Blog Burning

Getting burned is bad...getting burned behind your back is worse...getting BLOG BURNED is the ultimatum. Whats a blog burn? It is when you get removed from a friends blog list when you the ONLY one on the list...

Oh...there is nothing worse than a blog burn right? WRONG

the only thing worse than a blog burn is being burned...then REPLACED =(

~cough~ you know who you are ;-P

Lake County Stage Race

Baking in the Heat



Saturday's Womens Crit



Craig Creeden (Team ASV), Jos Chalmers (Team Colivita) and I after the juniors race



The start of the womens circuit race



Have a drink!!!



Melted Ice Water...BBRRR!!!!



Womens Finish (Sunday)





Juniors crit



Womens Crit



Sprint Finish (Saturday)

It’s the last race of the spring season...Father’s Day weekend...AND a 110 degree heat index...WOW

This past weekend was the Lake County Stage Race. Saturday was a crit. The course was in an unfinished neighborhood. The roads were nice and there was a small finishing hill.

I started off with the juniors race. The race was FAST and the attacks were flying. About 10 minutes into the race the winning break got up the road. There were a few chase attempts but no one was able to get really organized.

As we came around to the last lap I moved up to about 4th wheel. The field had cranked up the speed and I was prepping for the sprint. As we came around to the final corner most of the field was getting ready to take the inside line but a rider had sat up on the inside. I lost momentum and never quite gained it again. I ended up finishing towards the end of the field but had felt good the entire race.

The womens race was HOT. I felt pretty good and was able to react to all the attacks. The field stayed together for the entire race. No one was super aggressive because of the heat.

As we came to the final lap I tried to move up a little bit. I was caught up in the final corner when the rider in front of me nearly overshot the turn. I managed to keep enough of my momentum and sprinted for 6th in the 1, 2, 3’s.

Sunday’s race was a lot of fun. The course was a flat and curvy 2 miles. It was ridiculously hot out (we got into our car at 6 AM and the thermo. read 92!!!! yikes)

In the juniors race my goal was to try and have a good finish but to just have fun. The race was really fast. Most riders were competing in the stage race and that led to more attacks than usual. My legs were hurting a little but I felt pretty good. I tried to stay up front but for the most part ended up just enjoying the ride.

As we came around to the finish I was a little farther back then I would have liked. I ended up towards the back of the field in the sprint but was totally stoked for the womens race.

The all category womens race was the last race of the day. I didn’t need much of a warm up and hung out under the tent keeping cool.

The first lap was pretty calm. The field was staying together and trying to feel everything out. As we came around the finish line I saw the line of juniors with bottles of ice cold water...I couldn’t get a feed but I did get a shower just about every lap. It felt great (a special thanks to everyone =)

There were a couple attacks but nothing was really sticking. As we were coming around to start 3 laps to go I was second wheel. When I looked back the field had started to slow down and had given us a small 20 meter gap.

"LETS GO" I sprinted past the rider in front of me and told her we had a gap. I ended up on my own hammering up the final hill. I was off the front for a little while but was eventually caught.

The next 2 laps were uneventful. I knew it was coming to a field sprint and began to pick my wheel.

As we approached the final corner the field was still spread across the road. I was behind the 4 women who rotate winning the races. As we rounded the final corner they shot up the outside and I followed. My legs were pretty tired but I was able to keep my 5th place.


It was a great chance to learn a little more before nationals. We are going up to GA one more time and have one more race in Gwinett, GA before nationals.

thanks for reading,

ciao

Ocala Race Weekend

This past weekend was the Ocala Omnium with a RR and TT on Saturday and another RR on Sunday. I felt good all week and was stoked to race.

Saturday's road race was rolling but there wasn't anything to difficult. All the women categories raced together.

The course was very nice. I felt great on all the climbs and felt like my climbing improved since the last time I raced on this course.

The first lap was pretty steady. There were a couple little attacks but nothing stuck. When we came up the final hill there was a split in the field. I found myself in a break of 8 with all the big names. We were soon pulled back and the group settled back down.

There was a KOM about 5 miles into the second lap. I felt good during the sprint and finished around 5th.

In the last 5 miles I moved up to the front. I was prepared for the sprint but was concerned with the downhill finish. In the last mile I was stuck against the yellow line. As we began to crest the final hill I attacked to try and get a gap before the downhill. Another women followed me and came flying by me. I tried to jump on her wheel but wasn't able to. I ended up finishing 11th.

Later that day we had a 4.88 mile timetrial. It was wicked hot out and I felt pretty tired. The TT course was the finishing section of the morning's road race course. I felt okay in the TT and had a time of 12:42.

