Monkeyin’ around – Banana Belt Style

Banana Belt #1 – BB#1 – Banana Numero Uno – what ever the name – it seems to be the race of all races around these parts.  Everyone was so pumped for this race!  I think maybe it’s because the most outspoken of us are the sprinters – and this is their chance to actually put their sprinting legs before crit season – and that’s all we hear about… (much love to you sprinters out there – I may be one of them).

Anyway, Chris and I drove up with Will and stayed at his parent’s house.  It was cool.  We watched “Across the Universe” – which is really weird – and really cool.  You should watch it.

So we woke up bright (well, not really) and early to head over to Hagg Lake for Banana Belt #1.  I was feeling pretty good, pretty not tired – I felt good.  So, we got their kind of last minute and rushed around getting ready.  I found my team and talked with them a bit.  Lisa was planning on racing the Men’s 3′s, and the rest of us were racing Women’s 123.  Jill, Jessi, Emily, and I were all ready to get our game on!  Casey (our director) made it to this race to cheer us on, so that was great to see him there!

Anyway, the race started – and was pretty uneventful, except for the fact that there were a good number of women.  About 21 or so started, which is awesome!  I hope we keep having more numbers at the races.

During the race there were a couple of attempted breaks – hard up the hill, but nothing got away.  On the 2nd or 3rd lap we created a small gap of about 10 of us but then people just sat up – so, of course it didn’t stick.  I think a lot of people (myself included) were just sort of keepin’ low to test the waters.

Some time during the 3rd lap (which had slowed down a lot) – The TAI women started trying to figure out how we were going to finish this race.  All we knew was that we were going to have to be aggressive enough to stay at the front the entire last lap – not just near the front – but at the front, because I or Emily or whoever could get there, needed to be in a break if it went, or at the final sprint.  The last lap came – there were a few attacks up the hills – again, nothing stuck.  Probably everyone too afraid to burn their matches before the sprint (myself included).  So, I’m at the front, it’s getting faster toward the end, and all the sudden Jill is there, protecting me in the front.  It was awesome!  She just appeared out of nowhere!

Then, there was a surge and I went up ahead with the group.  It slowed back down, and then all the sudden Jessi moved her way up in front…man, I tell ya – these girls are miracle workers!  So, she protected me for a while.  I hadn’t seen Emily for a while – and I knew it would probably be either me or her in the sprint – so I just decided to stay up front.  All the sudden at probably the 1.5K someone attacked hard and everyone went.  I was trying to keep my lines open for whoever’s wheel was best – and then there she was…..Emily comes barreling down the side of the road full speed ahead.  I hopped on her wheel and just shouted GOGOGOGOGOGO!!!!!!!!!!   And away we went. I saw the 200M and began my sprint.  My legs felt AWESOME!  I went fast down the hill – though I never got into a full sprint.  It just felt like I was pedalling hard – downhill… anyway, at the last minute I saw someone (Beth) trying to come around me – and amped it up a little more and thrusted at the finish line.  Well, you can see the result here. It was a close call when it came down to it, but I won!

I think its time to amp up the pace a little.  I guess some one at the finish line (officials maybe??? or maybe just adoring fans???)  was complaining about how slow we were going and that we weren’t really racing bikes – and that the women always just let it come down to the pack sprint.  I’m expecting it to be a little different next week, simply because the climbs are a little steeper.  We’ll see!!!!

The Therapeutic Associates Inc. team is doing really well over all, and it’s really exciting.  The men are looking really strong, and the women have gotten a lot of good results.  Lisa ended up doing well in the men’s 3′s and our final results for the women’s field included 1st, Emily in 5th, Jessi in 7th and guess what????? JILL WON THE 1/2 field!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Even after all her work for me.  What a beast!

I’m really looking forward to the season with these women.  It really almost brings me to tears after I see how much each of the women have sacrificed for me so far this season – seriously – It’s something I’ve never experienced with racing before, and it makes a huge difference when you know you have that support.  Thanks again ladies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And thanks again to Casey who has been our most awesome scattered busy hard working director.  It was great to have him at the race!  And also thanks to Bill who is just awesome at everything he does (which is a whole hell of a lot!)

Alright!  Time to get my build on!  See y’all next week!