Union Vale RR by Maria
Cat 4 Women's Race (sunny, 92 degrees, newly paved heat absorbing black roads and minimal shade)
This was my first race representing the team, so I wanted to do well and make my teammates proud.
The race consisted of two 14 mile hilly loops with a final climb to the finish line that lasted 1.5 miles. I was told the course was similar to Fitchburg's road race, but shorter and less intense. I can honestly say that with the heat, it didn't feel that way! Amongst the 30 or so riders, CRCA was well represented with Elena, Jennifer and Cecelia from Radical Media, Martha from Sanchez Metro and a couple of unattached CRCA riders.
After one slow paced loop, there was an attack that a couple women and I successfully chased down. The field re-grouped and stayed together until the last 5 miles, when the pace picked up. The pace remained fast going into the final climb and a group of us picked it up once more to try separate the field. It worked. After about 1/4 mile or so up the hill, there were only 4 or 5 of us left. I kept looking for the "1KM to go" sign and it seemed to never come. I convinced myself that I had somehow missed it and that I was almost done. No such luck.
After a few more minutes of pain, I got into a rhythm and took control of my breath. My heart rate hit an all time high of 183, a number I had never seen! I sped up once more and passed the woman who was #3 going up the hill. When I finally reached the "1KM to go" sign, I increased my pace once more to try to catch the two women battling it out for first place. They were just up ahead of me, but as I increased my pace, they increased theirs.
When I crossed the finish line I kept peddling and about a mile up the road, it hit me. I actually finished and somehow got 3rd! Only a gatorade popsicle would have made the end sweeter.
-Maria Q.
This was my first race representing the team, so I wanted to do well and make my teammates proud.
The race consisted of two 14 mile hilly loops with a final climb to the finish line that lasted 1.5 miles. I was told the course was similar to Fitchburg's road race, but shorter and less intense. I can honestly say that with the heat, it didn't feel that way! Amongst the 30 or so riders, CRCA was well represented with Elena, Jennifer and Cecelia from Radical Media, Martha from Sanchez Metro and a couple of unattached CRCA riders.
After one slow paced loop, there was an attack that a couple women and I successfully chased down. The field re-grouped and stayed together until the last 5 miles, when the pace picked up. The pace remained fast going into the final climb and a group of us picked it up once more to try separate the field. It worked. After about 1/4 mile or so up the hill, there were only 4 or 5 of us left. I kept looking for the "1KM to go" sign and it seemed to never come. I convinced myself that I had somehow missed it and that I was almost done. No such luck.
After a few more minutes of pain, I got into a rhythm and took control of my breath. My heart rate hit an all time high of 183, a number I had never seen! I sped up once more and passed the woman who was #3 going up the hill. When I finally reached the "1KM to go" sign, I increased my pace once more to try to catch the two women battling it out for first place. They were just up ahead of me, but as I increased my pace, they increased theirs.
When I crossed the finish line I kept peddling and about a mile up the road, it hit me. I actually finished and somehow got 3rd! Only a gatorade popsicle would have made the end sweeter.
-Maria Q.
posted by liz at 11:32 AM
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