Race Report: Dilworth Criterium
May. 7th, 2005 07:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ninevirtuesRace: Dilworth Criterium (an open women's race, containing categories pro, 1, 2, 3, 4; 4 is the lowest, for beginners, and yes, I'm a 4).
The fun started in the minivan on the way, when the Victory Brewing van pulled up next to us. (Victory Brewing is a national-level team who brought two women to the race today.) That caused an instant anxious attack for my two teammates (category 2 and 3 racers, respectively). Oh yeah, and Quark was there. (Same deal-- the Quark team also races nationally).
Yipe. I. Am planning. To line. Up. With them. Okay honey, just so we're clear on this, you really ARE willing to get your butt kicked today..... right?
Right.
To make a long story short, I fell off the back in the first lap. I got into a little chase group of four women who were probably all cat 4s like me; we were lapped twice by the faster women.
But:
1) I can tell the organized training I've been doing is paying off; I felt strong and fast compared to my little chase group, and I was the fastest climber in that little group. At the end of the 45-minute race, I did not feel nuked.
2) At the end, I was 17th of 20, and I outclimbed my little chase group to finish before they did.
3) And, once again, I made a Dumb Move: Because I climbed faster than the other three riders with me, when the announcer called a prime just for our little group, I positioned myself first up the hill.... to no avail, because they stuck with me. Okay, I figured, I will outsprint them and win this $30 prime.
Nope. Not even. The #2 lady right behind me beat me to it. I still gotta work on my sprint.
The fun started in the minivan on the way, when the Victory Brewing van pulled up next to us. (Victory Brewing is a national-level team who brought two women to the race today.) That caused an instant anxious attack for my two teammates (category 2 and 3 racers, respectively). Oh yeah, and Quark was there. (Same deal-- the Quark team also races nationally).
Yipe. I. Am planning. To line. Up. With them. Okay honey, just so we're clear on this, you really ARE willing to get your butt kicked today..... right?
Right.
To make a long story short, I fell off the back in the first lap. I got into a little chase group of four women who were probably all cat 4s like me; we were lapped twice by the faster women.
But:
1) I can tell the organized training I've been doing is paying off; I felt strong and fast compared to my little chase group, and I was the fastest climber in that little group. At the end of the 45-minute race, I did not feel nuked.
2) At the end, I was 17th of 20, and I outclimbed my little chase group to finish before they did.
3) And, once again, I made a Dumb Move: Because I climbed faster than the other three riders with me, when the announcer called a prime just for our little group, I positioned myself first up the hill.... to no avail, because they stuck with me. Okay, I figured, I will outsprint them and win this $30 prime.
Nope. Not even. The #2 lady right behind me beat me to it. I still gotta work on my sprint.
