Colossal Cave Omnium
Tucson, AZ

2 March 2013- Criterium
Racing Group- Women’s Cat 3/4 – Start at 1:10pm – 30 Minutes

RESULTS: 2nd, beat in the last sprint.  Won 2 Prize laps. 

In the last prize lap I made a move with half a lap to go, and came through the line well ahead of the rest of the group.  So I kept going, not hard, but briskly to see if I could maintain the gap.
After a couple laps the gap closed, but I was not able to get anyone to take the lead.  Even sitting back I was still in front.  With 3 laps to go two girls made a move and I stayed on their wheel.  They maintained and I let them take the little work they did.
Then with half a lap to go on the slight downhill (2 straights before the final sprint) I made my move to the front.  Rounding the turns I still had the lead and kicked in the sprint on the final stretch.  With about 100m to go the other girl started inching up and I just didn’t have that last sprint in my legs to hold her off.

With the road race tomorrow I am satisfied with today and am looking forward to a good ride in the morning.

3 March 2013- Road Race
Racing Group- Women’s Cat 3/4- Start at ~7:30am – 45 Miles, 5 Laps

RESULTS: 1st, won in final sprint.  1st overall for the Omnium as well.

   As the dark sky lightened with the arriving sun, I drove across eastern Tucson out towards Colossal Cave.  Much too early to be on a bike.  I’ve gotten pretty used rolling out of the driveway around 11-12pm.  It was rough getting out of bed for a road race at the crack of dawn.  Despite the darkness it was still around 48 degrees when I arrived at the course.
   We set of at 7:30 just as the sun was coming over the mountains.  We started the first of 5 laps very on edge and I was trying to get used to riding with some less then experienced riders.  It takes experience to get used to racing and riding in a group and today’s ride with the Category 4 and 3 riders was a bit different from the 1/2/Pros of 2 weeks ago.  I don’t blame them or want to complain, there were no accidents or incidents, so it’s all good.
   The following 2 laps another rider and myself tried to organize some pace lining, and I think everyone learned and benefited.  With a lap and a half to go the group of 20+ turned into 8 (along the way it split and/or some girls fell off), and we kept working as the finish drew closer.  On the last couple miles everyone prepared for the last uphill (pistol hill) to the finish at the top.
   After we made the last turn I started picking up the pace a bit, and instead of others working alongside me (like at Valley of the Sun) they all just lined up behind.  I tried to get someone to change, but this turned into me making cuts across the street and essentially zig-zagging around 5 times before laying a move and getting a tiny gap.  I kept working from about 1km to go.  Then with about 250m to go a girl in grey came up on the left, obviously trying to make a hard move.  I stuck with her, but set back a little after 50m to get a small rest and thinking she had more then me to take the win.
  But with 100m to go where she had about a bike length of distance, even as she piled full steam ahead and I was sitting back a little I noticed she wasn’t gaining any more distance.  That was the Moment!  I knew it was now or never and I could do it.  So I jumped on my pedals and put in a final blast.  Gaining, gaining, gaining, with 40m to go we were even and with 20m to go I was inching by.
I crossed the line with a wheel length and the solid victory!

Great race, great fun, and can’t wait for the next!

For more info. visit their website:
Colossal Cave Website

Next on the Schedule:

Tucson Bicycle Classic
Tucson, AZ

15 March 2013- Time Trial –
16 March 2013- Road Race- 60 Miles – 3 Laps
17 March 2013- Criterium – 33 Miles – 6 Laps

   I can’t believe how quickly the weather and temperature can change here in Tucson.  I thought Santa Fe and New Mexico was netorious for extreme fluxes in winter weather, but so far, my time here in Arizona has been a battle between my leg warmers with gloves and shorts with sunscreen.
  On Wednesday it was a sunny, warm, beautiful day.  I swam in the morning and spent the day in and out of the house in a tank top and shorts without the slightest chill.  I cleaned up my bikes and got some good shots of the crew:

 I didn’t believe the weather forecast saying that just the next day there was going to be a storm warming of rain and snow.
   Well, Thursday morning rolled around and pool time was shrouded in thick clouds and a threatening arrival of wind.  By the time I drove home at 10:30am it had started raining, and by noon, when I parked my bike in the living room for an expectantly boring training ride, it was raining pretty hard.  Over the next 2 hours I watched out the window as light rain turned to fat snow chunks.

