Mason Lake #2, My First Road Race!

So I think I've finally thawed out enough to post about how this weekend's race went. We had to leave the house at 6:00 am to make it out to the course in time to register and warm up. Ugh. I didn't realize how much racing would take away from my beauty sleep.

When we left the house, it was pouring down rain. As we drove the almost 2 hours to the site, it was pouring down rain. When we arrived, it was only drizzling. By the time the race started, it was pouring again and it continued to pour the entire time.

When I pulled my bike up to the starting pack, I was a little overwhelmed by all the women that came to race. There were 41 of us in the field. I had to start at the back of the pack and I was really nervous that would increase my chances of getting dropped. But, I hung in there. I had teammate Jessica on my left and after about a mile or so, she said it was time to start moving up. So I did. I wiggled my way up a few spots and then it hit me. There was so much water shooting into my eyes from the back wheel of the rider in front of me. For over an hour, there was an unrelenting rain on my back and water spray in my eyes.

I think it was probably good that this was my first race because I was so concerned with getting dropped or causing a crash that I quickly accepted the onslaught of water.

What really caught me by surprise was all the chatter in the peloton. "On your left!" "On your right!" "Slowing!" "Hold your line!" Constant chatter. I think the veterans were really trying to pysche out us rookies but I was determined to not fall for the tricks. Why on God's green earth would I let you in on my left? This is a bike race! Not a group ride on the Burke Gilman. I bet there is a lot less of that in the men's races.

At the end of the first lap, I lost a little steam on the last hill and fell quite far back in the pack after maintaining a nice mid-pack status for most the race. I then realized that the finish line was not too far after and that would not be acceptable to do on the next lap around.

I found the whole thing to be pretty exhilarating. I tried to find the open holes and close the ones that would threaten our team's position. I would have loved to be more strategic to help Jess and Lucy, but I don't know how to do that yet and honestly, I think they are talented enough to do well on their own.

Last couple of kilometers, I was feeling pretty tired. I hadn't touched my water bottle at all because I was too scared to grab it. Everyone got a little ancy to be done and out of the pouring rain, which really hadn't let up much at all. Then, it happened. A bike crash. One girl went down and then another and then another. Luckily, I was on the right hand side and was able to steer into the gravel and then back on to the road. I definitely felt a compulsion to stop to help but it was a race and I kept going instead. Does that make me a bad person?

Then, the sprint broke out and whoa, I was left in the dust. I tried my best to push it but I was so tired. I was happy that I beat one girl to the line who was really phoning in the last few yards. The final result? I took 14th out of 41. Not bad for the first ride out! I was kind of sad that Kevin missed the finish because he was helping out another rider from another team, but was happy that he was playing the role of a good samaratian.

But the story doesn't really end there because once I finished the race, I couldn't feel any body part. Remember, it had been between 36-38 degrees and pouring rain all day. I was soaked through and through. Thank heavens for the Mason Lake community center! I took my dry clothes and changed and Kevin had hot chocolate waiting for me. I couldn't even drink my hot chocolate properly because I was shaking so badly. I nice elderly lady at the center rushed around to find me a blanket and wrapped it around me. I think it was my closest encounter with hypothermia to date. Unbelievable shaking.

So once I warmed up, I was doing laundry and getting things ready for the race in Ravensdale. We drove out there Sunday morning (another 6 am departure time) and there was snow sticking to the ground in mid March. Yuk! After an hour of waiting around, the race was canceled. My second race will just have to wait another week!

Icebreaker Time Trial 2009

So, last week we headed north to Everett, this week we headed south to Auburn/Black Diamond for the Icebreaker TT. It rained overnight so the roads we damp but the weather managed to hold for the race. I was so thankful because when I finished, I wasn't cold and miserable.

My start today was at 10:03 am and the line up made me a bit nervous. Last week, I was sandwiched between a bunch of men riders, so if they passed me, it was no biggie. This week, I had men in front of me but pretty much all women behind me. Meaning, if one of them passes me, they would beat me by 30 seconds or more. And a teammate, Julie, just starting 30 seconds after me.

The nice part about this race is that I felt I had a little bit of a 'home team' advantage. Our team was the sponsoring team today so all the people at the start and and the turnaround and at the registration table were all teammates.

At the starting line, I remembered to let go of my brakes so that was an improvement! I felt strong off the starting line. It was a hard race. My legs were burning as I was twisting through the countryside with the the farm fields and cattle on both sides of the road. I just knew that I couldn't let Julie beat me!

