I was
really looking forward to this cycling race.
It would mark my first ever three part stage race and I would get to
race Cat 1/2 women (aka PRO/really, really good racers). I was really interested to see how I would fare,
and how many I could beat! Barry the
race director and owner of Maple Ridge’s bike shop Local Ride put on a
fantastic race and had offered this newbie all kinds of help and support for
the weekend which was awesome.
Stage 1: Saturday
morning 10:30am was the 70K road race – in cold, dumpy rain; I am good on
cornering downhills, and bridging gaps but need some work on my hill climbing speed
and pick up my ave cadence; I finished with the main pack behind 2 lead
escapees
Stage 2:
Saturday evening 5:00pm was the 12.7K Time Trial – in a dry tailwind, with
clip-on aerobars and Bruce Wenting’s light n’fast tubulars
Day One: 4th
position, 1 minute behind the leader
Stage 3:
Sunday afternoon 1:30 was the 45min + 3 laps Criterium – a sunny, beautiful
race day! Took 3rd in the 15min sprint lap; then, in the 30min
sprint lap I’m coming around the final tight corner to the finish in first
position, clip my pedal, get tossed off the bike, scramble to pick up the bike,
and ride for a 5th overall position with a broken arm (I only found
out it was fractured in two places hours later at the hospital).
In sports
and competition, an athlete must learn to take the downs with the ups – I have
had an incredible year of racing which has been a definite high so I’m grateful
and praise God for the ups and the downs.
Praise God for the broken arm…? Yes, AND at least I can train my legs hard (cycling
and running) so I’m thankful :) and my cast is purple like my bike!
