Having done only a handful of short XC races (none of which were USAC events), Vail Lake was definitely a learning experience for me. I was happy to win my race, despite having major shifting issues (darn x7 rings!) and a cold and despite going off the course. Nevertheless, I was expecting 40 minute lap times and so wasn't pleased with my 42.5 minute lap times. I didn't even get any Strava PR's, despite having ridden the course twice before - once when I was seriously out of shape. Granted, the weather was horrible - nearly 100 degrees. I felt on the brink of heat stroke, as I was shivering throughout the race.
So, that's my sob story. Not surprisingly, I'm the only one sobbing over my win. The trophy is cool:
In addition, all females who podium-ed were offered free Oakley clothing! I was enormously thankful for this, as bike clothes have been eating a hole in my wallet. I nabbed some really nice stuff.
Anyway, back to the race. Even before the race start, things started going wrong. Tom Spiegel, race organizer, informed all Cat 1 women that they would only be allowed to race 2 laps, due to the 100 degree heat. I (among others) protested rather loudly, exclaiming that I had paid 50 bucks for three laps. Tom would not budge, citing the fact that he did not want to have to "peel us off of the course." To me, this felt like blatant sexism. I fumed. My face quivered. I watched my HR skyrocket. Heidi Volpe tried and tried (bless her soul!) to calm me down.
A few minutes later we were off. Heidi Volpe led the pack, sprinting out of the saddle. I made my first error of the day: I followed her. After the first uphill, she fell back, and I was leading. But my legs started to give out under the intense effort, and Allison Jones (2nd place last weekend at the Harding TT) and Larissa Fitchett passed me after the steep switchback section.
I realized that the competition in Cat 1 would be far fiercer than I had expected. Any one of these ladies could compete in Pro. The race was essentially between me, Heidi Volpe, Allison Jones and Larissa Fitchett. Only Larissa and I were in the same age group - 20-29.
After getting passed, I had to slow down and recovery my legs. I felt defeated already, early into the race. I lost some of my motivation but just kept chugging away. It didn't help that I was having serious trouble shifting into my big ring. Keith and I had tried to sort out the shifting issues earlier in the week, but it appears that the problem is more serious than we had thought. I also started shivering in the heat - a sure sign of impending heat stroke. It was not my day. To make matters worse, after I had finally put a gap between myself and Heidi, I took a wrong turn up a climb. The climb had been on the previously posted course (which I had practiced with the Mann's) AND there were race organizers at the top AND the red arrows in the sand were hardly discernable. Anyway, the race organizers kindly pointed me back down, and Heidi almost passed me right there. I had lost 1-2 minutes.
Even more demoralized, I continued on in hopes of maybe reeling Larissa and Allison Jones back in. After all, endurance is my strength, and I am usually good in the heat, being originally from Tucson, AZ.
Sure enough, I passed Larissa toward the end of the first lap. She had slowed down quite a bit, feeling the heat. As I rode through the start/finish area, I saw Allison Jones. I was right on her tail! Unfortunately, she saw me and promptly sped up. As I went out for my second lap I saw Larissa and Heidi. Boy was this a close race! At the time I wasn't pleased that the competition was so stiff, but looking back I am so happy that so many strong women came out in force. It was an exciting race for sure.
So, naturally, I upped the intensity. My HR started inching into the 180's. The second lap was uneventful for the most part. I passed a lot of men, which was not ideal. Every single time I had to slow down to pass them, but they were ALL good about letting me by! I really wish I had paid attention to Allison Jones' outfit and bike, b/c I couldn't spot her. I knew she wasn't far ahead.
About halfway through I passed a woman who looked like Allison and mistakenly assumed that I had passed her. I am pretty sure I must have passed a Pro girl (or it may have been a small man), despite their leaving 14 minutes before we Cat 1 girls. I didn't let off the gas, though. Toward the end of the second lap I passed another Pro girl, whom I believe got 3rd place! Not too shabby, considering I want to upgrade to Pro.
The real surprise came when I crossed the finish line and was greeted by Allison Jones, who is the paragon of good sportsmanship. She congratulated me, just as she had when I beat her last weekend at the Harding TT race. I started making excuses for myself, which I am ashamed about. She did an amazing job, and I should have earnestly congratulated her. (She was also nice enough to peel the white strip off my race plate at the race start. Doh!) Anyway, it turns out that Allison is from Canada and is new to CA racing; I expect to see a lot of good racing from her in the future. Anyway, Allison beat me by a little over a minute, but she was in the Cat 1 30-39 category.
About three minutes later Heidi Volpe and Larissa Fitchett crossed the finish line. We all had major endorphin highs and were - I suspect - a little looney from all that sun. We talked excitedly for a good half an hour or so and cheered for Allison Man (1st place Pro Woman) when she crossed the finish line in 1:57 (3 laps). Her time put her mid-pack with the Pro men! Amazing! Way to REPRESENT!
Allison Mann, Larissa and I went for a quick spin. I and Larissa - only a year younger than I - found that we have a lot in common, including a liking for 50-60 mile mountain bike rides. So, it is pretty ironic that we were only permitted to race 17 miles. We plan to do some OC epics in the near future. I felt so lucky to have met so many cool (and fast!) women; honestly, that was the best part about the race. I was on cloud 9 for a good hour after the race. I think the sun, my cold and the endorphins baked my brain.
At the awards ceremony I watched on as a bunch of my friends podium-ed in Cat 1 and Pro. I know a lot of fast people. :-) Heidi Volpe, Mario Correa, Ted Willard, Justin and Allison Mann, Pete Smith and others all finished strong with podiums. Unfortunately, the Cat 2 podiums occurred during my race, so I didn't get to see my teammate David Graf podium.
So that I can look back on it, I've compiled a list of lessons I have learned from my first USAC XC race:
(1) Do not go too hard at the start - i.e., don't try and be the leader.
(2) Get all mechanical issues fully sorted out BEFORE the race.
(3) Be a better sportsman and try - just try - to not blow up at race organizers. (Tom Spiegel was very apologetic after the race, explaining that he had had to rescue a Cat 1 female racer off of a hot course a few years ago.)
(4) Follow the RED ARROWS, not the people.
(5) Be more aggressive about passing. (I realized that I was waiting too long to shout "on your left" when Heidi started yelling it for me, lol!)
(6) Register DAY-OF, so that if you feel sick, you can opt out.
(7) Do not run a camel bak on hot days, b/c it can overheat you.
(8) Never underestimate your competition.
(9) Take mental notes of the clothing and bikes of your competitors so that you can easily spot them on the course.
I think that about sums it up. Excellent learning experience! Hopefully, Bonelli will go more smoothly.
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