Today marked my second ever road cycling race. Although It was more of a last minute type thing, Nate and I drove out to Mannford, OK for the Salt Creek Criterium race. The drive up there was about as boring as any other 3 hour car trip. (Ok it wasn't that bad.) But we managed to arrive a little after 8AM, and were registered rather quickly. My race started at 10AM, so I had some time to warm up. I actually had to borrow just about anything Nate could throw at me since by the time of my race, the temperature was still below freezing.
The course was a 3.1 mile loop that resembled a barbel, with a few hills mixed in along the lake shoreline. I didn't have a chance to ride the full course before the race started, but I think that's a good thing. I was a shivering and nervous wreck sitting at the starting line. I was actually relieved when the race started. We started off terribly slow, so I decided to lead the peloton and set the pace for the first lap. I tested the water to see how much I could pull, and to see who might possibly follow or pose a threat later in the race.
After hitting the first lap with a bit of effort, I decided to sit back the second lap and take in the scenery. The third lap I kicked it up before the finish so I could see what taking the finish would be like. I was still feeling pretty good. The forth lap I was sitting towards the back of the pack, and the fifth lap I was pretty much -THE- back of the pack. I used the first half of the final lap to get back into the middle of the peleton, and I used the faster downhill sections to position myself towards the front. I believe I was in second as we rounded the bottom turn before the climb to the finish.
I got boxed in on the outside as a group of nine riders attacked the hill. At this point I was sure I wasn't going to get anything out of this race. Just as I hit the hill, the guy to my left fell back far enough for me to get around him and kick it to the inside. I sprinted up the entire the length of the hill and carried enough momentum to pass all the front riders except the guy in first. I rode first place's wheel until the small hill just before the finish, and I kicked it up once more for my final sprint to the finish.
I won my second race with another first place by about two bike lengths. I was ecstatic! My legs were like Jello and I just rolled towards the grass before laying myself over onto the grass. I didn't care; I finished. I won. I was dead tired.
The whole event was done VERY smoothly, and it was a really enjoyable experience for me. The only hitch in the evening was the absence of my medal. The Cat 5 group had medals for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd; however, the company that made the medals supplied TWO 3rd place medals. My 1st place one will be arriving in the mail. Lame.
View the full race results here:
https://www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?permit=2008-527
The good news is that I did finally get my medal for the CARVE Crosswind Classic. The medal arrived in the mail today.
1 comment:
HAHA when you started saying the only thing that was like lame that wasn't there like you said.. bla bla bal was the absence.. I thought maybe I would be in it. UH thanks! Just kidding :) Cool Medal!
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