Its like ice...

Yes, i'm complaining about the cold. Yes, i've grown up in chicago, i vacation in colo during the winter, and i've raced in ice/sleet/snow but this past weekend, its been cold! Starting with two days of 60 degree weather, which of course i couldn't take advantage of b/c of my day job, the drop to 36(ish) wasn't fun.

Saturday i was told to do a two hour outdoor ride with an easy 130-175 watt goal. Heading out to the lake since i was riding solo (what? no one wants to join me? its supposed to be a whopping 40!), i was excited. i hadn't been on my road bike...actually on the road...since October and the first 15 miles just flew by! i didn't even notice that my ipod for off in the beginning b/c i was just listening to the sound of my tires on the pavement, the switching of the gears, and the cars passing by. a few other bikers were on the path, some random runners, but for the most part it was wide open (will not be attempting this in the summer though, when pedestrians think walking 4 across on the BIKE PATH is normal). It was just amazing to be outdoors, riding, again. my turn around would be whenever the powertap said 1hr...but until then, just time to enjoy...and go fast of course. At the 1hr mark, i did finally turn around. i thgt i was awesome, 40 degree? pssshh, thats nothing. 175w...eh, i pushed it higher. "Climbs"? lets see if we can hit 500...550...600?! But maybe i forgot about my old training partner, the Chicago Wind. Oh my goodness...it pushed me backwards and sometimes sideways! 14mph and i'm hitting over 200w?! what the hell!? i think that was the longest hour of my life and the coldest! I had to stop a few times to try and warm up, once by a large heating duct and another near a bathroom just to get out of the wind! My feet were like giant slabs of ice and each time i stopped, my body temp dropped so quick that i just decided to suck it up since it was only getting worse. Took me 10 mins longer to get back to the start point, and i just shivered and turned my car into a sauna. (btw, temp when i got back? 35) but still, it was wonderful to be out there again...

Sunday, i had two choices: race in WI or repeat sat's workout. Ok, i just said it was wonderful, amazing, etc...but no way was i going to do another frigid 2hr ride vs a 45 min race. And of course, ITS A RACE. i mean, its what i'm working so hard for and what i'm so addicted to. It was my first outdoor race in my new cat so i was excited and nervous at the same time. there was only one other rider in my cat, but luckily the officials started us all together. in that weather, with 1/2 of the course in the wind, thats just awesome. My warmup consisted of 2 laps and running back to the car. the thermal jacket stayed on (along with my 3 other layers and 2 pairs of gloves...does this sound crazy to anyone?!). The course itself was easy, no real corners (ie 90 degrees) but more sweeping. Lots of bumps and holes, but it was a wide road so not too bad. one straightaway was into the wind with a slight incline and two crosswind areas and then the one "easy" straightway with a tailwind and slight decline...

Weather reports called for sunny and high 40s. Actual weather? wind, 36 degrees, mostly cloudy and the sun came out after my race. the field itself was btw 15-20, mostly cat 4s. the other rider in my cat is fast, i've seen her race b4 and i just figured i was going to get 2nd. with my recent upgrade, i just didn't want to get dropped completely, esp in this weather. i opted out of the booties b/c i'm not a fan of racing in those bulky ones i have, but i was regreting that just sitting at the start line when those ice slabs came back! i made friends with this girl Molly after her teammates (very lively so early in the morn) made a huge ruckus trying to warm her up. it was too funny so i asked her who was her very energetic team. New to the sanctioned family of racing and a cat 4, she was a definite ally. Within the first couple of laps, the group split into three...when the other rider took off, i wasn't ready and still cold. i knew if i attempted to bridge, i'd be setting myself up to hit a wall just end up riding alone in this cold wind. In a group of 6, molly and a track rider sarah did a lot of the work, molly esp into the wind. the other three drafting a lot in the beginning and i was sick of it. even after taking my turn pulling i would try and get off, but they would just follow me left and right. I finally had to stop pedalling. at one point, i caught up to molly and told "don't pull into the wind, the others need to do some work" (btw i just read "The Rider" by Krabbe and whenever i tried to get the others to pull, the whole debate he had was in my head and i was so worried that someone would sprint past me and i wouldn't be ready...made me at least soft pedal). Finally, they started doing their share of the work. I starting thinking about where i was going to make my move. Granted my 2nd place was guarenteed, but i didn't want to come in last in the cat 4s when i'm officially in a higher cat. i figured 2 laps to go...i wanted to tell molly since she was pretty strong and with all the work she did, she deserved a high placing in her cat. but there was no chance to say anything w/out the others hearing. i just hoped she would catch on...coming around turn 4, into the windy section, i took off. the other girls slowed here b4 and i knew it'd be my best chance. up the incline, i pass the 2 lap card and into turn 1. i look back and molly is just 2 bike lengths behind and i can't see the rest of the girls. YES! it worked! I yelled "MOLLY, ARE YOU COMING WITH ME?!", i eased up just a bit and she pushes to catch me. Out of the crosswind, i tell her to take the pull, with one more lap, i didn't want to risk getting tired. She says "Yes madam!" and asked me what cat i am. i tell her that i recently upgraded and she tells me "well, you sure deserve it! you're so strong" (that just made my day!). i then tell her that my spot is fixed but i want to get her to the finish ahead of the other girls. i take the pull once again into the wind, but just slightly slower since there's no real threat at the moment. Around we go, we ride next to each other on the easy side, but i notice a rider making up distance as we go into turn 4. I tell molly "we got one coming!" and take off again...she's got my wheel and finally its the finish line. So i got my 2nd place and took 4th overall. Molly took 3rd place and 5th overall. (btw, final temp: 38)

Good race, i liked the tactics and the planning. i would have loved to keep up with the other rider in my cat, but this just shows me once again how i need to warmup. but overall, a good start to the 08 season!