I did a couple of races this weekend. The first on Saturday, was a circuit race at the Fed Center. I didn't get in much of a warm up lap, but got in a good 20 min warm up before the race. I try to catch up on sleep on the weekends, too, because I have work, an internship, and class during the week. So, alas, that was as much of a warm up as I could afford. In a perfect world, I would have more time for such things.

I did the Cat 3 race. It started out super-slow. The course was a nice gradual steady climb, and back down, with some twisty corners on each side of the loop. As one girl said at the initial pace... " the fours will catch us at this rate!". So true. Anyways, I was happy to sit in. I was determined to not make a move until I felt like it would help me win... i.e. not let everyone draft on my wheel the whole time. We did 4-5 laps. This was my first road race that wasn't a climb in almost a year. I felt the improvement in my group skills/ cornering skills lap by lap. The pace remained pretty chill, and on the second to last lap, myself and another girl took some pulls off the front to see if we could drop anyone. Everyone kept up. I grabbed some H20 on the downhill before the last lap, chilled a little at the beginning of the last climb, and then drilled it off the front as hard as I could. I could feel the burn after the first few minutes, but kept digging hard to pick up the pace. After all, I had a good gap on everyone, thanks to my climbing fitness. It was a long lap. I kept ahead up the whole climb, and down at least 1/2 of the descent. This was actually pretty good for me. I was nervous on the descent, and I think I owe some of my nervousness to it being my first road race of sorts in a while. Anyways, it was worth a try, and was a memorable attempt. Needless to say, I missed the final sprint, but it was a race well fought.

On Sunday I raced the Bannock St. Crit. Again, first crit of the year, and my legs were a little shaky at cornering in the pack. Definitely something I can improve upon. Jeannie Longo was there,.... again, and it was pretty evident I would be crushed, ego bruised, legs drilled into the hot August pavement.... pretty evident, there from the starting line up. But I thought... how could I not improve! We're getting used to seeing Jeannie Longo in Boulder. She got quite an introduction at the Fed Center, and was quite the topic of attention at Bannock, as well. I hung back out of the crowd for the most part in the beginning of the race. Sue Stokes and I worked off the back, together, and it was great to have a corner buddy, to corner with! I am feeling better in the corners, actually. I owe some of that to my recent parking lot practice sessions. But my legs were cooked before the end of the race. When Jeannie Longo lapped me a 2nd time.... yes you read right, a 2nd time! I decided to call it a day. I just had one short 3 min lap left, but couldn't find the drive to suffer any longer.

I am happy to have a rest day, today. Racing has been non-stop this week, and I'm doing a crit tomorrow, as well.... then Short Track again on Wednesday... I did better at short track last Wednesday, and we'll see if I have some energy for this week's show down. It's the last one of the season, so I can't not go! ;)

Later, sporty vegans!