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.

race report: treadfest

it was one of those days. i woke up sick (I blame the Larabar. those things do a number on me.) and hit the start with the requisite brick in my stomach. looked around and couldn't find anyone in my age group, though i knew there had to be someone... lined up with familiar faces- Anne and Amy- repeated the "just have fun" mantra and it was go time.

the start was straight uphill- super steep. it was my first time on the spot and it felt... bouncy. yes, i'm still running 40 psi, but it's also the front end was far lighter than on the Rocky Mountain and on that first climb i struggled to keep my front tire on the ground. my ankle was killing me. i felt like crap. i thought about maybe just dropping out, seriously, and was preparing the excuses for that in my head. but i forced myself on.

i wasn't the last girl off the climb, but i wasn't the first either. the first lap was annoying... people in front of me slamming on the brakes to walk over logs n' such. i was moving so slow that stuff i'd usually ride over i had to run, unable to hit it right. folks were not so good at the singletrack.

by the end of lap 1 I had found Amy- faster on the climbs but I caught her with my slickish tires on the lawnmower sections. we rode a whole lap together, and it was a hoot. jokin' around, keeping it fun. i glanced down and my heartrate, which i was pushing into the 180's before finding her, settled into a nice 166. i started having fun.

finished slightly ahead of Amy and sat around wondering what i'd done. 1st in age group. Tim rightfully asked if that meant I'm headed up to Sport, but I gotta say- if you look at the finish times of the Citizen women, they're 58:00-1:12. I won my age group in 1:06, but other age groups were way faster. I'm sticking in citizen for a spell. besides, those sport women are really alot faster. It takes alot for this really proud girl to admit to it, but I really am a citizen rider, both in speed and bike handling.

Tim took 2nd in Citizen Clydesdale, and Adrian rode his first MTB race. Jason was faaaast but ran through the finish with a flat. Helge crashed out with a shoulder problem. Killjoy's riders did great, with Mike nearly on the podium and Ben swearing less than usual. Our tent was a party, and 2 cases of beer somehow disappeared.