Adventures of the Northwest

Track Racing on Wednesday Nights.....kicks some major BOOTY!!!!

Pictures:

Jane, Me and Melinda - is this the game face Jane refers to?!

Me racing.

So Jane and I talked prior to getting to the races. We agreed if they didn’t have enough Cat 4 riders for a separate group then we would just watch. I got there and people were trying to encourage me to just do it. It looked a bit promising since a lot of people were at Nationals. So we signed up knowing it would be challenging but a bit more even in the field. I also heard some Byrne members discussing how Wednesdays are technically supposed to be for new people and all those at Nationals are supposed to just ride on Fridays.

First Women’s Race:

On to the races, the first one was an 8 lap scratch thus only the first person cross the line at the end scores points. I didnt know what to expect as they put all of us women, about 12, together. The group quickly took off. I struggled to get on a wheel to try to find a good position. Up track, down track, up, down, trying to get past a slower person but unable to pull it off thus falling back on their wheel. Up, down... 2 laps to go my legs feel the pain of earlier this week. I know I am not winning this so I back off on my exertion for the next races.

I see Jimmy in the stands and went to talk to him. He missed the gasworks ride so he came to see me. That was nice because I could hear him cheer me on and it gave me some strength. THANKS JIMMY! :-) dang say what?! I am up already?! I go running into the infield and grab my bike.

Second Women’s Race:

This is the split women’s 8 lap snowball so now we are racing with others closer to our ability. I was trying hard to stay on a wheel and watch the group, watch for attacks, get in front, not overlapping tires. At some point Jane came next to me and wanted me to take her wheel. So I did and saved some energy. It was hard to time being on a wheel, not being in the wind, wedging myself between other wheels to get in the paceline. But being behind Jane gave me a break and on the last lap on the back stretch I was able to sprint. I pushed soooo hard and I could sense someone closing in. I gave all my might but their wheel just passed the finish line by About 3 inches! Crap! I was so close. :( I then freaked out and almost off the track as that woman, Jody, swooped next to me and I felt was going to take me out. As I was in the warm up circle Martin told me I had a good attack. At some point I shook my head at Phil he asked me what was wrong and I told him she almost took me out and he said he thought that was what happened. She later came up to me and apologized. I told her that was ok it just freaked me out. Phil was there and said he wanted to make sure there wasn't going to be a fight. I thought it was an odd remark until Jane's remark later. She said I have such a mean game face on when I am out there. LOL! ME?! CUTE, INNOCENT ME?! Ha! I am just focused, working hard, grabbing strength from every little cell of my very being to whoop BOOTY! It can be painful too so I am gritting, grimacing and pushing! She said my eyes go all crazy and I could scare kids with my race look. Hmm I bet I look like I am about to morph into Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde!

Last Women’s Race:

So the last race Jane and I were worried. It was the whole field of women again and it was a 4x4 which would be the longest RACE for us. So off the group went - fast! Sigh... My legs are feeling the strain. I am feeling the yo-yo affect as there were times I over-lapped a wheel and had to yell stick or below you and so on. I kept trying to stick with the group, trying to slowly work up, as the Byrne team mostly lead. The race was going so fast. I saw 7, out of 16 laps, to go. I felt exhausted and wanted to quit but knew I couldn’t. Jane and I agreed to work together. I tried to look for her but I couldn’t see her and it was hard to do anything but watch in front of you when you are so packed together. There were times I got up track and passed Jane, using my momentum, hoping she would get on my wheel. At some point the Byrne team went off sprinting and it was so early! It ticked me off because I knew they were just trying to wear us all down and I also knew that I would be dropped if I didn’t go with them. UGH!

So there we went! On the last lap, going into Turn 1, Jackrabbit Jane leaped out. I went with her but I had so much momentum I would have had to slow down to stay on her wheel so I just pushed hard. I could feel myself slowing as I prayed for strength around the 4th turn. I now am on the straight away and feel an approach coming on! Come on! Dig deep! Push! Ugh! I have nothing left! Crap lost that sprint again by 3 or 4 inches! ALL that hard work for 1 point. DANG! I did come in to place 4th on the 4x4! I also hit a max speed of 28.7 for the evening.

Lesson of the day:

I need to try to use someone’s wheel just a bit longer because 3 or 4 inches DOES matter. :-P A BIG THANK YOU TO JANE FOR LETTING ME SUCK ON HER WHEEL! :-) I couldn’t get that close without her help. They were getting tired but they didn’t know what hit them! We did awesome! I wish Jill was there. We will rock next year!

posted by Seattlebiker @ 10:48 PM