WA State Road Race Championship, Elma WA

[Eden]

Was both totally sick and had a blast at this race. I don't know what was up, but I had an upset stomach that wouldn't quit. I felt like I wanted to throw up the entire way, but fortunately it wasn't affecting my legs and lungs.

The course was one I'd done earlier in the season. A 12 mile loop, with a 3K climb that us women 4's would do 2.5 times - the flyer said 3.5 so it was a relief to know that we would only be doing that climb 3 times rather than four! The finish was at the top of the climb. There are 18 gals listed on the results, but I'd swear more started (about 25?) so I'm thinking that they didn't list non-finishers. The group stayed pretty much together the first time up the climb, which was a bit of a surprise, but I think everyone was thinking about having to climb it twice more. We came back down to the valley and onto a twisty farm road - careful of the chickens ( a free range chicken flew into a rider at the last race - she crashed but, both rider and chicken reported to have been OK). My team mates were doing great, launching attacks - getting on the front. I was sitting in the middle of the pack, feeling a bit green and worrying a bit about what was going to happen when the gas got turned on for the next climb. When we hit the hill one gal started launching attacks left and right, but she didn't have the acceleration to get away. It did string out the group a bit though. When we got closer to the top the decisive attack came. 4 people got a gap up the road - one was off the front with 3 chasers. There were 2 of us in the gap between the pack and the chasers. She should have been being more careful, since she had a team mate in the break, but I caught her wheel and let her pull me up to the break. We could see the lone gal up front and we figured with 5 of us working together we could catch her, but not so. We kept her in sight all of the way down the hill and through the flats, but she proved to be stronger than we anticipated. We were all working together quite nicely, but no one wanted to blow themselves up before that final climb to the finish. Working in a small paceline like that was so much fun I could almost forget I wanted to pull over and throw up! When we hit the bottom of the hill, the games began. We went up that hill the last time so slow (I was starting to wonder if the pack was going to get us, but they were no where to be seen), no one wanted to take the lead. There were 3 in the group who are known to be very stong, plus myself and the other gal, relative newbies, both on our first season. I was pretty sure I was the weakest of the bunch so I certainly wasn't going to try to go before any of them. The run up to the finish is kind of interesting. The hill steepens and turns right, up a short steep hill onto a false flat of about 50 meters or less to the line. The person I was watching to go attacked at the turn and took it wide (the grade is less severe if you don't cut the corner close) I did my best to follow, the other 3 took the turn closer. Those three came in 2-3-4 (remember there was a gal off the front), but I managed to pass the original attacker on the short climb after the right. I figured she would probably get me on the small flat, but I held her off and finished 5th!

[BikeMomma]

Good job, Eden on your 5th place - and great willpower for sticking in and making the break when you felt like puking! Awesome! THAT is racing --- just going for it.

Hey does the racing calendar up there slow down for the summer, or are races scheduled regularly throughout? The weather gets so hot here in CA (especially Central CA) that racing virtually stops completely for June and July. There are a couple in August, and then September has more. I imagine the cooler weather up there in the NW allows for a non-stop season.

Keep the reports coming!
~BikeMomma

[Eden]

Good job, Eden on your 5th place - and great willpower for sticking in and making the break when you felt like puking! Awesome! THAT is racing --- just going for it.

Hey does the racing calendar up there slow down for the summer, or are races scheduled regularly throughout? The weather gets so hot here in CA (especially Central CA) that racing virtually stops completely for June and July. There are a couple in August, and then September has more. I imagine the cooler weather up there in the NW allows for a non-stop season.

Keep the reports coming!
~BikeMomma

We pretty much keep going until mid September. It rarely gets terribly hot here, at least on this side of the mountains. Even mid summer if you are scheduled to go in the morning you'll probably need your arm and knee warmers and it cools off for the evenings too.

You can check out the local calendar at http://www.wsbaracing.com/events.asp if you are interested.

[Pink Kona]

Great report Eden... here's my take from the 1/2/3 race.

It was somewhat chilly when I rolled up to Vance Creek - about an 1.5 hour drive south of Seattle. It was hard deciding what to wear - because the sky looked like it could open up and start pouring at any moment - and I didn't want to be caught unprepared. I ended up with knee warmers, long fingered gloves, undershirt, jersey and windtex vest plus arm warmers and was perfect. Not too hot - not too cold. Dressing correctly can be somewhat of a challenge - especially in the spring. Like who would've known a few weeks ago it'd snow on TST? Frozen to the bone I learned my lesson - better over prepared in the spring time.

We had a nice showing - about 21 women. Various teams showed up in more force then they have for most of the season. Group Health, Wines, and Ti all had more than 5 members. Then there were a couple of us straglers - Byrne, UW, Axley, etc. Which meant - sit back and let the teammates do the majority of the work - but keep a careful eye on the attack situations and be prepared to bridge the gap if the right combination of racers get up the road. The only time this was truly threatening was when Lisa from TGH got a 15 second lead on the group during the last lap - and she's an excellent time trialist. I made a comment, "well there goes the race..." and apparently that was all I needed to say to get Tia from Ti motivated to reel her back in.

I felt solid going into the climbs. I've been working on getting into a rhythm - concentrating on breathing and keeping a solid pace going. Jadine's pace certainly helped. She is not the first one up the hill but she's certainly going to get up it in no time. Plus she has somewhat of a calming effect - and that little bit of comfort was all I needed to stay in the game and play. On the last lap however, I was distanced from her and the leaders and ended up hearing someone start saying negative things.... "uh oh. I can't do it...." blows the concentration. Luckily I was able to hold on tight to the wheel I was on and left the woman down the hill. That was a perfect example of how self-doubt and negativity will result in exactly that - a positive attitude and energy will make all the difference.

At about 300 meters from the turn with the steep kicker and finish line, the pace eased up and I sat in instead of driving it beyond them and getting a better placement. Dang it! Why didn't I go? Where was that energy and drive to keep it going? How about those insane watts that I can put out when under pressure? But alas, today I was content with being 10th. My hubby pointed out a good perspective - at least I'm learning and recognizing where improvement can be made. And my mom pointed out another great perspective - last year I couldn't even finish with the group. Actually, come to think of it - two weeks ago I couldn't even finish with the pack. So there! Not bad - there's still room for improvement and I'm not satisfied - but not bad, not bad at all.

[BikeMomma]

Pretty damn good if you ask me. You're awesome, Jen! Great report...inspiring!
~BikeMomma

[BikeMomma]

We pretty much keep going until mid September. It rarely gets terribly hot here, at least on this side of the mountains. Even mid summer if you are scheduled to go in the morning you'll probably need your arm and knee warmers and it cools off for the evenings too.

You can check out the local calendar at http://www.wsbaracing.com/events.asp if you are interested.

Thanks, Eden. Looks like you gals can keep at it all summer! Maybe someday I'll make it up there - who knows.
~BikeMomma