Joe Martin Stage Race
Fayetteville, Arkansas
25- 28 April 2013

Overall Joe Martin was a good experience.  I was faced with a quad cramp, two days of rain, a head cold, and a criterium race that was faster and harder then any ive ever been in.

I got to Arkansas on Mondayand got to spend a couple days with my good friends that live just outside of Fayetteville.  Then Wednesday I headed upto our teams host house.

Day 1, thursday:  2.5 mile uphill TT
I had just gotten on a trainer to start warming up and as I spin I feel my left quad tightening up A LOT. It was cramping and no matter how easy I spun, I stretched it, drank some electrolytes,it wouldnt loosen up.  Finally I just road around on the road to take off the tension that the trainer puts.  So I just gritted my teeth and worked as hard as I could for that 2.5miles.  Not finishing with a very good time, but I DID finish considering my awful congestion and cramp.

Day 2, friday:  69mile road race
It was raining all morning and my sinus cold had not let up.  I knew I just had to tough it out for the team and get through it.  After we road for about 15miles came the long 10mile uphill.  But it ws more rolling then I thought and knowing this would have helped.  On the climb not even halfway up, my lungs started closing up and my legs fatigueing. I fell off the group and it was unfortunate because with a gap there was no way of getting back with the rollers.  So I road the next 40miles ALONE in the cold rain.  Then a group behind me that included Lauren (my teammate), caught up to me and soI finished the ride with them.

Day 3, saturday: 70miles road race
Another rainy day and I was still feeling my sinuses blocked.  But as we rolled through the Arkansinian roads I stuck with the group and managed to stay out of 2 crashes.  I stayed relaxed but worked the rolling hills and then even about 2/3 through the race I even went upfront with the Tibco team to help pull a bit to bring back a breakaway that was over a minute ahead.  It felt good to feel pretty good.  I finished the day with the group and definitely more positive then the previous 2 days.

Day 4, sunday: 50 min criterium
I was excited for a good crit and to challenge myself in this last stage.  Unfortunately the race had other ideas, and it was all about your position on the start line.  The field didnt even allow for 1 lap to pass before laying on the speed.  Through the first couple turns the group was alreadystrung out and on the downhill gaps were forming.  I had started in the 3rd row, so was behind from the first pedal stroke.  When the group gapped I couldnt get up there and was destined to ride with a couple other girls trying to just keep moving and not be pulled.  After about 30min, with 7 laps to go (about 17 total),  the official sticks out his padel for our group to stop.  The main field was about to lap us and so our race had finished a bit premature.  It was a brutal race, with a hill that wasnt super long, but it was steep.  And going 100% for so long in a crit is hard with ahill like that thrown in.  The final group to finish only had about 15 riders of the 40ish that started.  But at least since our group finished half the race we still got placed.  So my teamate Amity and myself were placed in the overall classification for the race.

PLACED 25th after many riders dropped out or were not placed because of final crit.