Toronto UCI races

Well headed up to Toronto for the UCI races last weekend. Although, I decided to switch my license to masters from elite. So the masters women had a different race time from the elite women. I thought it is about time that I switched to masters, and with Nationals in Toronto I would like to race masters.
Arrived for Day 1 - during warmup, I felt good, loved the course...well most of the course... kindof worried if I would be able to ride this one steep climb, as I knew that would make a big difference in the race if I was able to ride it or not. We got called up to the line, not really sure how they decided the call up order. As it was different Saturday, and Sunday?? Didn't really matter with the field size, and I was front row. I was focusing on having a good start, and I did. Clipped in right away, and got the hole-shot. I rode well during the first section of the course, I managed to ride the steep hill I was worried about, riding the off-cambers turns okay, and the run-up...well that felt slow everytime. I settled into 2nd place. I managed to stay with 1st place through the first lap... she opened a small gap on me, which I managed to close up on the road/open grassy sections. I stayed in 2nd place for the next few laps. Coming through the finish line after completing 3 laps, we had the sign indicate 3 or 4 laps to go??!! In my head, I am thinking WTH... we have to go 6 or 7 laps...but then I have to calculate we will probably be lapped by the men, which it is hard to actually calculate in your head when you can barely breath... this usually happens at most of the races though. It just makes it a bit hard to focus when you are hoping not to 'blow-up' and lose a few spots. Anyway the last two laps of my race were good, 3rd place was gaining on me. I felt like I was at my limit, and hoping I didn't make a mistake soon as that would be enough to cost me. On the last lap, although I wasn't sure it was the last lap, I biked into a stake on one of the turns... I had to unclip to get by it. 3rd place passed me, and in trying not to panic... I got going again. I closed up the gap a bit, but was unable to catch her. I finished in 3rd place. I was happy with the race, even with the mistake an the end I felt strong and overall rode well.
On to Sunday's race, I was feeling the race in my legs from Saturday. Pre-rode the course, didn't like it as much as Saturday. 'The downhill chute' was making me nervous, I wanted to pre-ride it... but the ammouncers were calling us to the line, which added more pressure... so I didn't ride it in warmup, and hoped for the best in the race. Not the greatest race strategy though :). Got to the start and called up. We started, I had a good start and got the hold shot again, headed through the first off-camber section and got passed. I was with the lead group for a bit longer, and then kindof messed up a climb--was in too big a gear...and they opened up a gap. I managed to use up a few matches closing that gap. Also we climbed the hill to the down-hill chute, well I rode it fine. Just a bit slower, antoher small gap formed, that I was unable to close. I rode the remaining of the race with another local rider for 4th and 5th position. We were taking turns at the front, pushing the pace at different spots. I knew the climbing was catching up to me, and I had to unclip a few times on one of the turns... 4th place got a bit of a gap and I was forced to chase. I was maintaining the gap coming into the last lap, just before the start of the last lap- I got passed my the top junior racers who were finishing. I ended up finishing a lap down, and didn't have to ride the last lap. A bit of a surprise that I was finished, but glad that I was done. Ended up in 5th place... pretty good effort. Watched some my husband's races he didn't have a great weekend of racing- got crashed in front of on Saturday but finished 13th. Sunday crashed and DNFed... now he has a cold..uughh. Back training this week, and getting ready for this weekend of racing.

