Wings and Flames, MSC #2- Angle Fire, NM

Of all my racing experience so far, I believe Angle Fire '07 was my best weekend yet. I had a riotous XC and a power surge in the STXC.

I'll give a quick play by play:

XC:

My Expert class of women went out fairly slow, unusual for a MSC race. I was setting mid pack going into the climb. As the other ladies started to blow up I ramped my effort. I moved up to second and set on the leader's wheel up the climb. She was my focus, having beat me by 13 mins in Nathrop. I knew I could not let her get away from me. At the top she and I were both off of our bikes through the end of the rock garden. I jogged my bike by her and went into the decent first. Then one mistake on a root took me from first to third by the end of the first lap.

Four of us were together at the lap line. I settled back in and moved from third back into first as we climbed again. This time I started to pull away. I had good legs and felt like I could. Then teammate, Megan came by me. Her presence boasted my moral and I took the opportunity to get farther ahead of my age group. I had gaped them by a couple of minutes. That is when I started to get a cramp in my stomach. It felt a little like a runners side cramp. As I pushed it worsened to the pain of an appendix about to rupture. I dropped my endurance drink at the water station and started getting pure H20 in me. Pretty soon I was off the bike, doubled over in pain. I told myself to keep moving. I was leading the race, how could I possibly stop. Through excruciating pain I keep moving forward. Every glance over my shoulder I expected to see my competition gaining on me. By the top of the climb two women had passed me. I made it my goal to top the climb. I knew I could tolerate the pain descending and finish the race. I did just that and rolled across the line in third place. Thankfully I didn't drop out, because it still equaled a podium finish.






STXC:

This was the race where I learned what it felt like to actually RACE. I was really lacking motivation at the start line. A friend of mine (who is a coach himself) told me to hold back more at this Short Track start then in others. He said it would be easier to attack them when they got tired than when they were fresh. I think altitude played a hand in that as well. So I went out hard enough to be in the first half of the pack but not to be in any kind of decent position. I sat in this place for 4 laps or so. Then I recognized that I either needed to race or get out of the way. I chose to race. I started working my way up from 9th place to 8th, 7th,6th. Pretty soon I was setting in 3rd place behind teammate Megan. I trailed her for a lap and then said "what the hey..." and gunned it. I passed her and took off after the woman in first. There was quiet a gap up to her. Each lap I narrowed it by seconds, but it still felt daunting. I was completely maxed out. I put everything out there. It came down to the final lap. I was still several seconds behind her. The announcer said there was little chance of "Musick" catching the leader. At the bottom of the uphill finish a friend of mine screamed "Sprrrrrinnnnttt". I bolted out of the saddle long before I had planned to and put the hammer down. It was one of those moments were everything almost goes black. I crossed the finish line some 6 inches behind first. She dropped her bike and collapsed to the ground. My lungs felt like they would explode with every exhale. It felt simply incredible. This was a break through race for me. I'm sure of it. I found that place of suffering and I didn't hide from it. I faced it. I suffered. And it made for a stellar race. The only thing better would have been to take her at the line. Next time...

Short Track VeloNews

Chili Challenge XIX
Angel Fire, New Mexico
May 27

Short track
Women

1. Katie Compton, Spike Shooter
2. Gretchen Reeves, Tokyo Joe's
3. Kelley Mattingly
4. Caitlyn Tuel, Trek-Volkswagen
5. Kristina Andrus, BMC-Sports Garage
6. Heather Baumgartner, Colorado Singletrack
7. Becca Blay, Bear Naked-Cannondale
8. Sonya Looney, Tough Girl-Contessa
9. Stephanie Ward, Spike Shooter
10. Sarah Musick, CoMotion

4 inches happier. (This is not SPAM).

So I bit the bait. I turned in my purist ARC plans and am now building up a stellar ASRsl race machine. There will be baby pictures posted as soon as she's done (yes, 'she'). And let me say now, that I realize I may well have back pain for the rest of my life for racing a hardtail at Angle Fire, but the new gal just won't be ready to go by then. I'll keep my bitching and moaning to myself when I finish my XC race. Deal?

