thanks, all. i pinned on a # so it was a race. :)

just this morning i realized a bit more context for that effort, pre- vs post-surgery:
my 10' power during the 2nd half of that ~20' effort the other night was 10% below what i did during a 10' TT a few days before surgery. for that standalone 10' TT i was generally rested & it was at lower elevation. it was everything i had on that day, but it wasn't a particularly great effort as it required a high vo2max component and i'd not built fully back up after my clavicle surgery.

well, being 7 or 10% off a really good effort is nothing to complain about. it will be interesting to see how things change in another 1-2 weeks and in a month. kinda sorta thinking about a small stage race in 7 days.

Off to do a windy Salinas crit. Four preregged - I hope more show up!

Can't wait for the race report! No racing in CO this weekend (at least not for grownups).

Well, okay!

Salinas Valley Criterium, Combined Women's 3 and 4 field

Podium, third, in the W4 field. Valygrl has it all over me in style points on the podium!

http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/...psps4bocdd.jpg

Due to the small size of the field, plus the very young ages, I knew I'd probably not find a wheel, and even if I did, the benefit would be nil. I had just come off of the time trial of my life, so I decided that if necessary, I'd time trial this crit. The field was two 3's and five 4's, combined. Wind was very strong, 20 to 25 MPH, in the face on the short chute leading to the front straight and on the front straight. The course is really good, flat and fast, good wide surface, 90 degree turns, almost rectangular in shape, .75 miles per lap. We did 25 laps.

All of us lined up on the line and rolled at the whistle. The pace was easy through the first two turns, everyone looking around to see who'd do what. I was sitting fifth or six, not interested in being at the front and trying to decide how I'd get shelter in this tiny field. After the second turn, the looking around stopped and the testing started. By the time we got to the third turn, I saw 31 MPH, and I was stretched off the wheel ahead of me by a good twenty feet - too far. I made up some ground in that turn by staying in it, but then the wind hit me. I assumed the TT position, which worked really well, and started to grind it out. The young un's were pulling away, and I didn't have the strength to catch them, so I wasn't going to waste matches trying. A glance over my shoulder showed me two other women behind me, but they were fading back, one very quickly.

I stayed in TT mode while into the wind, and used the tailwind on the back straight to recover. I only went as fast as I had to back there, but on the front straight I went as hard as I could. I had Ex's advice about "picking a pace and sticking to it, and maybe others will wear down" in my head. I did get lapped four or five times by the winning Cat 3 woman (Hanna, she was there, and she's just incredible), but only once by the other 3 and once by two of the 4's. We all got together on the back straight about halfway through and discussed working together. Everyone agreed that the wind was so strong and swirly that no one was getting any benefit from sitting on a wheel, so we just went about doing what we were doing.

My perseverance earned, and I said earned, me third place in that race.

It's been a REALLY GOOD week on the bike!

That is awesome sara! Such small fields, and such strong wind. That's so tough. I can see the flags behind you guys. :)

Yay Sara!

Hermes, thanks!

Thank you!!!! It was tough, yes. But let me tell you, it was fun! I've gotten better at planning, being patient, and I've learned NOT to surge. That really paid off today!

Well done Sara. The podium fits you nicely.

Er, whatcha got in the bottle? :beer:

Awesome job, Sara!

Thumbs up, Sara!

Patience and perserverence are a great combo. Congratulations!!!

Thank you, everyone!!!

Nacler, team orders to hold up the Gu Bottle in podium photos (never thought I would) - wrong stuff in it, tho - Roctane! Not Octane ;)

Woohoo Sara! Way to go!

:thumb: AzT - Thank You!!!

Way to go Sara! Awesome job and way to stick to Ex's plan. Looks like the TT last week paid off in spades.

:beer:

IBO, it's been a GOOD week!

Congrats Sara, terrific job! Been some nice results here lately.

Synopsis for yesterday's race (fuller report in the 33). Two crits, one prime, nothing else to speak of, then rode for an hour. Ride the TT bike tomorrow. 14 mile TT Tuesday, road race Wednesday. State TTT Saturday.

NCC Tour of Somerville M45+, 111 riders, stiff headwind on the backstretch with a tailwind sprint, in the field. This race was 100% about Gary and doing everything I could to get him the win as he was 2nd last year. I was injured last year and could not ride. This is a paperclip course with a crazy long sprint. Usually lots of bad crashes. There was a terrible crash in the Cat2 race before ours that delayed our start. A kid ran into the street chasing their dog right in front of the finish sprint. No barriers in that section. The kid carved their head up pretty bad and some racers got hurt. I had several riders to mark. An early solo guy got away but he wasn't one of the marks (same kit colors). Then one of the real marks got away and my teammate and I brought him back. Unfortunately immediately after that he got away again and I was not in position to chase. He would stay away for the win. Another mark attacked hard with 2 to go and I dug deep to chase his wheel. I brought two others with me but I sat on the back. I was in a quandry as whetrher or not to work as it was so close to the end, and in hindsight I should have but I stuck to the plan. We would get caught on the backstretch of that last lap. At this point I just wanted to finish without getting hurt. Gary was in great position for the sprint but got chopped hard by a PA trackie and survived. The upside is that I am in really good shape with time to improve going into my first A race in two weeks.

Congrat's on surviving, Shovel. Sounds like that was the important thing today.

shovel, good racing! Looking forward to the report from your A race.

sarals, valygrl, and shovelhd are racing well. :thumb:

tetonrider, revchuck, and IBOHUNT are healing well. :thumb:

Racer Ex is coming back. :thumb:

Did the usual local crit yesterday. Big fields for the 50+/55+ and 45+ races. Both races were fast and had the usual fast guys in them -- current and former national and world champs, former pros, etc. Really wasn't expecting such strong fields for this one. Hung in for the first race. Got gapped at the bell for the second. After two hard training days and a race day, my legs hurt.

Very good job, shovelhd, and again, the read is inspiring. I have no doubt your plan is coming along as you expect.

Sounds like you had a good day, Cleave. Well done!