Turkey Cross

Headed up to Toronto yesterday a great day of cross racing. The 'turkey cross' race--this year the race was at a new park, so didn't know what to expect with the course. We were running a bit late in the morning, so that ate into my warm-up, and I only ended up doing like 1/2 lap before the race. Oh well, I figured I would get a good starting position, and start well but a bit conservative since I didn't know the course very well. I had a pretty good start, followed some wheels, moved up a bit. Got through the first few turns and the off-camber leading into the barriers. The leaders started to open up a bit of a gap through this section, and being behind a few other riders- we just ended up riding in a small group of 4 or so. We got to the big off-camber section, and the first ride through wasn't great... no one crashed but we lost alot of speed as we all unclipped a bit. Hit the fast downhill and the run-ups and was kindof getting used to the course. I wanted to move to the front of the group before the big off camber section, so I could lead through there. I made it past a few girls before there, but was second leading into that section. The rider leading crashed, and slid out... I managed to unclip and get around her and settle in to a good pace. I was riding well, hit a steak in the ground but that was it. I was racing my new kona major jake, this is my first race on it...I love it!! Anyway, one of the other riders caught me, and we were together for most of the race. I managed to get a small gap on the last 1.5 laps or so --on the big off-camber section (which I could actually ride pretty good by the end of the race). The first place M2 rider was passing us, then he slid out and I managed to get around him and got a bit of a gap. I kept the gap at 10 seconds or so for the rest of the race. I was happy with the race, and finished 3rd in Senior women. The rest of the day, I was at the playground with the kids and watched Nathan's race. Unfortunately, Nathan didn't have a great day, as he was in the pits twice in the first 3 laps of the race with rolled tubulars. I guess he hit a pretty big rut on the course for one of them. But he stuck it out, and kept racing and rode well- everything considered. The kids enjoyed the park, then we stopped and had a nice Thanksgiving meal with family. Wow, I can't believe it is already Thanksgiving, this fall is going fast.

The Weekend!

Very happy that the long weekend is finally here. I definitely can't wait for a good turkey dinner too. Last weekend was my first double race weekend for this cross season. I raced Saturday in Buffalo, at Romp in the Swamp. A nice race right in the university campus. I got there with enough time to get in a few warm-up laps, I enjoyed the course and started to feel a bit more confident on my bike again-- after the rolled-tubular the week before. Got to the start-line, a decent size women's field, I switched back to sidi shoes and my eggbeater pedals. I am happy already, I can clip in so much easier. I had a good start around 3rd wheel or so, rode the technical parts okay and settled in a small group with 3 or 4 riders. There were 2 riders off the front, and then my small group. After the second lap, we pushed the pace on the technical section, and we broke the group up. Then there were two riders- myself and another rider who were riding together for the rest of the race. We were riding well, and stayed together for the rest of the race. I figured, I would try and go for third. So after the long power section, I attacked with about 1/3 of a lap to go. I got a small gap, and was able to hold it through the final twists and turns and ended up with 3rd place. It was nice to have a good race, after the slow start to the season I have had.
Sunday, we headed up to Toronto for the Oktoberfest cyclocross race. I did a lap or so of the course for warm-up, still a but tired from the day before, and there was alot of running on Sunday.... well at least for me there was. After talking with my husband after his race, most of the elite men could ride half of the stuff I had to run....uggh. I made my way to the start line to see a big women's field, unfortunately I should have been there a bit earlier as I was starting near the back. We started, I don't remember much as it was up a big hill... I think I did okay, made up a few spots. Over the barriers, around a crashed rider, for the short climbs, not feeling too great on all the climbs but did okay. I settled in by the end of the first lap. I rode a few laps, with a few riders just ahead of me. I seemed to be riding a few parts, slower than they were, and expended alot of energy to catch up on the run-ups and flat sections. After a few laps, I lost contact with that group, and rode the rest of the race on my own. I started to ride some of the technical sections a bit better by the end, and felt like I was handling my bike a bit better. I ended up 4th in senior women overall. I was happy with the effort, and definitely got a good workout in!!!
This week has been crazy. Two sick kids, a trip to the CF clinic for them. 3 new medications for my son, and one for my daughter. A new schedule of trying to remember when to give the meds, extra masks, etc. My daughters first trip to the dentist, as she managed to chip her two front teeth...after only having them for like 5 months??!! I have been working a bit extra for the past few weeks, as my co-worker is on her honeymoon! But I have my new cross bike now together, and I have got on it 3 times this week. I am starting to love it!! I will have to get some pics of it.