Well, I got through it, which is more than a lot of people can say! Mt Hood Cycling Classic was rough, tough, and just plain awesome. I think some time last year I posted something saying that this next season (current season now) I wanted to do some really hard races that would just kick my butt, because that’s what I needed to get to the next level…Do you remember me saying that? Well, I said it, and Mt Hood did it for me. I got my butt handed to me multiple times all wrapped up in a bright red bow…
Okay, maybe no bow, but still…I was whooped. There weren’t a whole ton of women in the field (35 to start to be exact), but there were some pretty tough ladies out there ready to put the pain on. It was awesome!
Prologue: So fast – so quick – it was over before you knew it. This was my first ever prologue. I did okay…my legs felt really tired still (I’ve been struggling with tired leg syndrome for a week now)…I got through it.
Cooper Spur Circuit Race (Stage 1): Hard. I couldn’t recover. I stayed with the pack for 1/2 the race…then hit the steeper section of the hill going up to cooper spur and popped 1/2 way off. My legs just wouldn’t work. I also really didn’t feel “in it”. I was sick of descending behind people that couldn’t descend…and was sick of not being able to recover. Basically I was being a whiney baby. And it continued for the rest of the race while I watched 3 riders ahead of me join with another group of 4 riders (which my amazing Teammate Pam was in) and they rode off into the distance, leaving me to wallow in my misery on Cooper Spur. I finished. Not near as far back as I thought…but still, this stage was rough for me.
Scenic Gorge TT (Stage 2): AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was ready to put on the pain! And I did. At least on myself. I passed quite a few women on the first hill and just kept it going. I think there were times where I could have gone a little harder on the descent and last hill…but at the end I was definitely maxed out and it was an amazing ride for me. My legs felt better than they had the day before…once again…the TT is what I do. I LOVE IT!
Wy-East RR (Stage 3): BRUTAL!!!!! Pam and my goal was to make it past the second steep descent with the pack. We did it…but not without me trying to pop off the back a zillion times. LEGS!!!! JUST WORK!!!!! PLEASE!!!! I got popped shortly after the second feed zone about 1/4 of the way up the 35 mile climb. I chased and chased…and was about to reach the caravan (yes, I was that close)…and I realized…I still have 20 miles of climbing ahead of me…I think I should just motor up at my pace. Right as I was deciding this, I witnessed an attack at the front anyway, so I gave up the chase and settled into my tempo pace. I caught one other Total Restoration woman and also caught my teammate Pam. The three of us rode to the finish together. It was awesome to have a couple people to ride with this time. We took our time to make sure we’d be able to make it up the last little bit…and we finished together. 92 miles of craziness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Down Town Criterium (Stage 4): FAST!!!!!!!! We started out and I knew I needed to be near the front. I got in a pretty good position through the first few laps. In order to finish the stage we needed to complete 16 minutes of the race before getting pulled/lapped. I kept looking at my clock thinking, oh crap, oh crap, oh crap. I made it through the 16 minute mark and just held on for dear life. I felt so comfortable in the pack. Taking good lines, fighting for wheels, doing everything I needed to. Then suddenly, coming up the front stretch (which is a little hill) my legs turned to lead. I started drifting back a little. I moved up again through the side stretch (good tips from Bill) – but to no avail, I was slipping back again on the front stretch. I had hit my wall. I struggled and then finally popped off again because there was a gap after the big turn at the bottom. I chased and chased…and then sat up a little. I rode hard for a few laps and made it with 8 laps to go before I was pulled. Not too shabby.
My legs feel better now than when I started the race. Yes, they are tired, but feel good. Time for a rest week and prep for Elkhorn!!!!
