Criterium: River Gorge in Chattanooga
Today I experienced my first criterium. I went into it with low expectations, in part because I've never done one, seen one, or anything and in part because it was a mixed field with some incredibly strong Cat 1/2 women along with the 3/4, and some of the 4's should have been popped up to 3 a while ago. So, my entire goal was to finish without getting lapped and not be dead last.
I accomplished that goal, but it wasn't easy. It started hard and fast, and I was caught behind some girls that were just slow enough and squirrelly enough to make it nigh impossible to get around them and back up on the front group. So, for the first few laps I burned to try catching that pack, and I wasn't able to do it. I wound up riding with my teammate Beth and two other women.. Mary Beth of Sorrella and Marsha from Gran Fondo. Realizing we weren't catching that group (tantalizingly ahead by two blocks) we settled in and started working together. Well actually, everyone else settled on my wheel for a few laps, but I looked around for help and Beth jumped in to pull me for a while.... and after she and I traded back and forth a time or two Mary Beth took a turn, as did Marsha. We kept our lines and kept each other motivating till Pat Allison's sign said "1." Knowing that we were on the last lap, I let someone else pull for the first 1/2 or so, then as we came around the final turn I got up front and started ramping up the speed, pushing harder and harder. I thought "if I can just ramp it up hard enough, Sorrella won't be able to sprint me out" and I *almost* did. She edged me out, barely, at the finish line. One wheel length. I was gasping and she rode a good race so I don't hold it against her, especially since I just had no idea what I was doing and she's done crits before.
I've decided that I liked it though. Truly, it was intense as all get out, and I finished shaking from head to toe from that final punch, and there were times during the race I thought I didn't want to keep going, but there were friends cheering on every corner, and I wasn't out there alone, and I just kept my head down and kept trying. When it was over, I realized I'd had more fun doing that crit than I ever had on a road race. No, I didn't place high (even among the cat 4 women, I was nowhere near the head of the list) but it was FUN.
I might be hooked.
I accomplished that goal, but it wasn't easy. It started hard and fast, and I was caught behind some girls that were just slow enough and squirrelly enough to make it nigh impossible to get around them and back up on the front group. So, for the first few laps I burned to try catching that pack, and I wasn't able to do it. I wound up riding with my teammate Beth and two other women.. Mary Beth of Sorrella and Marsha from Gran Fondo. Realizing we weren't catching that group (tantalizingly ahead by two blocks) we settled in and started working together. Well actually, everyone else settled on my wheel for a few laps, but I looked around for help and Beth jumped in to pull me for a while.... and after she and I traded back and forth a time or two Mary Beth took a turn, as did Marsha. We kept our lines and kept each other motivating till Pat Allison's sign said "1." Knowing that we were on the last lap, I let someone else pull for the first 1/2 or so, then as we came around the final turn I got up front and started ramping up the speed, pushing harder and harder. I thought "if I can just ramp it up hard enough, Sorrella won't be able to sprint me out" and I *almost* did. She edged me out, barely, at the finish line. One wheel length. I was gasping and she rode a good race so I don't hold it against her, especially since I just had no idea what I was doing and she's done crits before.
I've decided that I liked it though. Truly, it was intense as all get out, and I finished shaking from head to toe from that final punch, and there were times during the race I thought I didn't want to keep going, but there were friends cheering on every corner, and I wasn't out there alone, and I just kept my head down and kept trying. When it was over, I realized I'd had more fun doing that crit than I ever had on a road race. No, I didn't place high (even among the cat 4 women, I was nowhere near the head of the list) but it was FUN.
I might be hooked.
posted by WarKitty at
2:21 PM
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