Sunday's road race course was a lolly-pop shape. The terrain was mostly flat with 1 or 2 little rollers. It wasn't as selective as the previous race.

I felt really good during my warm up. At the start I was totally ready to race. I drifted back into the middle of the field and tried to just stay out of the wind and conserve energy.

For the first 10 miles the field kept a steady tempo around 22mph. There were a few attacks but there wasn't much going on. It was getting pretty hot out and it was really starting to get to me. I took the opportunity to pore water on my back and legs. It felt great and really saved me.

As we came around to start our final lap a group of 5 including Tina Elliot were just of the front. I bridged up but we were soon pulled back.

The next lap, the pace was a little faster and the attacks were starting to fly. With 5 miles to go Julie Walker (Team Florida Velo) was a little off the front of the field. A group of 3 women tried to bridge. We had soon reeled the chase group back into the field but Julie had put the hammer down and was already a few hundred meters away.

As we made the final left and exited the loop I began to move up. I searched for Jennie Collin's (Team ASV) wheel and marked it. She is one of the best sprinters and I wanted to follow her to the line. For the last 3 miles I fought for her wheel. I managed to hold it until the sprint.

As we rounded the final corner I could see a girl trying to sneak in on my inside. I moved up a little and got in front of her. Once we straightened out the sprint started. I felt great in the sprint and moved up two places. I finished 4th in the sprint and 5th overall. It was my best sprint finish of the year.

Next weekend is the Clermont Omnium. It is the last race in Florida before nationals and I am really looking forward to it.

thanks for reading,

ciao

Pics from the TRC weekend

Here are some pics form the TRC race weekend. ENJOY!



Off the Front in the Women's Race



Women's 1,2,3,4 Start



Junior Sprint finish



First place women in the Female Junior 15-16 LAJRS ;-P



Junior Race



Junior Start



Saturdays women's race



Bombing the First Corner



Warming up under the All Sport Tent

TRC Race Weekend

This weekend I was determined to turn my racing around. I had a new strategy and was pumped up and ready to race.

Day 1 was a flat, curvy and fast. The course was in a not yet developed subdivision. It was very open and the wind was really blowing during my race.

At the start line I was really stoked. My legs felt great and the field was much bigger than normal. From go I settled into the front of the field. I tried to mark strong wheels. I found myself on Jackie Kurths (Team Kenda) wheel. As we came around to finish our first lap she attacked. I followed but once we were caught we were countered by Tina Elliot (Florida Velo).

During this lap 2 other girls bridged up to Tina and they were slowly getting a bigger gap on the field. Our main field had shredded to about 8 riders. I sat on the back and prepped for the sprint.

As we came around to 3 laps to go the sky had grown ominously black. The rain held off but the lighting and thunder had started to roll in. As we came around to what should have been bell lap we were told that it was our finish. I followed Jackie Kurths wheel and got second in the sprint and 6th overall.

On Sunday the course was almost a mile long. It had 4 corners and wasn't very technical.

I started off with the juniors race. About 10 minutes into the race, the field split. I found myself in the middle of two, seven men groups with another rider. We rotated for a little while and tried to bridge to the lead group but ended up just floating back to the second group.

For the most part we did a tempo pace line. There were couple attacks but they were quickly pulled back. With 5 laps to go we were caught by the 2 leaders. I jumped onto their wheel and stayed there.

On the last lap an attack went. I followed the first chaser and was getting ready for the sprint. As we rounded the final corner the guy in front of me (Matao Zaluaga-Team Paisa- had given me a good lead out to the final corner =) peeled off and left me with open road. With the 1 rider still in front I sprinted. I could see a shadow behind me but managed to hold him off to the line. I got 5th overall and was very pleased with my result.

In the womens race later I was a little tired. About 10 minutes into the race Jackie Kurth and Julie Bishop (Florida Velo) formed a break together and were gone for the rest of the race.

I tried to stay attentive but my legs were feeling the previous races. There were plenty of attacks throughout the race and the pace was kept high. With 5 laps to go the rider in front of me (Cristi An Hansley - Team Tri Star Cycling) attacked and I followed. At the line we had a huge gap but she gave me a look and sat up.

I made the choice to keep going. I held the field off for 3 laps and was caught. Right before the field caught me, there was a crash in the final corner. When the group came up to me I hopped into about 5th wheel where I stayed until the last lap when I moved up to 3rd wheel. Coming around the final corner I ran out of elbow room and lost a lot of positioning.

I ended up finishing towards the back of the field. I took alot from the races and gained some confidence form my junior race.

Next weekend is the Ocala Stage Race. With nationals only 2 months away I am getting very excited.

ciao