At the end, I wasn't as fast as last weekend. I finished 18 (just out of the top half) with a time of 29:14.07. That's okay, I felt good and I know that the field was a little more fierce than last week.

Results!

So the results were finally posted and I was pleasantly surprised. I placed 10th out of 28 and was just one second away from 9th!

I feel really accomplished and validated that I did the right thing by trying bike racing.

I'm looking forward to the Icebreaker TT next week!

Frostbite Time Trial 2009 - First Bike Race Ever

So, I haven't really had anything eventful to say ... except for maybe that I picked up a really sweet new bike.

But then today I did my first legit bike race, the Frostbite Time Trial in Everett, WA.

And they, weren't kidding! It was raining and cold. I was so wet by the end of the race and muddy, I thought I'd finished a cyclocross race.

The race is 9 miles of flat out-and-back. The results haven't been posted yet so I don't have any official standings to report, but I do know that I didn't finish last! I don't know why I'm so terrified of finishing last, but I am. I passed one lady who started about 3 minutes before me. I got passed plenty by a bunch of guys myself, but I knew if I could pass just one girl, I'd be golden. Turns out the woman I passed was the slowest finisher from last year ... doesn't matter!

My other teammates were there to lend support which was great. It's nice to hear your name and some encouraging words when your legs are starting to ache and turn into jelly. The course out was harder than the ride back in. I really appreciated that and it helped my avg. mph stay above 20.

Now, I'm just anxiously awaiting the results. That is kind of the odd thing about racing the clock, there is no instant feedback on how you did against your peers. Well, maybe I'll update this post or make a new one once the results are posted.

I did it! Seattle Half Marathon

Well, today was the day I ran the Seattle Half Marathon, quite possibly the warmest one on record. It started at 7:30 am at 55 degrees. It was foggy and misting, but so warm!

Danielle and I started the race out at the back of the pack. This was intentional so I wouldn't run too fast at the beginning and it is always more fun to pass people than to be passed by others.

I started out strong, made it up the first hill reasonably well. I continued through the I-90 express tunnel with relative ease. As we headed out on Lake Washington Blvd, (Danielle pretty much left me at mile 3,) my right knee started to get a little sore. I kept thinking "My knee hurts but it doesn't matter." I slogged along until mile 6/7 pretty well. I was really happy to see the GU shot table and discovered the vanilla flavor goes down pretty well. I was more than happy to fuel up because I knew that the biggest hills were still to come.

Mile 7 was hard. It takes you up a large hill into Madison Park through Denny Blaine. Then, you get to go up this ridiculous hill called Galer Street. Then there is a crazy slow uphill until you FINALLY get to mile marker 8. Then, you get your last 'break', a slow descent into the arboretum.

Then, it is up, up, up to Capitol Hill through this magical wooded path that I had no idea that it even exsisted. It is so pretty, windy, woody and pretty. It eventually spits you out on Bolyston on Capitol Hill which made me really happy because I've ran the next section a bunch of times before.

Once we headed down the last major downhill, I really started to struggle. My pinky toe on my right foot started hurting at mile 10, so by mile 12, I was in so much pain. I was determined to keep going though. No walking!!

Once I finally reached the stadium, I was exhausted. I saw the finish line, but I got to tell you, I normally sprint the last 50 yards or so of each race but that was not the case today. I left it all out on the course.

I finished a little after half of the people in my age group, which is a pretty big improvement for me. My chip time? 2:16:35.

Nike Plus Runs

Pre-Race Update

Wow, time flies. So, I've put in the miles and put in the carbs, now I'm conserving energy until race time. I'm so excited and nervous. Tomorrow's Seattle Half Marathon will be the longest run of my life to date.

I'll be starting the race with my friend Danielle who is an amazing runner. I'm hoping she will stay with me for atleast 5 miles before she takes off for the finish line. I just hope I don't try to keep up with her because I'll be dead my mile 7 if I do.

My biggest concern today is the sudden heat wave. I know that 56 degrees may not seem warm, but when you are used to running in 40 degrees, it can throw you off. Long sleeves or short sleeves? What kind of layering? I'm really worrying about overheating.

Also, my dilemma today is ... to shop or not to shop? I'd like to do a little shopping since I had to work yesterday but I don't want to get too tired. Do you think it would be appropriate if I asked my husband to wheel me around in a wheelchair?

I'm excited to report back after the race! Wish me luck!