The desert foothills of Tucson was being covered in a layer of white stuff that even the cactus thorns couldn’t protect themselves against.  All day it snowed and made the usually warm climate a winter wonderland.

   As Friday came around, sunshine was forecasted and that’s what we got.  Still a bit cold in the 50’s (living here makes you pretty weak to temperatures that would be warm in other places).  So I got out on my bike mid-day and headed towards Mt. Lemmon for my workout.  I was dubious as to how far I would be able to go up, but as I climbed my working heat and hard head got the best of me and I just kept going.  Even as dry roads turned into pilled banks of snow on the side of the road, I still persisted.  By the 13 mile mark I was pretty cold and clouds had covered the mountain with more snow on the way.  Let’s just say it was a COLD ride down and the rest of the way home.  Hands so frozen and stiff that I couldn’t change gears is not such a nice feeling.  I was happy to be home and jump in a hot shower to defrost my fingers and toes.

Despite such a cold ride, I still think its incredible that one day its hot and warm, the next its snowing a blizzard, and the next I’m out on my bike again climbing the mountain.  What a winter!

15 February 2013- Time Trial
Buckeye, AZ
22km Total, out and back course
Start Time: 12:47:30

Result: 5th, 36:39
1st, 34:46

16 February 2013- Road Race
Casa Grande, AZ
63 miles, 100 km , 4 laps of 16 miles
1 climb of 3 km , about 400ft elevation
Start Time: 11:58
 
Result: 1st in Cat. 3 , 9th overall

Official Results:
Category 3 General Classification Results
VOS Results

Very windy day.  Basically the course was a triangle, 2 straight roads with wind blowing head on and from the side, only on the road with the hill and downhill had a tail wind.  First lap was super slow and relaxed with the group getting a feel for the course and no one wanting to work against the wind.  On the first time up the hill a few girls put in a kick and formed a small breakaway group that took almost a full lap to pull back in.  On the second lap was the QOM or GPM … Queen of the Mountian… I didn’t get the overall win, but did get the Cat. 3 win.  The following lap was dreadfully slow with only a couple kicks.  As was the last lap as no one wanted to take the lead and block the wind for the group.  It was all left to the last 3 km hill where the finish was right on top.  I approached the hill near the front (exactly where I wanted to be), and the girls started working hard with just under 3km to go.  I couldnt stay on the group all the way through to the line, but worked hard and got a solid first place for cat 3 which will be good going into tomorrows criterium.

Seperation of First 4:

First: 00:00
Second: 00:06
Third (me): 00:51
Fourth: 01:31

17 February 2013- Criterium
Tempe, AZ
40 minutes
Start Time: 1:20

Result: 4th in Cat 3, 13th overall

Today I went in feeling pretty good and unsure how things would play out.  The course had many turns as it was a sort of figure 8 through downtown Phoenix.  It started off very aggressive and competitive… never stopped.  Quite a contrast to yesterdays sit back and wait race.  Every time we made it to the back stretch there was some kind of surge or kick by a rider.  The girl wearing the first place jersey for the Cat 1/2 Pros lead the group and wouldn’t let any space or attack break her position.  So in the end it came down to the last 200m sprint.  I controlled the situation for other Cat 3s but with an almost security that I had 3rd overall locked in I wasn’t as reactive to be in front for the last stretch.  I gave it my all and pushed, but with all the jostles, sprints and hard turns of the course I was a bit shaken arriving to the line.

Overall it was a great weekend.  I learned a lot about time trial and where I need to work to improve.  The results showed the deciding race in these 3 days.  The rider with strongest time trial held the top spot.  Taking 5th with a significant time gap made it quite difficult even to move up just 2 spots.  Had I been able to start off the first day better I may have been higher on the podium.
The second day road race showed where I really shine and love riding.  The elements of weather, terrain, and race tactics became a game and challenge to push oneself ahead.
The third day of criterium showed the depth and ability of a field with more experience than myself.  I have the strength and ability, but when it comes to technique I only bring my european road riding experience to the table.  Final sprints are fun and I am getting better, but its all about timing … and timing comes with experience.

Now back to work and preparation for the next challenge that awaits me.


