V- you are AMAZING!!!! The fact that you threw down a PR from last year with admittedly little training is simply INCREDIBLE to me!! Congrats on a great race. Sooo excited for you. I was wondering how it all went. Sorry you're disappointed in your race/pre-race training. You did the best with the cards you had in your hand. Congrats!!
oh, and the "suitcase of courage" self talk is hilarious. Looks like you pulled all that courage out for the photo of you climbing and "dancing on your pedals."