Oliver the Great.

After one long season of never seeing another jersey that matched my own, I was glad to be surrounded by comrades this weekend at the first Mountain States Cup race in Nathrop, CO. I presupposed this team thing was going to be the extra push. The push I need to get my foot over to the other side, where bike racing is FAST and you have to be just as fast to play a role in their game. I was excited by the team dynamics going into the weekend. For me everything culminated into a long awaited (in-the-back-of-our-trailer-sleeping-long-awaited) Short Track race on Sunday.

It was a Pro/Expert women start, which meant for we Experts "don't get pulled". Several of the guys emphasized the importance of staging and getting a good up-front position. I was on the line, front row, ready to hammer my guts out. Bubba and Chad pulled all my excess gear (tube, CO2, pump, water bottle) off my bike, while laughing at my novice-like ways. Then just as I asked for my bottle back, the official started the race. I jumped for my pedals and took off. I got in behind two pros and did as I was told, "hammered my guts out" the first lap. Then on the second lap the other Pros came rushing past me. I held decent position as the second Expert in behind the Pros. Over the course of several rolling laps I managed to get by one Pro rider and finish as the 2nd Expert and 6th overall. The screaming, cheering, and instructing from the sidelines fueled my spirit and my will as my body fought to keep up with the pace. There was a different team member at every turn rooting me on. I loved it. Their shouts kept me stomping the pedals over. I was excited with the outcome of the race and the weekend as a whole.

My XC race on Saturday was successful as well. Though I finished 3rd behind two extremely strong, fast ladies. This will be a season of committed work to get to the top of the podium. Ever race will be a new challenge (and opportunity).

On the flip side (the pun is intended)...Oliver made all the first place team wins look like child's play compared to his ferocious first lap around the Short Track course. He was leading a pack of screaming fast dudes when they hit the motto section of the course, literally. He came into the jumps with speed and intensity and hit the dirt with the same. Much of the talk of the weekend surrounds this explosive crash and the aftermath of it. I know I took that turn with care my first few laps through the Short Track.

Oliver we wish you a speedy recovery...I think your mental capacity is what will need the most encouragement in coping with this mishap. Hang tough. We need our Oliver back on course.

Why I Say No To A Cup Of Joe.

A word on tannins (found in coffee and some tea) from my personal nutritionist:

If ingested in excessive quantities, tannins inhibit the absorption of minerals such as iron into the body. This is because tannins are metal ion chelators, and tannin-chelated metal ions are not bioavailable.

Camellia sinensis or White tea, green tea, oolong and black tea all have naturally high content of tannin. Tea extracts have been reported to contain no tannin, so look at the ingredient list to your Oregon tea and see if it contains real tea or extract.

Berries also have a high content of tannin. All of this isn't to say you shouldn't consume these foods, but should only consume in moderation. When it comes to tea, loose leaf teas probably have a higher tannin content. They say the hotter the water the greater chances of distroying the natural goodness of tea. So, I say heat it like hell to destroy the tannin.

After a second look, you'll notice there are five beers and one recovery drink in this picture. One of these things just doesn't belong here....maybe I'm not a REAL mountain biker. Maybe I'll be ban from our team keg. O' to be the new girl...

It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To.

Yesterday, I had an exciting Birfday. If you missed it..."How could you?"

**tears in eyes**

**wipes tears on sleeve**

So, that makes this weekend, my BIRTHDAY weekend- which means we got some good bike racing to celebrate.

Party at my tent! Bring lots of presents.

I would like two wins for my Birthday, please. Thanks, thanks a lot.

The Skinny on my Job.

I like my new skinsuit SO much that I wear it to work. The office tolerates it (as long as I wash the suit every couple of days....you know).