Overall Result (General Classification): 3rd
Separation of First 4:

First: 00:00
Second: 00:06
Third (me): 00:45
Fourth: 1:31

   This past weekend, 30 strong, willing, and determined triathletes rolled away from the Sandias of New Mexico and across the border into the Sonoran desert of Tucson.  A step away from their everyday lives of work, training and family, and into Jaime’s water, wheel and running shoe driven life.  450 miles to have a taste of the sweet training ground we call home.
   Every day I go out for my ride and am amazed at where I am and how beautiful and perfect it is to train here.  Just looking around I am driven to work that much harder and dedicate myself that much more… if its possible.  But as with all places, the longer I’m here, the more it becomes a routine and it looses that initial lust.  That just one reason why this camp was such a motivation to me as well.  It made me re-realize that I have such an opportunity being here and a unique chance to train in a place that can only make me better and closer to my goal.
   Since I’m training for cycling, I wasn’t able to participate in the runs, but I did spend a lot of time meeting these athletes and pedaling alongside them.  These 30 triathletes have everyday jobs and lives away from training that makes me have respect for their dedication to such a demanding sport.  Not just running, or swimming, or biking… but all 3!  After spending my college days at Columbia balancing school work and training I understand the difficulty and sacrifice that multiple commitments takes.  So I admire all those that step into an athletic world to compete.

If you want a brief taste of the days, read on…

Day 1: The camp started off with a relaxed ride Thursday evening along “the river trail” as I call it.  Where I realized leading a group and trying to keep everyone together was harder then it seemed.  Traffic, lights, who was feeling fast, who was feeling relaxed, who decided to get a flat tire… Troy 😉  It was fun getting to meet people and cruise along with someone besides just Jaime for company, he can get to be a real bore 🙂  Halfway through the ride though I had to roll back home for dinner prep.  That night I did the catering/cooking.

   It brought back memories to camp planning back at Columbia when my teammate and I planned and coordinated everything for our team training camps before going back to school.  It takes so much organization and work to make everything go smoothly.
   So in the end over 30 mouths were fed with my Italian hands of making lasagna, risotto, pasta, bread, fruit salad, and can’t forget the power packed protein bars that I have yet to come up with a name for.  It was a successful dinner and everyone had a full belly for the 3 days ahead.

Day 2:  I did some awesome morning yoga with Maya to loosen up, then I swam before everyone else so I could enjoy watching the eager faces enter their first swim workout.

   Then at noon I joined them for the epic mt. Lemmon experience.  I rolled with the 2 hour group talking technique and life stuff before they headed back.  Then thinking Jaime was insane for making me do this, I jumped right into my catchup drill.  Powering up at a solid effort and speed I was able to make it to the sag wagon car and shout a Hey at Maya.  It was fun riding with people along the way and sharing my favorite hill climb with so many others.  As the temperature just started getting cooler around 5,000ft I make it to Lauren and not much longer the lead guys are just turning back.  Take a few minutes for a photo op and to enjoy the view before turning back and speeding down at 65+ km per hr.

   That evening we had dinner out at a nearby restaurant where pro triathlete Lauren Goss joined us.  I had a good time chatting with her about everything from college to training to diet.  She is in Tucson for a few weeks before heading back to Florida where she lives and trains.  It was cooling meeting someone who has really dedicated everything to their sport and succeeded to become pro, especially since she’s 25 I feel like I’m not too far off.

Day 3:  Started out rainy, windy and just not nice.  I went over to the lodge where they were staying and did some stretching and rolling with Lawrence.  Then I headed out for my workout ride, while they went to swim.  The weather was luckily on our side and clearing up, so I was able to get some good interval work once it stopped raining.
   I rolled on back to the track where the campers mid-day brick workout was well underway.  Bikes on trainers along the track is intense to say the least.  Straight from spinning to running, there’s a triathletes work for ya.

    After my admiring detour I headed home to start the burners.  It was cooking time again and this time we had dinner over at TriSport with fajitas on the menu.  I loaded up my car and drove across town with the smell of chicken, beans, rice, and other goodies overwhelming the plasticy leathery smell of my car.  Dinner went smoothly and all the athletes left for their final day with a filled belly.

