Gate City Grind Stage Race

Well, I have officially participated and finished my first ever stage race.  Chris and I traveled down to Southeastern Idaho to stay with my family in Pocatello.  After a 12 hour drive, we settled in.  The next day we rode the course for the road race.  It consisted of a 17.5 mile loop that had 2 climbs and rollers in the middle.  The wind was extremely gusty that day, and I was a little worried that the wind might cause me more pain than the climbs.  We rode the loop twice…but it felt like a lot longer due to the strong winds and my 12 hour car ride legs.  (In other words, my legs felt like poo)

The next day we went out to ride the TT course.  It was a 6.2 mile out and back, and was actually marked with start and finish from last year which was nice.  Pretty flat with slight decline and incline each way.  (The incline was longer on the way back, which i knew would cause some pain).  We rode the course a couple times, still dealing with a strong head/tail wind.  My legs felt a little better, but still had me a little worried.

The morning of the road race we headed out to Marsh Valley.  Chris went off at 9 and I went off at 9:25.  We started the course, and within the first 5 miles is the first climb.  PAIN!  There were some pretty strong Cat 1 women there and they were causing some major pain. I fell off the back at the very top and spent the next few minutes chasing.  I successfully caught back on and continued to ride.  This was the basic description of the next 2 laps.  On the second lap, 3 girls went off the front while I was struggling not to fall off the back.  I knew it would happen, and there I was, cresting the hill (alone and off the back) and realizing that if I was going to catch the girls up front, it would be on my own because the rest of the people in the pack had a team mate up front.  I was screwed…but I went for it anyway.  I sprinted up the hill to chase back on, flew over the top and hammered my way down the descent.  With the girls yelling at each other to catch me, I think I took most of them by surprise.  I averaged about mph for the next 5 minutes with the girls trailing behind me…but it was no use.  I got about 30 feet behind the lead group of 3 and I cracked.  I knew that if I was going last the rest of the 30 miles I need to stop chasing.  I sat up, feeling a little defeated.  (actually a lot defeated).

So, we continued on for the next lap and 1/2.  It was hot and long.  There was one point that even on the flats I thought I was going to crack, and started slipping off the back, but nothing a little goo can’t fix.  I ended up getting 7th in the pack sprint. I tried to sprint and my legs were toast.  But, my goal was achieved: to finish with the pack.  It was my longest road race ever!  52.5 miles.

TT that evening:  my legs were toast, but it still went okay. I ended up getting 5th.  I was a little angry at myself because I missed 4th by 30 seconds and I know I could have amped it up earlier and pushed myself harder.  I guess it’ll just take more practice knowing what I can and can’t do.

Crit: PAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I couldn’t get clipped in and before I knew it I was chasing on the first lap.  The Bob’s bicycles girls punched it hard right from the front (though I don’t really know why because she was the GC leader by quite a bit).  Anyway – I chased the first lap, stuck in the next 20 minutes, and then chased a little bit more – and finally right after I cought back on and was hoping for a little rest, the girl in front of me gapped off and there we were.  We spent the rest of the time chasing.  She started to really look bad and couldn’t pull anything, so I went up and stared pulling, and I looked back and I was by myself.  I spent the next 10 laps by myself trying not to get lapped.  The leader off the front had lapped the pack and myself by the end.  I ended up getting 6th – I probably would have gotten 7th but there were 2 crashes right at the end.

Anyway, after a long hard weekend, I placed 6th in the GC – missing 5th  (and $50) by 30 seconds.  DARN TT!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Next time!

I am currently dealing with a strange ankle ache that won’t go away.  It’s not a muscle strain and doesn’t feel like ligaments…it hurts pretty badly to put pressure on it…but it feels really internal, like it might feel if it were swollen but there is no swelling.  So, hopefully that will clear up so I feel good with training this week.  (If anyone has ideas about what the pain might be, let me know!)