This past Sunday was the first showing for Team Bike Station Aptos. We are a grassroots, off-road racing team. This time of year brings about the CCCX Cyclo-cross races and all of our racers did a fantastic job. A big congrats goes out to Courtney Shipman for her first win of the series.
See Courtney's take on the day below:
Race: CCCX #1
Venue: Manzanita Park
Category: Women's B's
Category: Women's B's
To give you a glimpse of the mindset I was in before I began turning the cranks out there on the course, I woke up 5 min before the alarm went off at 5:45 am. The word that can best describe how I felt yesterday: Anticipation. Why? Well, as most of you don’t know I had a pretty rough season last year. It started, just as this did, with some fabulous base training, improved fitness, healthy mental state etc. But, took a sudden turn in August with a severe back injury. So, I spent a good half of the season rehabilitating and getting my butt back in the saddle. That said, the results of the 2008/2009 season were not satisfactory.
And that’s why yesterday was big for me. As Scott can attest to, I’m very process oriented. A+B = C. I love training, perfecting technique, being prepared, and then when race day comes, pulling the imaginary trigger. There is really no feeling like "putting on a show" in the ring, and knowing you have done everything you can to ready yourself for game day. That’s really what it’s all about. Yesterday wasn’t about the medal, it was affirmation that I should be out there with the B’s and for the first time gave me a peek of what it might be like racing with the big girls.
Scott and I arrived at the course around 8:45. The fog was still hovering nicely over the course, hanging its head like it to was just waking up on a lazy Sunday morning. I kitted up, and hopped on the bike to check out the course before the Men’s C race. When I pre ride courses, I typically just ride the first lap, to see where the course goes, and then begin to choose all my lines on the subsequent laps.
All in all I’d say I do at least 5 or 6 in prep. Then I’ll re-do sections that I feel require more technical skill, and perhaps even watch others perform their technique. I find this helpful, and sometimes eye opening.
By the time my race rolled around at 1pm I was so ready, it’s not funny. I had pre-road, warmed up, drank a monster shot, and talked way to much smack to Megan. And the kid’s race was still not finished. Thank God JT was there to keep me on track. "Sit down, put your feet up, and drink some water….did you pee yet?", she said from the tailgate of James’ truck. It didn’t even occur to me to get out of the hot sun, chill out, and save it for the race that was about to start. With 5 min till start, she told me to do a few sprints up the starting hill to fire the muscles back up. Brilliant! I was ready to go.
On the line, I quickly discovered I was in a crappy spot. Mistake number one. I should have been in front. I cursed myself for not being more pushy and making way to front and center. Instead, I was behind someone who I knew I’d quickly pass and who would most likely slow me down as I sprinted my brains out on the start. So, I quickly moved (totally last min decision) to the outside, bumping tires, so I had a bail out, if need be.
My start was just ok. I was probably sitting 6 back off the line.
But as we made the first set of turns, I made up two spots. Being good technically is the key to winning in cross. I also was pushing bigger gears on the entire course, which helped me gain on the field.
As we settled in and spread out on the course, I quietly whispered to myself "game on", and kept my eyes on the targets ahead, picking them off one by one. However, before I pick them off, I try to determine their weakness, so when I pass them I know which sections I can gain seconds. This is something that used to be hard, and requires a little more "in the moment" thinking. I think I’m starting to understand the saying "patients is a virtue." The only thing I would have changed is tire pressure. I think I was running a little too much, because around most of the baseball in field turns I was sliding out. It’s a tough call, because the rest of the course was pretty fast.
So, I raced. I sprinted. I mounted and dismounted. I never once looked back. And, I crossed the finish line first. That’s pretty much it. Simple right? Hardly…
A+B=C.
Thanks for reading. And thanks for cheering me on the sidelines. I’m looking forward to hitting it hard again next weekend.