Day 4:  A quick morning for me as I went over for a little stretch and farewell.  After riding, stretching, eating and hanging out with everyone it was sad to say bye to my new friends.  It was a tough few days even for me who didn’t do all the workouts, but I think I can say that my cooking marathon may have made up a little for that 😉

  It was great to be around others from New Mexico and let them into the not so secret paradise of Tuscon winter training.  I am grateful for everyday I am here and glad others could enjoy a few days of the warm weather, rolling roads, and mountainous back drop of my winter home.

sabato, 2 febbraio 2013
UA Biopark Blast Criterium
1° , 2 traguardi volanti vinti

    Sabato ho fatto il UA Biopark Blast Criterium, il secondo in 
Arizona.  E si vede che ho imparato qualcosa dall'ultimo criterium in 
Phoenix che non è andato molto bene.  Questo criterium era più vicino a 
casa e il percorso era tutto in piano con 4 curve, un rettangolo su 
strade larghe e tutto aperto.  Si vedeva tutto il percorso, perché il 
posto era appena fuori Tucson dove non c'è niente tranne queste strade e 
tanta sabbia.
    Siamo partiti in circa 25 o 30, e quasi subito si è vista la 
strategia della squadra Landis-Trek.  Si son messe in fila davanti al 
gruppo per lavorare per i traguardi volanti (6 in totale).  Son 
riuscite a vincere i primi 2 o 3.  Poi nel successivo ho pensato di 
fare una prova e vedere se le altre corridore erano in forma.  Allora 
alla successiva campana (per un traguardo volante) ho fatto uno scatto.  
Nessuno mi è venuto dietro e sono riuscita a stare con un bel distacco fino 
al traguardo.
    Appena prima di alzarmi e rilassarmi un'attimo per lasciarmi 
riprendere dal gruppo, una corridora mi passa forte sulla destra e dice 
"Andiamo!".  Allora via, mi son messa sulla sua ruota e siamo andate.  
Solo che subito mi è venuto un dubbio perché lei era della squadra 
Landis-Trek.  Pensavo che lei volesse solo stancarmi per la sua squadra o 
farmi tornare nel gruppo.  Allora quando ho fatto cambio dopo mezzo giro 
sono stata attenta a non tirare troppo forte.
    Quando ho chiesto cambio dopo un po', non mi ha aiutato... hemm, vuol 
andare, ma non vuol aiutare.  Allora per i 7 giri successivi ho tirato 
tutto io, lei ha aiutato solo mezzo giro.  Ma sono stata molto attenta 
e continuavo a guardare indietro per controllare dov'era il gruppo.  
Anche non tirando forte il gruppo non si avvicinava.
    Quando è suonata la campana per l'ultimo giro ho fatto uno scatto per 
vedere se riuscivo a staccarla.  Niente, lei, restando dietro di me per
 tutta la gara, era ben riposata e adesso aveva la forza di starmi a ruota.  
Mi son seduta e ho cercato di riposarmi il più possibile per non ritrovarmi
nella situazione di due settimane fa all'ultima criterium.
    All' ultima curva prima di alzarmi sui pedali sento lei che dice 
qualcosa come "non ci provo".  Non ho ascoltato, quando ho visto il 
rettilineo ho dato tutto e ho fatto l'ultimo scatto per la volata.  
Finalmente arrivo più vicino e lei non arriva al mio fianco.  Ce l'ho 
fatta!
    Vedo la mia bici che passa sulla linea del traguardo e sento una 
sensazione che non sentivo da  tanto tempo... HO VINTO!
    Alzo le braccia come una vera ciclista. E' stata una bella 
vittoria. 

domenica, 3 febbraio 2013
Flap Jack Flats TT, 30km
2°, 50:09

    Una mattina nuvolosa ma sempre il caldo del deserto.  La mia 
partenza era alle 10:29:30.  Il percorso era come la settimana scorsa, in 
mezzo al deserto con solo i cactus e i buchi nella strada a farmi 
compagnia.  Questo percorso era appena appena in salita per l'andata e 
poi in discesa per il ritorno.
    15 km in salita è stata dura, ma son riuscita ad andare ogni 5km un 
po' più forte dei 5 km prima.  Finalmente ho visto il cartello 
per girare indietro.  Il ritorno è stato bello per cercare di spingere 
forte mentre andavo già veloce per la discesa, circa 45/50 km/h.  
Ho cercato di arrivare sotto i 50 minuti ma sono arrivata al 
traguardo in 50:09.  Speravo fosse abbastanza per vincere.
    Dopo il cronometro ho fatto i 65km di strada per tornare a casa.  Un 
percorso bello lungo per la giornata.
    Ho dovuto aspettare fino alla sera per sapere.  Ci hanno messo tanto 
a mettere i risultati su internet.  Finalmente vado sul sito e 
vedo... 2°... per solo 4 SECONDI!!! NOooooo... veramente??!!
La ragazza che è arrivata prima ha fatto i 30km in 50:05.
Devo imparare, come sempre, da questa esperienza.  Ogni secondo è molto 
molto importante. 

