19 April … 1988
Like most people, I have my bucket list and those certain things I want to accomplish before reaching a certain age. Today being the day I hit that 25 year mark, there were a few things I had listed. Unfortunately I haven’t gone skydiving yet, but I think I can get to that pretty easily. I did want to become a professional athlete though, and I am right on that road. It has taken a lot of sacrafice and dedication, but I am able to focus on athletics and cycling and am loving life. Cycling is making me stronger and I am getting closer to the level I want to be at everyday. I’m not just following my dream, I’m f%#*+&$ stalking it! Life isn’t about money, it’s about doing your passion and loving everyday no matter good or bad
Part of me thinks it’s unfortunate that I’m at a race on my birthday and didnt do ANYTHING to celebrate. But the other part of me thinks that I spent the day on my bike racing and doing what I love. I can always celebrate later and I know after this race I’ll be having a huge ice cream to celebrate for sure.
“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them” -M.A.
Sea Otter Classic
18-21 April 2013
I arrived in sunny beautiful Monterey, California on Wednesday and did an amazing shakeout ride on the bike path that runs right along the ocean through Monterey (I even saw sea otters!!) At packet pick-up I was astounded at the extent of this event and how many different bike specialties were involved. Laguna Seca is this HUGE race track, and this weekend had anything a bike fanatic would love. Road bike, mountain, cyclocross, bmx and an enourmous expo with tents of so many companies and brands I wont even try to list them.
Thursday began the first of the four day stage race of The Sea Otter Classic.
At early 8am we started the 50min. criterium, my legs were a bit flat starting out, but once we got past 30min I loosened up a bit and felt better. i stuck with the group and avoided and falls. The course was on the race track with about 3 hairpin turns that caused some girls to go down. It wasnt the normal flat crit either, this course included two ups and relatively steep downhills. With a lap and a half to go I put in a kick to mix things up a bit. The chased me down pretty quickly, but I got a pretty sweet picture on cyclingnews.com. I didn’t go for the final sprint so eneded up finishing 20th.
On Friday the road race started at 12, still on the race track. But we left the track right away and headed out to the park roads to do 5 laps of an 8 mile loop. There was a pretty steep half mile hill and a smaller hill where the feed zone was. I stuck with the group and was feeling decent until my mind and thirst got the best of me in the last feed zone of the last lap. There was only about 8 miles left in the race, but I made a last minute decision to go get a bottle. In the midst of fumbling with putting it on my bike and drink and get up the kicker hill all at the same time, I strung out from the group and a small gap formed. Going for the water was stupid. Once the group topped the hill they started making moves and going harder so I wasnt able to get back on. I fought up the final couple mile hill to the finish and came in about 2 minutes behind the winner. I came in 24th, putting me at 21st in GC. I am mad at myself for how I executed that race, but at least I learned from it.
Saturday was the Time Trial, not going off until 3:36. But despite being so late, the course was one lap of yesterdays road race course and back behind the race track it was cooler and windy. I gave it my all and worked hard on the uphills but I think the flat/downhill part to the finish got the best of me. Since it was a bit rolling I wasnt able to stay in good positioning and think I lost some power. My time was 21:53, 21st place. Keeping me at 21st.
Sunday was the last day and the Circuit race. 11 laps around the Laguna Seca raceway, 2.2 miles. I hadnt previewed the course, so the famous corkscrew downhill came to be a pleasant and fun surprise. The uphill kicker before was tough but the quick exciting downhill was always something to look forward to. In racing a lot of times there are those key moments where you have to make those critical decisions. Do I suffer and stay upfront or in the group? Or do I let it string out, relax, and get back on after the hill is over? Most of the time I’ve found the second isnt as wise. But I think the fatigue of 4 days of racing and being a QOM lap with about 5 to go i got strung out. It made me mad because the following 3 laps the group didnt have much distance, but because the other 2 girls with me didnt really help, we couldnt get back on the group. So the rest of the race I tried to just stay relaxed, have fun on the downhill and save as much as I could for my next upcoming race this week. It was unfortunate because with each lap I felt better on the hill and know I could have competed with the group. I finished 17th.
Overall I finished 19th in GC. For my first Sea Otter Stage Race, I know I could have done better, but it was a difficult 4 days, with 4 difficult courses.
I think I also had a lot on my mind with upcoming races and travel.
Now I am on my way to Arkansas for the Joe Martin Stage Race. Ill spend a couple days with my great friends Nancy and Harrison at their farm before going up to Fayetteville for the race on Wednesday. It will be 4 days, with TT, Road Race, Road Race, Criterium.
