NOW MS at Santa Cruz, Torrance and Sea Otter Race results

Sunday, April 18, 2010
* Santa Cruz Criterium Race Results
* Torrance Criterium Race Results
* And... "It Pays to Read the Fine Print" A Race Report by Louise Keoghan (Sea Otter Women Pro 1/2 Circuit Race) - a must read!

We had fewer riders at Santa Cruz Crit today than had raced at Sea Otter. All rode well. It was a good end to a tough weekend. This course is not a flat course, has a u-turn, uphill sprints. It was a great opportunity to re-evaluate where we're at, refocus and get stronger.

Lauren Liscinski and Jenna Kowalski toughed it out in the women's crit today. The race was fairly aggressive, with about the same competitive field as Sea Otter, with TIBCO, Peanut Butter & Co., Webcor. There was a 3-rider breakaway that stayed away (with a rider from each TIBCO, Peanut Butter & Co. and a local team). Lauren had a great race, rode well, finished in the field, in the bunch sprint.

Cory Greenberg, Stephen Leece and Kit Karzen raced for the men. Kit started out at the front of the pack. Cory had a great race, was being active and aggressive. Stephen rode very well also. Bissell once again had the numbers and a plan, they got 2 riders in a break. There were some attempts to pull them back but none worked. Cory finished in the top 20.

NEWS FROM TORRANCE: Christine Barron 3rd in women's cat 4. A one-woman break got away. Christine was 2nd in the sprint.

"It Pays to Read the Fine Print" A RACE REPORT BY LOUISE KEOGHAN (Sea Otter Classic Pro Women's Circuit Race)

The course description for the Sea Otter Circuit Race reads, “Circuit racers will experience the thrill of riding the Laguna Seca Raceway with thousands of fans cheering them on. The course includes a challenging 300-foot climb and an awe-inspiring descent down the world-famous Corkscrew.”

I really think that in order to be humane and adhere to the Geneva Convention (which set the standards in international law for humanitarian treatment of the victims of war), they should add… “and if you are doing the 2-hour Women’s Pro 1/ 2 race, that’s approximately 20 times around. Up and down!

With chants of “Dead Man Walking” from blood-thirsty spectators, Jenna, Julia, Jen Jo, Lauren and I made our way to the start line, after a thorough briefing from Kurt Stockton. Kurt reminds me of Obi-Wan Kenobi. He’s so calm and wise. Just the kind of voice you want in your head, 1. before your plane goes down 2. after your computer crashes, forever 3. moments prior to an NRC race.

A race of this caliber starts with a roll call of all the famous and truly fabulous to the front. “Would the following please step forward… our very own Ten Times World Champion, the Eight Times National Road Champion, the Six Times Criterium Queen, the Five Times Ruler of the Universe”... The list goes on...

And I’m thinking, “Who is going to be left?” Me? I half expected to hear “Oi you, at the back. Step aside, let the world leaders through.”

Of course, I wasn’t letting any of this get inside my head. Earlier my favorite Sports Psychologist, Abigail Lufkin, assured me that being really nervous is a good reminder you that you are alive, present and ready for action.

And ready for action I was. Likewise, my trusted companions and NOW-MS teammates, who have been racing hard all season.

The first time over the power climb feels fine. Kurt warned us it would feel good, but not for long? The descent, however, is brilliant every single time. This is a bona fide speedway. The pavement is super smooth and the banking is designed for cars going over 100 miles an hour, around corners extra fast. It’s exhilarating. Pot holes, bumps and stones just don’t exist. It’s about as good as it gets for a racing surface.

An hour into the 120-minute race, riders started to drop off. The pace was pretty intense. Three riders off the front, a small chase group behind, a second chase group way behind that, the field even further back, some wounded soldiers next…. and finally the completely and utterly dead who were kindly dragged off the course, to make way for the support vehicles.

I know all this because I was one of the “incoming wounded,” but I wasn’t alone. There’s something comforting about swapping war stories with fellow teammates and once sworn enemies, whilst wide eyed and covered in sweat. You also get to cheer those who are left in the race, knowing that you are spared the pain.

With only 32 left in the field, out of 55 starters, it was clear that the breakaway riders had it in the can, along with the small chase group. The officials decided to shorten the race for the main field, placing them accordingly just shy of 1 lap to go.

Races like this remind me why I put myself through the pain. I do it because I am privileged to be racing with top women from all over the country, I can race on a amazing course like this, I learn from a Sports Director who has years of experience, I get to have fun with a team I love, AND I’m allowed to write race reports like I’m actually the real deal.

It’s so much easier to watch a race from the sidelines, but being amongst it is the best feeling in the world. You can’t always win, or finish for that matter. It’s the doing that counts. I don’t think you can overestimate the thrill of it all.

But be warned – the next time you read a circuit description like the one at the top, be sure to check the fine print first. The race organizers are sneaky like that. Sometimes the truth hurts, but it hurts good. Next race please.