Devo anche dire, che lunedi ho parlato con un giudice e mi ha fatto passare nella 

prossima categoria. Adesso sono nella categoria 3.  Devo fare 20 punti per passare 

a cat. 2. 

Adesso ce una settimane per preparare la prima gara a tappe.

Valley of the Sun Stage Race- Phoenix, Arizona
1° giorno, 15 febbraio - TT
2° giorno, 16 febbraio- Gara in Strada
3° giorno, 17 febbraio- Criterium

Sunday, 3 February 2013
Flap Jack Flats TT, 30km
2nd Place, 50:09

   Over cast day on the Tucson and southern Arizona landscape this morning, perfect for a time trial.  My start time was 10:29:30 and after only an hourish drive out of Tucson we arrived on the sketchy side frontage road just outside of Red Rock.  I’ve pretty much gotten into the prerace routine and warm up system so things aren’t as stressful and clustered as the first couple times. 
Unload the bike. set up trainer. get cloths and food set up. helmet + shoes – check. bathroom run to the porter potties. …and onto the trainer I go to spin myself into prerace warmup.
   With just enough time left before my start I jump off, down some yucky gel maybe, get my number on, helmet and all set to roll.  Today was just like every other. 
   I got to the start line and was counted down to my big moment of take off.  When I start to accelerate I work to settle in quickly and at a good effort.  Don’t want to burn too many engines too quickly.  The course was out and back, and slightly uphill on the way out.  So I had a nice 15km of hard work before the turn around cone.  It was tough to stay motivated out there all alone but it’s all in focusing on pedal stroke and pushing to go faster.
   I was so relieved when I finally started the downhill decent.  In my mind it felt like a 30% grade after all the work coming up, but in reality it was just slight.  But this was just enough to work the high gear and speed down in 2/3rds of the time it took to come up (can ya do the math? …30 min. up, 20 min. down).  5km came fast, but after the constant push, even on downhill it was still big work.  I went as fast as I could those last few km, knowing that in TT every second matters.  I sure learned that today.  I worked to try and break 50 minutes, but rolled over the line just missing it.  50:10 is what my clock said, dang.
   Then the big wait came.  It wasn’t enough that I rode home all of 2 hours 45 minutes just pondering the race and if it was good enough.  No posted results to give any resolution.  So all afternoon and evening I had no idea.
   Finally when they came up I couldn’t believe it … 4 SECONDS!!! The girl that got first finished in 50:05!  Just one pedal stroke harder, not lifting my head just a couple times, not reaching for water, not hitting a couple bumps, even just doing the turn around faster… 4 seconds over 30km is so little that anything could have made the difference.
Well I have to take this as an experience and something to learn from and take into the next TT.

Now I have 2 weeks of solid training before the next race:
Valley of the Sun
15-17 February 2013
Phoenix, AZ

Saturday, 2 February 2013
UA Biopark Blast Criterium
1st Place, 2 Prim Wins

Ho Vinto…Victory!
Todays UA Biopark Blast Criterium really was a BLAST! 🙂

   T’was a beautiful Tuscon day with the sun shining and a toasty 75 degrees to start off this heated crit.  Start went off and rolled out pretty smooth and relaxed getting a feel for the curves and the group.  After a couple start laps some obvious team strategy started playing out.  Team Landis-Trek was in full force and ready to attack!  The first bell rang for a prim lap and the Landis-Trek ladies lined up in front.  Rotating around they pull through all four curves and easily got the win, uncontested.
   At this point I knew it would be this green and yellow team against the rest of the group.  So a few more laps passed and another prim lap where I couldn’t manage to outsprint their teamwork.  Then came another prim lap,  and an opportunity to test the field.  I threw in a kick after crossing the line and looked back to see if someone was following… Nothing… I blasted through the second turn, windy straight, third turn.. Still no company.  So the last curve came and I leaned in and pushed all the way through the line.  Just as I was sitting up to get some recovery a Landis girl came up, passing me on the turn and said “lets keep going”.  Ok!!! …About 10 minutes to go, why not try.
   But after just half a lap she queued for a change and I moved up with speculation… Was she just trying to draw me back for her team, or tire me out for the last laps?  Whatever… gotta go with it.
   I kept an eye on the group as I led the two of us through almost every lap.  She only exchanged for about half a lap at one point, while I fought the wind all of about 7 laps in total.  Even after all the work I had been pulling, on what we thought was a prim lap I was able outsprinter her.  (In the end they gave the prim to the group instead of us, not cool, we were out in front and prims were not indicated to the group but to the race… US)
   So last lap came and I knew I had to do something to avoid a last straight away sprint.  I stood up for a kick and pushed through one curve.  Looking back I saw she wasn’t breaking and had the energy to hang on.  So I chilled on the windy straight, then until the last two curves came, awaiting the last 400m stretch to the finish.
  But just before the last curve came I hear my companion say something like “I won’t fight you on it”.  Never know, never let down, NEVER STOP FIGHTING.  Round the last turn, stood up and threw everything I had left into that last bit of street.  The finish line grew closer and closer and closer and closer, I flew over the line, threw my hands up and felt the relief and excitement of a victory.

