Matters of some importance
First - I'm finally a cat 2. I gave myself some time to think about it, and waited until I felt ready. And now I've gone and done it.
Second - I'm going to be visiting the Twin Cities in less than two weeks, and showing up to race at the track in Blaine on July 19 (I hope it doesn't rain.) If you're on the fence about going that night, DO it. It will be great to see all the tracksters again.
And racing - Yesterday was the Carrera de San Rafael. Definitely hard, but one of my favorite races of the season.
It was a 4-corner course with a short uphill on one side, followed by a long slightly downhill side, a short downhill, and then a long slight rise into the finish line. We lined up with 54 women in the P/1/2/3 field for our 60 minute crit, and I could tell it was going to be the strongest field I've raced in this year -- Jazz Apple, Proman, Value Act Capitol, Tibco, Velo Bella, and some Advil Chapstick ladies, along with quite a few others.
From the gun, we headed out fast. I started at the back of the field and it was tough working my way up even to the middle of the pack. The primes started soon, which also contributed to keeping the pace high, and after 20 minutes I began to wonder if I could really hold on for a whole hour. The teams were really working hard on the front of the field, attacking, counter-attacking, trying to form a break. But Dan and Aekta (some non-bike-racer Dartmouth friends) had come out to cheer me on, so there was no way I was going to let myself get dropped. I just kept trying to move up where I could and hang on to the wheel in front of me, and finally things started to feel easier. I'm not sure if I just settled into a comfortable rhythm, or if the pace actually slowed quite a bit, but I started to feel good. I was really enjoying the course - the hill was a quick power climb, which suits me, and the downhill corners were really smooth and fast.
Then, about 40 minutes into the race, I felt myself get a flat as the field came through the start/finish. Fortunately, it was just ahead of the pit, so I put my arm up and rolled in, telling them that I had shimano 10. Then feeling REALLY stupid when I realized it was a front flat, not a rear. But the SRAM guys had it all figured out and set me up with a nice Zipp wheel and plenty of time to get in position to get back in the race. The break cruised by first - three gals, and they were hauling. Wow. Then the field came charging through and I was pushed back out to rejoin them. And I was in. Phew. Having a mechanical in a race is still something that stresses me out, even if I do get back into the field.
In the last 20 minutes, the chase was on. There were some strong girls bringing the break back to the field, and we were all together coming into the final lap. Unfortunately, two women crashed on the last time up the hill, but the rest of the field was able to avoid it. Coming into the last corners, I was about midway back, but I started sprinting as soon as I could and managed to claw my way up to 8th place in the end, which I was really happy with. This race really helped build my confidence, and it's great to get experience in a really fast race like that. I still have a lot to learn, and it's so awesome to be racing in a place where there are so many women racers to learn from! I'm already getting psyched for 'cross.
Photo courtesy of Dan Cross-Call.
Second - I'm going to be visiting the Twin Cities in less than two weeks, and showing up to race at the track in Blaine on July 19 (I hope it doesn't rain.) If you're on the fence about going that night, DO it. It will be great to see all the tracksters again.
And racing - Yesterday was the Carrera de San Rafael. Definitely hard, but one of my favorite races of the season.
It was a 4-corner course with a short uphill on one side, followed by a long slightly downhill side, a short downhill, and then a long slight rise into the finish line. We lined up with 54 women in the P/1/2/3 field for our 60 minute crit, and I could tell it was going to be the strongest field I've raced in this year -- Jazz Apple, Proman, Value Act Capitol, Tibco, Velo Bella, and some Advil Chapstick ladies, along with quite a few others.
From the gun, we headed out fast. I started at the back of the field and it was tough working my way up even to the middle of the pack. The primes started soon, which also contributed to keeping the pace high, and after 20 minutes I began to wonder if I could really hold on for a whole hour. The teams were really working hard on the front of the field, attacking, counter-attacking, trying to form a break. But Dan and Aekta (some non-bike-racer Dartmouth friends) had come out to cheer me on, so there was no way I was going to let myself get dropped. I just kept trying to move up where I could and hang on to the wheel in front of me, and finally things started to feel easier. I'm not sure if I just settled into a comfortable rhythm, or if the pace actually slowed quite a bit, but I started to feel good. I was really enjoying the course - the hill was a quick power climb, which suits me, and the downhill corners were really smooth and fast.
Then, about 40 minutes into the race, I felt myself get a flat as the field came through the start/finish. Fortunately, it was just ahead of the pit, so I put my arm up and rolled in, telling them that I had shimano 10. Then feeling REALLY stupid when I realized it was a front flat, not a rear. But the SRAM guys had it all figured out and set me up with a nice Zipp wheel and plenty of time to get in position to get back in the race. The break cruised by first - three gals, and they were hauling. Wow. Then the field came charging through and I was pushed back out to rejoin them. And I was in. Phew. Having a mechanical in a race is still something that stresses me out, even if I do get back into the field.
In the last 20 minutes, the chase was on. There were some strong girls bringing the break back to the field, and we were all together coming into the final lap. Unfortunately, two women crashed on the last time up the hill, but the rest of the field was able to avoid it. Coming into the last corners, I was about midway back, but I started sprinting as soon as I could and managed to claw my way up to 8th place in the end, which I was really happy with. This race really helped build my confidence, and it's great to get experience in a really fast race like that. I still have a lot to learn, and it's so awesome to be racing in a place where there are so many women racers to learn from! I'm already getting psyched for 'cross.
Photo courtesy of Dan Cross-Call.
posted by karla at 10:26 PM
9 Comments:
you did really well Karla, congrats! good luck in your track race!
Thanks for the comment, you also have been riding well! good luck in your next races!
awesome job at all these recent races!
you said the magic word: cross!
Congratulations, Kid! Cat 1 here wasn't sure she wanted a cat 3 around but now you're cat 2, she'll tolerate you. Cat 2 doesn't care.
Congrats on the upgrade Karla! I'm excited to have my Cat 2 teammate to race with at the track in a few weeks!
KJK,
I have been wanting to go to the track to see what it is all about.
Guess that july 19th is the time!
ITB, Julia
ps I am wearing the D kit!
Karla-- awesome! i'm happy you found my blog! i am just getting into this thing...yet another time suckage!
congrats on upgrading! i am so happy for you-- also great job this weekend!
I think I'll be at the track wednesday, so I'll prepare myself to receive a can of whoop ass!
great job karla.
i will happily act as your agent for when the teams come calling.
karlajanekingsley.blogspot.com is very informative. The article is very professionally written. I enjoy reading karlajanekingsley.blogspot.com every day.
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