Way to go, Pink!!! Fourth is super, and the cash is always nice. That pays for the Starbucks reward afterwards and a new tub of electrolyte drink! And fourth on an uphill finish is not bad at all! Hope your post-race recovery is going well.

How did you finish, gear-wise? I remember a race I did with an uphill finish...I misjudged and totally spun out, but placed about 9th out of a field of about 20 or so girls. It was a fun race, only one crash that I can remember, due to someone not holding her line (ggrrrr). Sent the other one flying into a ditch, bike end over end. Glad to hear that your "squirrelly one" didn't get the best of you. There's always one of 'em, so watch out. Oftentimes, the you'll see the same gals at the next race and you'll know who to avoid at all costs.

How big was the field, and I'm assuming Womens Cat 4?? Did the weather gods smile on you or dump it on ya? I imagine Seattle can get pretty wet.

I'm so dead meat -- I'm catching the racing bug again! My husband took that news amazingly well, a blank stare but no protest - I think he realizes there's no point in fighting it! ha!

I raced about 12/13 years ago, then sortof burned out on cycling (I made the grave mistake of being too strict on myself) and met my husband at around the same time. He doesn't ride, so I started spending more and more time away from the bike to be with him. Then we got married, along came the kids (3 of the cute little buggers!), and now that my daughter is two and ALOT less dependent (I breastfed all my kids through 18mos+), I'm able to creep out of the house for rides with the guys (some racers, some not) on Saturday a.m.'s and whenever else possible, quick lunchtime rides, etc. I also bought myself a trainer that I can ride whatever hour of the day I can, usually late after the kids are in bed.

Sooo, I'm getting there. (See the "Goals" thread). I figure if I can meet my goal of staying with the racers by the end of this season, then I'll get my racing license and go for it.

I watched a couple crit's (Merced Criterium and McClane Pacific Cycling Classic) in the next city over from mine (Merced, about 7mi away) spaced a week apart, as well as rode out to the RR course for one of the series (a 55mi day from my house), and was extremely pleased to see how many women are out there racing now. The fields were huge! When I was racing before, a good turnout was maybe 10-15! These fields for the Women's Cat 4 had a good 50+ entered. So awesome so early in the season (this was end of Feb/early March). So, I do believe I've been bitten by the racing bug, and the more I'm riding and getting my form back, the more I'm thinking about where I'll be next year.

Anyway, Pink - I always end up babbling on these posts, sorry....keep us posted on your future races, wins (let's hope). And good luck!