   So much fun and the rush of a race is like nothing else.  Working hard for 30 minutes may not be much but with all the strategy and accelerations that come with criterium racing its a rush to play the game and come out on top

Today, Saturday, 2 February: UA Biopark Blast Criterium 
   Tucson Biopark, AZ
   1:00 pm, 30 min.

Result- 1st! Breakaway in 2 with about 7 to go!  Come back later this evening for more detail on how it went!

Tomorrow, Sunday, 3 February: Flap Jack Flats TT
   Red Rock, Tucson, AZ
  ~11:00 am, 30 km
 

Scusate gli errori, mio editor non aveva tempo per correggere questo post 😉

sabato, 26 gennaio 2013
Bike Haus Crit- Cancellato

   Mi sono svegliata sta mattina pronta per un bel scaldamento alla mattina e una bella gara alla sera.  Ma si vede che il tempo di oggi non voleva permettere.  Il celo era nuvolosa e sconvolta.  Con pioggia da una parte, e celo azzurro e sole da un’altra, vento con una rabbia di tirarti giù dalla bici.
   Sono uscita verso le 10,00 per un bel giro di saldamento.  Ma dopo 15 minuti ho dovuto tornare indietro perché davanti da me e arrivato una nuvola nera e un muro di acqua/pioggia.  Un secondo ero ascritta e neanche freddo, e l’altro ero bagnato “al ossa”(?).  Qua nel sud degli stati uniti il tempo e molto sporadico, può essere caldo con sole, e poi 5 minuti dopo arriva dal ovest una grande nuvola che porta vento e acqua (e anche la neve e possibile), poi 5 minuti dopo passa quella nuvola e ce ancora sole e ci sono 25+ gradi.
   Quando ho visto quella nuvola ho girato la bici per tornare verso casa.  Ma non riuscivo a pedalare più veloce di questo temporale e mi son trovata in mezzo alla strada facendo una bella doccia/lavata.  Finalmente sono arrivata a casa dopo solo mezz’ora e mi son messa sul trainer nel garage a fare una altro po di tempo in bici.  Quando ho finito di spin (pedalare) ho guardato mio email e ho trovo questo:
  Inbox: Bike Haus Crit- POSTPONED … = Cancellato … Noooo!!!
   La cosa più brutta e che il temporale era passato, e uscita sole, e le strade non erano neanche bagnate.  Si vede che le americane si sciolgono con la pioggia.  Peccato perché so di aver più esperienza e forza su un percorso bagnato al confronto delle altre corridore.
   Allora dopo una bella camminata e un po di yoga per calmarmi mi sono riposata per preparare per domane, Il Cronometro!

domenica, 27 gennaio 2013
Picacho Peak TT – 20km
3° – 32’10”

   Sta mattina cera sole ed era bello fresco, circa 16 gradi quando siamo partiti alle 8,00.  Dopo un ora in macchina siamo arrivati a Picacho Peak.  Un paese sulla strada per andare a Phoenix.  Il percorso era su un strada dritta e stretta lungo il autostrada.  Allora mentre si pedalava e spingeva per i 10km andata e ritorno si vedeva solo a 30 metri tutti i camion e macchine che andavano a 110 km/ora per andare a Tucson o Phoenix.
   La mia partenza era alle 10,13.  La prima partenza era alle 9,00 e l’ultima verso le 11,30.
   Non era un cronometro di solo donne, ma una gara mista.  Dove dividevano le categorie alla fine.  Prima di me e partito un uomo, poi una donna, poi un altro uomo.  Quando era il momento per me, mi son ricordata dal mio primo cronometro in Francia da questo estate.
   Mi ricordo bene guardando il tappeto verde sul palco di partenza, il profumo di mangiare dai ristoranti lungo la strada, e la signora che contava in francese … “sank, katr, twah, duhr, uhn” …
La partenza di oggi e stata un po diverso.  Guardando avanti non cera gente francese lungo la strada, un paese con ristoranti e gente in giro, o un sensazione di gara e sport.  Vedevo una strada piatta, lunga e dritta.  Invece di ristoranti cerano i cactus (piante dal deserto) e tanta sabbia.  Solo la gente ce gareggiavano in giro e un sensazione di divertimento e passione di uscire a fare una sforza in bici.

