Shamrock Crit and Sleepy Hole Smackdown...Unsurprisingly Late Reports

     Its a little late to post race reports from last weekend, but I've been staying busy and haven't really touched the computer all week.  I haven't uploaded any of my workouts from my Garmin, and I've barely been on Facebook.  We've gone to our summer hours at the shop.  We're closing an hour later at 8:00 (an hour is not much, I know), but we're also busier and have to stay after hours longer to get things done that we couldn't do during store hours.  So saying all of that, my memory is waning a bit.  I will keep these guys fairly short.

Shamrock Crit 

Promoted by: Tradewinds Racing and Tidewater Bicycle Association

     On Saturday, I made the drive out to Virginia Beach (all 45 minutes of it) to Red Wing Park for the Shamrock Crit.  Its my team's race so I was getting there a few hours early so I could help with registration.

***As a note, I would love to take some of the credit, but I really didn't do much with the organization of the race.  I worked registration and pretended to know what I was doing, while all the beach girls put everything together.  A lot of hard work went into setting this up and the ladies went above and beyond to promote an awesome race!***

 I left the house to heavy rain, and cold temps.  Very reminiscent of the W&M road race.  The weather had called for afternoon showers so I only expected conditions to get worse.  I got to the course and the Cat 5 guys were warming up and getting ready to start.  It was still pouring and I was beginning to shake from the cold.  Great.  But lo, the clouds parted and the sun began to shine!  The course started to dry off and the temperature started to rise.  And changing for the Women's 1/2/3 race, I put on shorts!  I did rub on a little embrocation since it was still just a touch chilly, but I was in shorts and a short sleeve jersey at the line!

     The race, for me, was hard.  I wasn't sure how I'd feel...I've been fighting off congestion and a cough since training camp a couple weeks prior, and my legs felt a little sluggish during warm-up.  But I went in with the goal of hanging on to a few specific people.  There were 23 riders pre-regged.  I believe 20 took the line.  I knew there were going to be attacks with so many strong riders there, and I was really wanting to be able to follow and get into the break if it happened.  That was my goal.  A couple laps in, the attacks started and they were pretty consistent up until the end.  Knowing I wasn't the only one wanting to chase, I stayed a few wheels back and followed.  After I realized I wasn't feeling terrible, I joined in on the fun (not attacking, just chasing) and followed a few wheels around.  The break never really formed, the field just kept getting a bit smaller.  Coming into the final two laps, I was determined to find a wheel I could trust to get me through the sprint.  I was beyond my threshold and couldn't look around for any teammates.  I saw Julie Kuliezca (Pepper Palace, and also my coach) and looked at nothing but her wheel for the last 3/4 lap.  I ended up 5th through the line behind Kelly Fisher-Goodwin (Vie13), Alexis Zink (NCVC), Erin Silliman (RVS), and Julie K.  There was some great competition and Tradewinds Racing definitely put on an awesome event!!!

Shamrock Crit Women's 1/2/3 Podium:
Kelly Fisher-Goodwin (Vie 13)
Alexis Zink (NCVC)
Erin Silliman (RVS)
Julie Kuliezca (Pepper Palace)
Tradewinds Racing (Me)

 Sleepy Hole Smackdown

Promoted by: Virginia Beach Wheelmen

     Sunday's race at Sleepy Hole Park in Suffolk had significantly colder temps.  I wore my long sleeve skin suit, and warmed up with a hoodie and my thermal, wind proof jacket.  I couldn't believe I wore shorts the day before...  There were only 8 of us on the line for Sunday's race.  The wind was seemingly a little stronger, and there was a lot less protection from it with the field cut in half.  Attack after attack were coming from Kelly (Vie13), Alexis (NCVC), and Laura (Velocita).  My teammates Leslie and Julie chased a few down and Sally (Tri-Power) and I chased a few as well.  After slowing to sub-15mph with 2 (or 1?) laps left (nobody wanted to pull through) Sally took off and I, for some reason, decided that I needed to chase.  Not necessarily the smartest when I know the others wouldn't let her get away right before the finish!  After catching Sally, Laura countered with just under half a lap to go.  She almost held everyone off but was caught 50 feet from the line.  I ended up 4th for the day behind Kelly, Alexis, and Laura.