2007 Race Schedule.

My Season Stops:

March 17-18: TT, Crit, RR- Boulder, CO

Mar 31-Apr 1: NORBA#1 – Phoenix, AZ

April 7: Yeti Spring Series#1- Nathrop, CO

April 15: AFA Road Race- CoSpr, CO

April 26: Meridian Training Race

April 28: YSS #2-Nathrop, CO

May 1: Meridian Training Race

May 5: LookoutMtn. HC- Golden, CO

May 12-13: MSC#1 – Nathrop, CO

May 26-28: MSC#2 – Angel Fire, NM

June 10: Crit

June 16-17: NORBA#3 – Park City, Utah

June 23-24: MSC#3 – Crested Butte, CO

July 1: Crit

July 8: Road Race

July 14-15: MSC#4 – Snowmass Village, CO

July 22: Mt. Evans Hillclimb

July 28-29: MSC#5 – Telluride, Colo.

August 4-5: Circuit Race/Crit

Aug. 11-12: NORBA#6 – Snowmass Village, Colo.

Aug. 18-19: MSC#6 – Nederland, CO

Sept. 1-3: MSC#7- Keystone, CO

Experience staching...

Lookout Mountain Hill Climb
Golden, CO
May 5, 2007

Saturday a host of lean road racers lined the streets at the base of Lookout Mtn. Hundreds of cyclists rolled out through the thick clouds and raced for the top.

I'll be honest, this wasn't a race I was excited about. I felt like I was putting in my time, which was a lousy way to go into the event. I raced 31 Cat 4 women, the biggest women's category of the day. The infamous Stephen Illes, Pro CoMotion rider, who had just introduced himself during my warm up, nodded to me at the line. I knew what my job was: go make something happen. It was a big field but I was cocky to think that there was no Cat 4 female who could beat me. This was a VERY poor way to start the race. I know better now.

It took 3 attempts to get clipped into my slippery road pedals. Totally frustrated, I sprinted around the outside of the pack toward the front. I set in behind the front line for .8 mile. Then I made a move that I thought would be unmatched. It wasn't. I attached and about 10 women hung on with me. I kept a steady tempo, coming out of the saddle to pound when the grade got steep. At about 1.4 miles another woman attached. "Up, up!" the pack of ten shouted. About 5 ladies hung onto that attach. I was not among them. There was a tiny window that went by me. I had a split second opportunity to jump. I hesitated. And I missed it. I chased. I was out of the saddle hammering. But it wasn't enough to bridge the gap. I spent the remainder of the climb watching the leaders one curve ahead of me. They were taking pulls. They were working together. I was unmatched to them. In the process I allowed another girl or two past me. I finished 9th with a time of 25:46.

Maybe my second time up Lookout Mtn will be faster.

Road Racing, when will I ever understand you??

So I was thinkin', a Missy Goive haircut?!?!

Hand On My Back.

So maybe this isn't a fair comparison, but you have to realize perception can be one's reality. Yesterday, Alison and I ventured to the Meridian Training Race again. We drove up through a torrential down pore and back in the same. Thankfully, there was a 50 min. window that allowed us to race bikes.

I had just come off a race weekend and was going into my third week of a tough training block. I could feel the work on my body. But we rode. And we rode hard.

The pace was a bit faster and more steady than last Thursday. I noticed the difference right away. I worked to stay in behind riders and out of the wind. Just as I started to come off the back of the pack I felt a hand on the small of my back. I glanced over and saw Al pushing me, literally. This went on for the next few laps. Each time I felt like I had reached my limit she pushed me a bit harder. I wanted to curse but didn't have enough breath. Even my eyes were hot. I can honestly say I have not ridden that hard in a VERY long time. Surprisingly, my race last weekend didn't feel this intense. Every lap the defecate got greater. And every lap she asked a bit more of me.

After 45 mins of this. She finally let me recover, just shy of pucking the pb&j I devoured on the drive. At that moment enormous drops of rain began to cover the pavement and land on my neck and arms. We made a mad dash to the car just before the storm unleashed.