started with a flying 200 m - meaning you circle two laps. The first lap you stay up near the rail and get your body ready for a hard sprint effort. With one lap to go you hear a bell, similiar to preme laps, and then are timed from the 200m mark to the finish line. My legs were feeling fast - my split time was 13:26 seconds. They then paired the fastest qualifier with the slower and we complete a match sprint. Best two out of three wins. While we waited for the match sprints to start all of the women completed a 500m TT. This was another event I have not competed in before- all I knew was to go as fast as humanly possible. A few feet from the finish line I had a severe stomach cramp that haulted optimal performance - my time was 41:48. Despite the hitch in my giddy up I still managed to place 2nd overall - 1st went to Annette Hanson who has won a national championship.
Next we did the match heats - I was paired with a strong Cat 1 roadie who has just recently taken up track racing. The match sprints are similar to the flying 200 - in that you complete 2 laps and first person across the finish line wins. It is a game of strategy and speed - usually the first lap is slow paced and the second sees all the action. Amazingly - I was able to out sprint her in both races - placing me in the finals.
I was paired up against the other winner of a heat - she swept her competition as well. She is a strong, fast track racer who focuses only on track. I have a lot of respect for her. Same game- 2 lap scratch race, best two out of three wins. I pulled the same move as I did on the previous opponent and it was a little close for comfort pulling through the finish line first. The second match she lagged behind - I waited for her jump, which never came .... juked her a little and then hit the gas with 300m to go. Fortunately she was a little too far behind and didn't react fast enough to my attack. That was a good win.
Lastly I competed in a 15 lap scratch race - one of the endurance events. There were only 4 women, including myself, one of which was from B.C. So regardless of how I did I knew I was locked into qualifying. We did lap pulls - rotating lead position until the final 5 laps or so and some attacks were thrown. Then with one lap to go the action heated up and next thing I knew I was increasing my throttle through corner three and four without standing and passed through the finish line. Two golds and a silver. Not bad.
Please bare in mind I just started track racing a month ago. Nationals here I come!