    Allora il mio momento e arrivato.. five, four, three, two, one … e via.  Spingevo forte forte sui pedali per prendere un po di velocità.  Poi mi siedo e metto le braccia nelle “aerobars”(?) per un bel 20km di forza.  E stata difficile correre da sola, stare in una posizione non molto comoda, e senza curve o altre persone per farti andare più forte.  Continuavo a guardare dal altro parte della strada a vedere i corridori che stavano facendo l’ultima metta del cronometro.  Vedevo tanta fatica nelle loro faccia e le gambe che giravano piano/lento.  Non capivo se io sentivo cosi bene o se loro avevano speso troppo nella prima parte.
   Poi dopo aver spinto per 10km vedo la bandiera per girare in dietro.  Freno e giro dal altro parte della strada.  In questo momento capisco perché stavano spingendo cosi forte.  VENTO!  A tornare e stata una guerra col vento.  E stata difficile cercando di pedalare forte e stare più aerodinamica possibile.  Mi son passata 3 o 4 persone che non avevano i aerobars, e 2 uomini mi hanno passato che avevano il disco/ruota per crono.   Allora si vede che era molto importante essere più aerodinamica possibile in questo cronometro.
   Finalmente vedo il cartello per dove mancava 1km.  Vedevo anche il mio papà che mi diceva di fare l’ultima volata.  Con quel vento e stata dura di alzare sui pedali per un ultima forza prima dal arrivo.  Per il primo cronometro e andata abbastanza bene.  Penso che potevo andare più forte se non avevo fatto 2 giorni al riposo senza il criterium di ieri.
   Ho dovuto aspettare fino alla sera per vedere i risultati.
   Avevo fatto i 20 km in 32:10.
   Sono arrivata terza.  La vincitrice era partita alle 9:38 e ha fatto i 20km in 31:39 e la seconda era partita alle 9:58 e ha fatto in 31:46.  Allora solo 31 secondi e penso che più tardi si partiva più vento cera.  Penso anche che loro erano più attrezzate per il crono.
  Un bel lavoro e una bellissima giornata.  Dopo il crono sono tornata a casa in bici.  3 ore, 75km per finire il lavoro del giorno.

Adesso si prepara per settimana prossima.
UA Biopark Blast Criterium- sabato, 2 febbraio
Flap Jack Flats TT- domenica, 3 febbraio

   This was supposed to be a race filled weekend with a Crit. on Saturday evening, followed by a Time Trial Sunday morning.  But the weather gods didn’t like that idea.

Saturday, 26 January 2013
Bike Haus Crit – Cancelled

   I got up this morning seeing the unusually gray blanket of clouds hovering over Tucson and thought… “well, looks like it’ll be a wet race today”.  Better for me since I think I probably have more experience in rain and difficult riding conditions than most other cat. 4 riders.  So I go for a soggy shake out ride, which was a  strange in itself.  I rolled out with a patchy sky and blue peaking through the rainy puff balls, and could see a confusion of uncertainty all around the horizon.  Soon enough after about 20 min of riding I am going down River rd. and pretty much enter a wall of water.  One minute its clear and dry, the next, down pour.  “AAAHHH”, was my only thought, (along with some other words I probably shouldn’t use in my blog post… earmuffs).  So I turn around and ya know what happened?… after riding about 30 meters, it stopped.  Haha, but this was a moving wall.  Cause it chased me.  And my bike was not faster than mother nature in this case.  I was engulfed again. … earmuffs!! … So my nice long shake out ride turned into 30minutes of wet riding, then some trainer riding in the garage.  oh how fun.
   Thinking this was just making me stronger for the race which wasn’t until 5pm at a raceway, I go inside to chill out and relax.  I check my email.  Inbox: Bike Haus Crit: POSTPONED.  EARMUFFS!!!  I was not a happy camper, especially since it was 1pm and the sun had come out and there was no more rain.  So I went for a walk and did some yoga to not freak out too much.  I was mostly mad because I need these races to get points for moving up in category.  But what kept me from exploding was that this is so early in the season, there is plenty of time, and the NYC Marathon … yes, thinking of the NYC Marathon.  My little tiny race got cancelled and I am lucky enough to have a Time Trial just the next day with almost as much importance, but those poor souls that trained all year, even maybe 2, or 3, or 4 or THEIR WHOLE LIVES for the marathon this year, only to have it cancelled with a “sorry, you can come back next year”.  So in retrospect I have nothing to be angry about, this is no tragedy.

