Alterra WORS: why we ride.

(photo: Jeremy) I had a silly crisis this weekend. Saturday was filled with officiating a TT and drinking margaritas, which left Sunday for me to race WORS and run 18 miles. The crisis: am I a runner or a rider? Really, I suck at both but I enjoy both. I went to bed Saturday convinced that, since WORS would cost ~$50 to do, I would make a financially-based decision and be a runner. Then I woke up Sunday, a rider. Threw my crap in the car (thank god the bag was still packed from last week's canceled WEMS) and fretted about whether this was the right decision the whole way to Crystal Ridge. By the time I saw Amy and teammate Jason in the parking lot, the stress of the 18 mi run in front of me, wedding crap, and lack of sleep had me on the verge of breaking into tears. I was a wreck. Apologies to anyone who had the misfortune of talking to me before the race.

Registered barely inside the the 30 min window and got my butt to the line. The citizen women are the jam... so friendly and totally welcoming, and it was great seeing Anne and Amy and meeting Liz, Ashley, and Kathleen. We took turns making excuses for why each of us would be last, me throwing out the totally true "this is my fifth time on the bike this year, and I haven't been on trail in three weeks." Down a caffeinated Gu. Roll up, gun, climb.

The first singletrack portion was like trying to get off a full plane: if the person in front of you fumbles their suitcase or walks with a cane, you're stuck behind them at least to the jetway, and then if you're not a jerk, into the terminal. I puttered along on lap one, my heart rate comfortably in the 150's, passing people in doubletrack and uphills. Reeling 'em in, one by one. The trail was easy to me, the flow was great, I rode all but that bump on the craters climb. Nobody passed me in the whole race, except one woman, who I passed back right away. Lots of people on the course were shouting my name, and by the second lap I was trying to thank them by name and answer their inquiries about where Ben was. ("Not racing, bachelor party last night.") When traffic cleared in the second lap, I hit it. Those King hubs roll through downhills like nothing, making the flow fantastic. I was really, really fast in the singletrack, and even better on the gravelly doubletrack.

By halfway into lap two people were telling me I was toward the front. I was riding with a big grin on my face, and for those 55 minutes I forgot about long run pacing and place cards and reception music and all that crap. I was just having fun, I felt great, I was strong, and except for that on-grass uphill finish, I really really liked this one. I finished 5th overall for citizen women. (yeah, it's citizen. But I'm a solidly cat 4 rider, and it's where I belong.)

Went home with that 18 on the mind. by 3:30pm I was out the door running. Molly crapped out from the heat within 3 miles and I dropped her home. Ran to the Chicago Crit site and said hi to a few folks, then continued out toward the Planetarium in the unshaded hot sun of the lakefront. And the heat hit. After 7 strong miles, I was downing cool water trying to get the core temp down, but too much water made me sloshy and unhappy. Begged for ice in a Dunkin' Donuts. Slogged home in the slowest time yet, getting in just 11 miles. Didn't register for the marathon, and now that I'm off the training schedule, not sure I can/will. I'll count this as next Saturday's 13 and try to get the 18 in sometime this week... flying to vegas tomorrow AM though.