Nutmeg Games 6/12/10

Grace, Jennifer and I started with 5 other women in our age group. The field was heavy with MaryAnn Martinez, Katherine Sneel and Ivy from Maine. We knew they would all be there and had been worried about staying with them since we saw their names on prereg. The field split after a prime for a jersey that MaryAnn took with KS and Ivy right there with her. At the next corner, it was obvious to me they were not going to let up so I knew if I was going to stay with them I had to go now. I was able to bridge over to them on the short downhill section before the hill. (Right where I crashed last year.) We stayed out front (is this my first breakaway??) taking turns at the front pulling. I was having trouble getting up there to help pull, but they kept cutting in front of me after they pulled off the front. My heart rate was off the charts for me and I was told afterwards not to look at it during a race. I knew I couldn’t out sprint them (bad thoughts) so I pulled the last lap, hoping to help MaryAnn set up for a sprint but Ivy came around the side on her and took it by a half a wheel. I came in 4th behind KS. Jennifer finished 6th and Grace finished 7th.  Eliza raced in the women 4 and finished 12th out of 17 riders.

CT Senior Games 5/22/10

  

20K/40K

It was a mass start, with all participants on the course at one time.  Grace and I jumped into the lead group where we drafted and worked well with them. There was one tricky corner (where Dave Reed went down in the time trial) that was very narrow but I felt confident using Nicole Freedman's cornering instructions.  At the 20K, I was caught on the inside of this corner but decided to make the best of it and SPRINT to the line.  I was able to pass all the women, the last one by .01 seconds.  Lesson - You might need a longer lead time to get up to your top speed, maybe 300 meters and don't stop, even if it hurts. After the 20K finish, we all continued on for another 20K to complete the 40K.  As the lead group took off, I was spent, but Grace was able to pull me (thank-you!) while I started to recover.  I was able to catch the front group on the next lap and THEN they slowed down to eat and drink.  I stayed with that group, actually anticipating and reacting to attacks from Jim Themig, until the final corner, where I was once again on the inside. (!)  I gave it all I had left and out sprinted three guys and came in 4th.  What a great race!

Results:

5K Dee 7:59.8 Grace 8:24.4 June 8:32.4

10K Dee 15:51.9     Grace 16:32.8 June 17:08.9

20K Dee 31:00.7 Grace 31:01.1 June 34:24.8

40K Dee 1:03:51.4 Grace 1:06:18.5 June 1:10:34.1

    

My big sprint - THANK-YOU ED! 5K Time Trial medal winners 

     

Grace and Dee medaling in the 20K June, Dave Reed, Dee, Jim Themig and Grace

with all of our medals

    

Podium girls with Jim Themig Dee, June and Grace with 10K TT medals

Quabbin Race

 

After continuously checking the radar and forecast for today's race, I decided the best we could hope for was starting the race without rain until it moved in.  Well that was wrong... We drove up to the Quabbin race in the pouring rain and started the race in the wettest conditions ever.  The start was supposed to be "neutral" until we were out of the park but the front of the peloton did not hold back down the hill to rt 9.  We were able to stay with the main peloton until the first big hill (10 miles) where the field broke up and Jennifer and I were left working together for the next 25 miles ("I got it!").  Then we started to pick up the dropped riders and worked nicely together for the next 15 miles where the field broke up again. "Vicki" pulled me up the last 6 miles which I was thinking that I was in a good position being behind her for a sprint to the 200 meter sign where she took off and was never seen again.  Our improvement over last year was incredible! 

 

Grace, Dee and Jen at the finish