Sunday, 27 January 2013
Picacho Peak TT – 20km
3rd Place, 32:10

   This morning I looked out the window with a smile on my face.  A few clouds creeping around but nothing to threaten rain… YES, TT is on!!
   Got to the funky looking truck/rest stop just off I10 about 9am.  We find a dirt parking lot and cyclists moseying about with their “over the top I don’t have time to train so I’ll just get a really expensive really fast” TT bikes.  My start time was 10:13 so it seemed to work out that I’m not going too early (9am first start) or too late (past 11am).  But earlier could have been better to avoid wind.
   I line up and as I’m being held up and counted down by the officials just before my start a whole flashback of memories comes back to me of my first time trial in France this last summer.  I could still remember staring at the fake grass carpet on the starters ramp, the smell of french food wafting out of open restaurants along the street, and the little woman counting down in french… “sank, katr, twah, duhr, uhn” (I know this isn’t how you spell it in french, but it’s how it sounded to an american-italian that doesn’t know more than 2 words of french) … This TT was EXACTLY the same, the dude was even counting me off in french.
   Anywho, I blasted off down the straight, bumpy frontage road towards nothing in particular besides the next rider only 30 seconds ahead of me.  20km for a TT is the longest I’ve ever done, so I was’nt really sure what to expect.  The most important thing to do that Jaime said was to not go out too hard.  It’s the one mistake that ruins most TT races for people, is going out too hard and not having enough to finish strong.  Today however there was a nice tail wind and a slight downhill slope to the road that made the first 10km out make me feel like I was having a pretty awesome day.  I kept taking glances over at the riders coming in the opposite direction and wondered “hmm… they sure are pedaling slow and look like they’re in pain.. maybe they went out too hard and are just feeling it now”.
   Haha… I reached the turn around point, layed on the brakes, whipped around the cone and OOOHHH EARMUFFS … WIND!!  The whole rest of the race, 10km was a battle of pushing against the wind and slight uphill that wasn’t quite as noticeable when at the advantage on the way out.  I tried to stay as aerodynamic as possible, low in the aerobars, keeping my bike on a straight path, and looking forward, but it’s tough when trying to go all out.  I got passed by 2 guys with disk wheels, and passed a few people without aerobars, so it was pretty evident that aerodynamics was the key to the game today.
I finished as strong as I could, not knowing if it was enough to get a good place.  It was good work and exciting to have no other competition but yourself and the clock to keep you pushing.  The focus was so intense and discipline to stay in that crunched up position on the bike and still have to pedal at full force is
something I’ve never really experienced.
   I found out later that afternoon that I had come in 3rd, time of 32:10.  1st had 31:39 and 2nd 31:46.  Only 31 seconds off 1st, bummer.  They started before me at 9:38, and 9:58… so not sure how the wind was before 10 and if they had covered wheels to help.  For the first TT I’ll take it… more to learn.
  Full Results: Picacho Peak TT Results

   Don’t have a speed suit, so lucky for me Jaime let me use his… which I have no idea how he fits into that thing.  Not too big for me, so it must suck the life out of him.

   I packed up my stuff and headed out on my (repeat) looooong cool down.  From Picacho Peak I road the 45 miles back home along the frontage road to Tucson.  Not very exciting but good training and all money in the pain bank (shout out to my girl Lauren 😉 ).  I had never been so happy to see Sabino Canyon (my road) and then my housing complex, and then my recovery shake that always seems to be worth gold after such long days.

Stay tuned for next week:
UA Biopark Blast Criterium- Saturday, 2nd Feb
Flap Jack Flats TT- Sunday, 3rd Feb