Tulsa Tough

Many things have changed in the past three weeks (graduation, moving, sad goodbyes) but I am finally on the racing track again down in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After Nationals I took some time off to rest up for the long season of (mostly) track but also road. Because of this time off, Tulsa is hard. Very hard. There are some specific things I could have done to prepare more for this race:

1. Take less time off.
2. Celebrate less.
3. Intervals in the sauna.

But, so what, the race is hard? It's time that I get myself into gear. My legs missed this burning, exhausted feeling...alot. And I sort of forgot how much I love racing, it's nice to be reminded again.

Tulsa Tough is made up of three crit races. The first two are fairly flat and technical and the last is a steep power climb with a screaming downhill into a tight corner. These are fabulous races. The race promoters do a great job promoting the race, giving out tons of prize money, even displaying the races on JUMBOTRON TVs around the course. The Tulsans get really into it and many people see it as a reason to hang out on the street and drink beer. In fact, yesterday before the race we had an inspirational exchange with some passerbys in a car. Went like this:

Man: Y'all inspire me so much, you have no idea. You inspire me SOO much. You're great.
Girlfriend of Man: YEAH AND HE'S A SOLDIER!!!!
Man: Y'all are an inspiration to us!! And you look so great in those outfits.

Other than the race being hard, yesterday (Friday) was smokin' hot (upwards of 95 degrees). I felt okay for the first part of the race until I felt my back tire start to rub, so I reached back and undid my breaks. But then it was rubbing even worse and every time I stood up I could feel my back wheel moving around. Loose. Skewer. This has happened to me before, but luckily that time it was a small race, I was off the front, and I argued with the officials until they let me have a free lap. But this time, I knew I wouldn't be as lucky. I tried to ride with it loose as long as I could, but the second something like that gets into your head, you start to suck. The last chance of surviving the race I had was to go to the pit and beg for a free lap. The official sort of laughed at me, asked me what happened, at which point I claimed someone ran into me and undid my skewer. But, he wasn't having it. He told me I would have to chase back on, no free lap. I tried harder for the free lap. Eventually, he told me he would let me get back in with the pack, but I would be 1 lap down. Whatever, I need to finish the race for confidence at the very least. So I finished, didn't want to sprint. I probably actually got somewhere around the 30s but because of my 1 lap deficit I am DFL in the results...AWESOME.

Today is a new day (an even hotter one) and a new race, hopefully we can have fun out there and win some money!

Photos coming soon.

Nationals Road Race Report

The stats: 26 starters. 6 Whitman women. Whitman women make up 23% of the field.

The story: Bizzos were literally peeing their pants when they saw us line up together. With our snazzy new clear rain jackets (totally PRO) and our mouths foaming with the alkaseltzer tablets we ate moments before, at least 4 women dropped out at our very sight. I'm totally kidding about 2/3 of that last statement, you decide which two.

After the totally sensible (ahem), screaming 50mph neutral start the race was off. Most of the race was spent in anticipation of the 3 major climbs per lap, no one wanting to waste themselves too early. Each time up the climb, the group was narrowed down to 6 or 7 riders including 3 worthless MIT riders (who go to bed at 8:30 and sleep with the thermostat at 20 degrees while wearing their jerseys...seriously), Ari Filliberti from Dartmouth (Roxy's old cronie from private school days), another Dartmouth girl, and Lindsy from Montana. Based on our school choices, we were probably the smartest breakaway all day. But, we weren't really breaking away. After the climbs on each lap, most of the field was able to catch back on just in time for the next set of climbs. The course was HARD, nothing like we usually find in the Northwest. The hills were short and steep, with the exception of the last, long and steep climb. Thanks to my Midwest upbringing, I felt right at home. The road surface was deceivingly nasty. Almost all of us, at some point or another, got a flat during the race. Fortunately, the Shimano guys change flats for a living, so I was able to catch back on almost immediately. But the most heroic act of the day goes to Eloise, who gave her wheel to Emily after Emily flatted, knowing she would be stranding herself on the course indefinitely, cold and wet.

The rain finally stopped and my face finally stopped feeling like it was receiving acupuncture. The finish was a series of two climbs, the final climb on the regular lap and an additional 1/2 mile steep climb up to the state park and into the fog. The finishing 200 meters was on a single lane trail/road, apparently they weren't anticipating a field sprint. When we arrived on the final climb, the pack shattered and Ari and MIT girl separated together. I was shocked to be sitting 3rd, other Dartmouth girl not far behind. I made up some ground on the two leaders, but unfortunately I could not close the initial gap. The cheer squad on the final climb really got me to the top. It was even borderline too much cheering (is that even possible?) and John Klein ran with me for a good 200 meters (yes, it was that slow). 3rd place, hell yeah! Emily got 13th and Chelsea 16th, both with very respectable rides.

A few photos:
Second to last climb.

Everyone looked about as happy as I did.

I'm probably smiling.

As the days get longer I find my spirits being lifted. Why? It's almost race season! And if that's not reason enough for a lifted soul, here are some others.

1. This season I'm racing for Team Kenda Tire. Many people ask me why my shorts have my name on them...my name is not Kenda. The team is NRC-focused and centered in the Midwest, though I have never met any of my teammates. I'm really excited and looking forward to racing with the team.

2. Each passing day gets me a little closer to the arrival of my new bike. She is green and beautiful, what will I name her? As a consequence of my impatience, I have been avoiding cleaning my Giant or replacing the chain or bar tape, because the second I do, I'm SURE my bike will be here (so maybe I should try?). It is almost at the point of embarrassment...I said almost.

3. After 4 long and arduous months without a computer, I can finally call another my own. Hello, chatroulette.

4. The FUSH (my twice-robbed, dilapidated house) gets a security system. No, not a hole in the porch (though we do still have that) or Harry under the house with a shot gun. A real, legit, 100% authentic security system. It's got this cool function where if a robber has a gun to your head and he's like "Turn off the alarm, bizzo" I can just put in a few digits and a) the alarm stops going off but (more importantly) b) it silently alerts the police that I'm with the robber. That's technology.

Plus it's getting warmer!