Most of the girls after the race on Saturday.

     Overall, we had a great weekend as a team.  Morgan got her first win of the season, a solo break during the Women's 3/4 race on Saturday.  Julie H came from 5th wheel for a 2nd place finish in the same race.  Leslie also won her first race of the season, taking the field sprint in the Master's race on Sunday.  And Mason got a 2nd place finish for the Women's Cat 4 race on Sunday.  I'm proud of my team and definitely couldn't have finished where I did without them!

A Small Glimpse into my Psyche

     If you know me, you probably have your own opinion about me.  And I could be biased, but I don't think of myself as a vain person. I do, however, believe that I am a very fit individual.  I ride my bike 6 days a week, and I go to the gym when my schedule allows.  I keep track of my dietary intake, and although I don't eat as well as Chris does, I do try to eat healthy the majority of the time.  Chocolate is my vice...

     I admit that I am, like most women, full of self-criticism.  As I've gotten older, I have become even more critical.  I have personality and behavioral flaws...I know.  But that is not why I'm writing this post.  I am 5'3".  Not particularly tall, but I am okay with that.  Right now, I fluctuate about 2-3 pounds over my racing weight and when I jump on the scale in the morning I will more than likely weigh in around 119 pounds.  I realize that I am not a heavy person.  Pro cyclists Katie Compton and Marianne Vos are both 5'6" and over 10 pounds heavier.  For my height I'm at a pretty decent racing weight.  Every morning I wake up, and before I eat breakfast, I weigh myself.  I look in the mirror and honestly, am not always happy with what I see.  But again, I am like most women in that regard.  I do know that my issue with myself is almost non-existent compared to some women.

     A few days ago, I read one of my fellow cyclist's posts on her blog.  I don't know this gal personally, but I do keep up with her on occasion.  I've never raced against her, that I can recall, but we did hit the road together at the W&M Tidewater Classic RR.  Yes, she beat me in the sprint.  She actually mentions in her post that she had the same issue that I did during the sprint (clear line on the right, until someone else decided to move over).  In which we all got blocked out.  She was able to get to the left, and get another kick in.  I was not.  That does not bother me.  I mentioned on my last post, that I like crits and LOVE cross.  That's what I train for.

     Why am I mentioning any of this???  I bring up her post because I am described as "stocky."  And that bothers me a bit.  It may not have been meant in a bad connotation, I understand that, but when you describe somebody in that manner, the first thought in most people's minds will be negative.  I realize that letting something that trivial bother me is ridiculous.  Yes, I do know the saying about sticks and stones.  Like I said, I don't really know her, and I've barely raced against her.  I know that she's been writing a blog for quite a while now, and I'm sure she gets quite a few people who consistently read it.  I am one of those people.  Great.  Keep writing and getting people interested in women's cycling.

     BUT.  There were only four of us in that field at the race, which makes it very obvious who she is referring to.  Especially since it was a local race, and there were only two of us from our team there.

     So if this doesn't bother me all that much in the scheme of things, why bring it up?  If a small, insignificant description such as "stocky" has bothered someone like myself, I can only imagine what it could do to somebody that has an even bigger issue.  Please do not misinterpret my intentions.  I am not mad about this and I am not deserving of pity.  I am not trying to start a "blog war," and I will survive.  Sticks and stones for me folks.  I only want to draw attention to the fact that we are all just sharing our experiences and we aren't really intentionally trying to offend anyone.  Women's cycling is constantly struggling and to publicly post something that may be misinterpreted so easily, could turn people off to the sport.  A small word could be a huge embarrassment for somebody, and cause them to shy away from the excitement and drama of racing.

     I just want everybody to think carefully about what they put on these public sites before posting.  Facebook, blogs, and Twitter, are all a direct representation of yourself.  If taken out of context, things can easily be blown out of proportion.

     Thanks for reading...