My first road race is Saturday

[jehocu03]

Well, I DID IT! Here is my race report. FYI, Manda and Barb are my teammates, which I mention in the post. Let me know what you think and if you have any advice for pre-race food, post-race food(p.s. I'm gluten-free), and how NOT to cramp or blow up on the first hill! Thanks!

"So here is my race report for everyone:
-In general, the course had a terribly gusty crosswind on the backside of the course (*especially as the race went on), a tailwind on the south section (awesome rollers) but a sucky headwind going north (i.e. while climbing start/finish hills).
-Used my brand new Giant OCRA1W bike (first ride with it since it only came in yesterday!). What a great bike!
-Like Manda said, 1.5 mile neutral roll-out was more intense than it should have been. I blame that on the placement of the start/finish (at the top of a steep climb), as well as my lack of anaerobic training. Basically, I was dropped on the neutral roll-out (my legs blew-up on the hill...i.e. BEFORE the official start line haha). At the top of the climb, I saw the group at the bottom of a super steep and fast incline, leading into a fairly sharp left turn (with gravel and rock bits scattered about, no less). I was on full-tilt at that point, trying my hardest to rejoin the group, but didn't have it in my legs. I was on my own for the next 30 miles..
-Second turn of lap uno (of three), my legs started to cramp and my calves both charlie-horsed BIG TIME! Was definitely contemplating dropping out at that point. Thankfully, cramping went away by turn 3 of first lap.
-Second lap was pretty fun and fast and I don't remember much of it, except seeing my BF out on the course snapping a photo of me and telling me to keep going. And some guys from BF's team cheering me on as they passed me. Oh, and I remember getting the chills and goosebumps during the first part of the 2nd lap (a sign of dehydration)..which is when I realized I had been ignoring my water bottles in an effort to chase down the cat 4 women's mirage.
-Part of lap 2 and all of lap 3, I was chasing down a girl (I think she had to switch a wheel out along the course). Everytime she would see me gaining on her, it seemed like she would start picking up the speed and try to sprint. I'm still confused as to why she didn't let me get up to her so we could manage the rest of the race together., but oh well!
-Start/finish hill of last lap sucked. Longest climb of all 3 laps. Cat 4 women encouraging me as they ride down the hill towards city hall, a signal to me that they are already done haha. The encouragement was much needed, though. At the steepest part of the climb, my right quad pops and feels like it is going to break out of my skin! Nasty feeling, woundn't recommenced it. Crossed finish line, official tells me I'm done (really?), and I slowly glide towards to grass and some cat 4 ladies still hanging around. I upclip my right leg and...OHHHH!...right quad charlie-horses and I couldn't bend my leg to get off my bike! hahaha.
-Once the race was over, I started cramping again. Drank 6 water bottles (within 2 hours), but still wasn't enough. 3 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but still hungry. 2 rice krispie bars, a lara bar, too. Ate 2 packs of sport beans and a powerbar gel and 2 bottles of gatorade stuff out on course. Oh, and I had a banana right after the race was done. CLEARLY, I burned a bazillion calories.

Regardless of basically doing a TT during a road race, I learned TONS, both about cycling and myself. 1.) need to eat more salt before race days, 2.) Stay hydrated 3.) Don't do your first RR with a hilltop start/finish course 4.) my bike is awesome 5.) racing is harder than anything I have ever done physically (including division 1 and 3 college hockey). 6.) the cycling crowd is fun 7.) I can ride faster than I thought!

Also, while out on the course, there was a sign that said "Farming" on it. I knew it was the name of this random town with no gas station, but there wasn't even a population number on it. It didn't even say it was a town. So I wondered "is Farming being used a noun, verb, or both?". Considering the number of grumbling, old farmers on machines while riding, I think it's a verb haha. Also, Farming has a baseball field right next to their cemetery. Oh, an their baseball teams name is the "Goat Ropers" (at first glance, I thought it said "Goat Rapers"..and I wasn't the only one)."