Yesterday, RDJr. and I drove to Columbia, Missouri to do a little road race called Froze Toes. 31 miles of frozen fun!! This was my second road race ever, and a first for RDJr. We both had a TON of fun despite the fact that we both blew up in the middle of the race because we're silly triathletes and we don't know roadie rules just yet. Hee hee!
This race wasn't even on my radar for the year. Aubs mentioned it a couple weeks back and RDJr. became intrigued. He pre-registered for the race a week ago and was excited to race. I could stand to do some riding outside and this would force me out of the trainer/roller-derby watchin'/bathroom steps away/basement comfort zone, so I signed on to go with him.
We rolled out of KC about 8:30 am on Sunday morning with doubts about the weather. When we left, there was still about 1-2" of snow on the ground, foggy and 38 degrees. Columbia didn't have as much snow and the roads were supposed to be clear, but there was a 50% chance of rain for our noon start. It could be a cold and wet one.
About 40 miles out from Columbia, Aubs calls and tells me that it has been pouring all morning at the race site and that they were turning around (she was just 30 minutes behind us). We pressed on since we were so close, but both agreed that if it was raining, we too would bail.
Got to the site and NO RAIN! Temps had gone up to the 40s or 50s and the sun was even starting to poke out a bit. Good call by RDJr to press on!
I had to run for 25 minutes BEFORE the bike ... you should have seen the faces of those cyclists! They must have thought I was crazy for running (in fat chamois/diaper knickers) before the race. Done did the run and had just enough time to grab the gear and get to line up.
There were four women in the Open race and 18 in the Cat 4. Had I raced open, I would have come in 4th, but I wasn't here to place, I was here to do a fun workout and support the BF. We all started together and the pace was easy but I was nervous and I'm not used to riding in a pack. I became more confident as the race went on and stayed at the middle-front.
About half-way into the race and I'm feeling good and ... I made the stupidest move! I'm feeling so good that I fly pass the group and decide to pull UP A HILL. I could not hold it for longer than a minute and I blew up and everyone passed me and all I could do was laugh!! That's what you get, dumb a$$!
Dropped and left for dead, I can still see the group through the fog. I was on my own huffin' and puffin' trying to make my way back to the pack but they kept their distance - which never grew, but never shortened either. FINALLY some other lone girl comes from behind and I fall in and it was like the best vacation ever! I thought, hey let's work together and get back to the pack, so after my little rest, I move back in front and she's GONE! Dropped. Great. Now I'm on my own again.
Until ... four others come from behind and we are WORKING! Thankfully we get back to the pack and I can rest, get a little something to eat and take a drink. Lesson learned for sure!!! Pack is just humming along until we get about 6-7 miles from town and then it starts to spread out as people start to attack. I could not respond as well, as I was a little tired and at the mid-back, but I stayed with three other girls and would not leave the wheel in front of me. Finally, I can see the finish and while I was in a great position to sprint, I didn't think I had it in me ... I found the strength and climbed out of the saddle pushing with everything I had just to pass one silly girl, but I did and THAT is another lesson learned.
I finished 10th out of 18.
RDJr. was waiting for me at the finish. He too had a great race but he too went out too early - actually went for a break and dropped the pack for a little while!!! But he thought they were closer to the finish than they really were and got caught. He is such a strong rider and I am really proud of him for taking a risk like that!! Just need to bring the Garmin next time. :)
The rain that had been predicted eventually got us on the way home and thank goodness RDJr. was driving because I HATE driving in bad weather. Freaks me out! I went home to a hot shower, pizza and ONE victory beer.
All in all, it was a really fun day. I feel like I did pretty well considering I wasn't exactly "racing" this race and I don't really know squat about race strategy, tactics and I was basically on my own since I didn't know a soul among the women. My focus isn't on road racing anyway - it's triathlon, but these races are a good way to break out of the monotony of tri training. Good miles and good times with the BF!!
