Merco RR
http://www.usacycling.org/results/?permit=2008-483Merco Foothills Road Race
I know, I don't usually do road races, but I have always loved this course (being the big-boned type). The weather today was killer; the 40 mph gusts predicted on the news never materialized and the sun warmed us up almost right away. The blossoms on the trees were spectacular! It was truly beautiful.
Girls, I have to tell you that its pretty freakin cool to line up beside riders like Kim Anderson and Mara Abbott. Even Gianna Roberge and Laura Charameda were racing today. This is one great reason to get your cat 2 upgrade, if you should set your mind to it.
I followed Jesse's advice, "stay at the front and dig deep on the hills", and ended up feeling really good on all 3 laps. During the first half of the 3rd lap I felt like they could have cracked me with a hard acceleration, but then Mara Abbott went off the front and the pack seemed content to let her dangle out there. So the speed was pretty consistent for a while and I ate some Clif Blocks and drank some of Laura's water (I had no one in the feed zone and was pretty bummed about the prospect of finishing the 3rd lap with no water, but Laura gave me one of her bottles! Life saver!!!) so I started to feel a lot better.
The rollers on the south side of the course were not so bad, and I had a good position heading into the s-turns before the finish, but not good enough. The field started to sprint en masse and we were spread across the road. I don't know if I could have come by anyone even if there had been a hole to sprint through. I'm kicking myself for not getting my act in gear and taking a big risk at the end, but at the same time, I'm pretty happy with 28th place. I felt really good today, held my position well for the most part, and rode to my strengths.
I stuck around after my race to watch Penny and Lesley (in her 1st road race!) finish, which was awesome!!! They were all smiles when they crossed the line, and that, my friends, is what racing's all about. We caravaned to Mexican food afterwards and tmade plans for our next road race....
-C
Penny and I lined up with a pretty large group of Cat 3/4 women.
As soon as we started the announcements commenced...."slowing"... now that one really threw me....if you're telling me you're slowing in a race are you hoping I'll stay behind you? As we came close to turns we had some very considerate riders warning us and then congratulating us all on a turn well done! I found it rather humorous! The group hit the turbo engines every time we hit a hill-by mile 30 my ongoing calf cramps made it very difficult to stay with the acceleration and I fell off the back. Bummer! I discovered that my endurance needs a little work and I think I need to up the electrolytes.
It made my day to have Claire cheering her heart out at the finish line...I'm glad she stuck around after her long race and four days away from home. Penny and I enjoyed our long journey to the race together and our little detour with Claire to Lucinda's in Mill Valley for well deserved shrimp quesadillas.
-Lesley
I thought I was done with road racing 2 years ago, but sometimes in the process of telling someone else they should go for it, you get talked into going for it too. This is how Lesley and I found ourselves setting out for the Big Valley at 0:dark-thirty Sunday morning. We left in plenty of time to make our 11:48 start time, that is if we hadn't missed the turn for Snelling and ended up in Chowchilla.
I had so much fun, It was nice to be a part of the road race scene again. Claire and Lesley were there cheering me on at the end and Lesley did great her first time out the gate - no surprise there!
-Penny
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
| - CCCX @ Fort Ord | 2004-10-03 |
| - Documentum Crit | 2004-09-26 |
| - Giro di San Fransisco | 2004-09-06 |
| - Return of the Jedi | 2004-09-04 |
| - Winters RR | 2004-08-28 |
| - 12 Hours of Humboldt | 2004-08-28 |
| - US Pro Criterium Championships | 2004-08-22 |
| - Corral Hollow RR | 2004-08-21 |
| - TransAlp Challenge | 2004-07-17 - 2004-07-27 |
| - Superweek | 2004-07-09 - 2004-07-25 |
| - Wine Country Criterium | 2004-06-13 |
| - Fremont Criterium | 2004-06-12 |
| - ICCC Dash for Cash | 2004-06-05 |
| - California Outdoor Sports Championships | 2004-05-14 - 2004-05-16 |
| - Sea Otter | 2004-04-14 - 2004-04-17 |
| - Pilarcitos Stage Race | 2004-03-27 - 2004-03-28 |
| - McLane Pacific Foothills Road Race | 2004-03-14 |
| - McLane Pacific Downtown Grand Prix | 2004-03-13 |
| - Land Park Criterium | 2004-03-06 |
| - Apple Pie Criterium | 2004-02-07 |