I won socks!

[solveig]

A local bike shop puts on a series of 4 time trials on Wednesday nights in the fall. They're 10 miles, 5 out and 5 back, over rolling hills, and from what I gather they've been doing that route for something like 30 years.

So I tried the first one, never having TT'd before, and got 31:13. Better than I expected. Then the next one I did exactly one second faster - but both of those I wasn't really warmed up and had ridden too hard on a group ride the day before.

So THIS week, it rained steady from Sunday through Tuesday, and on top of that our farm schedule was nuts, so no riding at all after a Saturday night ride.

And the somewhat-involuntary taper worked! I was well-fueled, felt strong, and actually managed not to get so nervous that I obliterated myself in the first 2 miles. I even - for the first time ever in a race - PASSED 2 PEOPLE. Granted, one was riding her first ride ever on her new road bike, and the other was 17 years old. But I passed them and felt strong doing it! And the best part was that the whole time I knew that regardless of my time, I had already won because I was riding a better race than I ever had.

And then I found out my time: 29:42! Holy crap! I was shooting for under 31.

And I ended up getting 3rd in the women's category - best 2 times added together - and won a pair of cycling socks! Yeah!

Thanks for listening! You all rock and have motivated me so much!

[SouthernBelle]

Outstanding!

Are they really cute sox?

[solveig]

No, the sox aren't really cute - just white with "Cannondale" written on them - but very lightweight and comfy. The cute ones were all snapped up before they got to me. I've never had real cycling socks before!

[spokewench]

What an accomplishment - Hey winning anything is good

[RoadRaven]

I lurve TTs
To do a PB is fabulous
To do it so comprehensively - a minute and a half under your hoped-for-time is truly significant in a TT - is fantastically fabulous!

To win the socks - what a great bonus.

I have the local Club Champs ITT coming up in two Saturdays time... I hope I can do so well!