Women at ADT and Brentwood-Race Report

When:Saturday 8/8/09
What: Elite Nationals Qualifier Points Race
Where: ADT
Who: Julia, Me, some other girls and oh, Sarah Hammer.
Why: Wanted some good ole fashion hurtin'

This was my first real womens points race on the track and I was, well, terrified. I have been racing Tues nights at the SD velodrome but that 20 degree banking made ADT's 40something banking look like a cliff. The fact that I was racing with Sarah Hammer only made matters worse. The race started off pretty calm. We were doing 100 laps with sprints every ten laps. The first two sprints totally sketched me out and I sent myself to the back of the group with my tail between my legs. It was about five more laps when a switch flipped inside of me and I heard Julia's voice in my head, "Just pick a lap to sprint and go for it." The next time we saw 2 to go I attacked and just went as hard as I could and no one passed me at the line for the points. I pulled up and there was no one there period. Too tired to try to go up the road I waited for the rest of the field. About this time Julia goes off the front to soon be joined by Sarah Hammer and a Proman girl, Hanan. I simply sit at the front for the next ten laps or so and slow it down so they can catch the back of the pack. That put Sarah at first, Julia at second, and Hanan at third. I got points in another sprint then saw Sarah Hammer attacking w/ Julia on her wheel so I decided to try to go with it. That was one of the most painful decisions of my cycling career. As most people know, I generally dont have a pain face, usually just a durrr face. That day I accepted my pain face and boy it was ugly. As Julia described, it was like Sarah Hammer just had another gear that we had never felt before, like putting it into overdrive. We came into a point sprint right before lapping the field and they let me take the points so I could move into third. After that I was so determined I pulled the next two laps to get back onto the back of the group. I saw 8 to go and that is the only really vivid memory I have. Coming into 3 to go Julia yelled at me to get on her wheel so I did, but she fit through a gap that would have been uncomfortable for me on the road let alone on a 45 degree banked turn with no breaks. I lost her wheel and tried to attack over the top but got boxed in and sprinted in at fourth place. After the points were calculated it was determined that I did finish third and made it to Nationals. Whew. Oh yea, about forty minutes later Julia and I hopped on the track again for the team sprint. Both our legs cramped, but we won. Meaning we were the only team. This was the first time I got really into a track race and felt competetive and it was amazing. I cant wait for Tues night racing tomorrow!

When: Sunday 8/9/09
What: Brentwood GP
Where: Beautiful Brentwood, duh
Who: Julia, Jen Jo, PC, Louise, Julie, and Me (tons of us!)
Why: why not?

Legs were feeling quite blocked from yesterday's effort, but I'm always up for a good crit. This course had two 180 turns, a hill, a ridiculous head wind, and lots of cash, definitely a good crit! Started off alright, nothing spectacular. On the second lap a La Grange girl attacked and I went with her and another Helen's rider. We got a gap but I had no faith it would stick. It didnt and we got caught on the next lap, so I attacked again going up the hill and the same two girls went with me again along with Katie Donovan. Now I thought this might have a chance. I never really looked back at that point so I dont know when we got the gap or when the other two riders bridged up to us but there we were; two La Grange, two Helens, me, and a random girl in a red kit. It took forever for us to get somewhat organized (we never did) and Katie kept attacking the group which at least kept the pace high and dropped one of the Helens girls. Once I saw that back of the field in front of us all I was thinking was "teammate, teammate, teammate, teammate." I figured the odds were against me not having a teammate. Looking back now I regret this decision. I was definitely the strongest sprinter of that group and was able to take the turn around a lot faster so probably had a better shot just the five of us, but oh well. Hindsight is always twenty-twenty right? As it went we caught the field and I went to the front with Julia and PC. I lost their wheels though with one to go (I was seeing cross-eyed and almost had a girl twice my size swerve into me so I figured I'd avoid a crash and lose the wheel). I also got cut off in the turn around and just tried to hold my position to the line. I felt the inner trackie trying to get out as my entire sprint was in the saddle. I finished 5th in the field sprint which put me in 3rd overall. Best result I've had in awhile. Seems like third is my position for the weekend. Maybe I can better that soon!
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