UPGRADE!

Wahoo!  I upgraded to CAT 3.  This is such a great accomplishment for me.  My first year racing and I upgraded.  I hope to be able to continue on this great adventure.  Next my goal is to upgrade to CAT 2. 

I had my first race with the Pro CAT 1, 2, 3's last Saturday, September 24 - the Harvest Moon Crit.  I don't love crits, mostly because I have not had a lot of experience with them - I have only raced 6 crits this year.  This was my first race with Pro's and my least favorite type of race - I was SO nervous!  My goal was to finish the race and not get lapped... I did even better then that!  I had such a great finish, I was able to stay with the peloton and finish with them!  I finished strong and stayed with the group the entire time - never got dropped!  It was a wonderful day - being able to race with some of the best women racers out there and finish only seconds behind them.  This is going to be a great season as CAT 3!

LOTOJA

Well I survived!  I even did well, I had a fantastic time.  Time 10:41:26

This is me and my teammate Amber at the finish - how great do we look after 206 miles?  We have thought about next year - and are not sure if we will do a relay - or if we will ride it solo again to get an even better time and finish.  Those relay teams were having so much fun - getting to stop at the Feed Zones and have a picnic.  We will see - we may want to do a team relay and just try for the fastest relay time.

LOTOJA

The count down starts - we are just days away now.  I have to admit I am starting to get a little nervous.  I need to remember to eat and drink a lot.  Will my body start to refuse what I am trying to feed it?  Gotta pace myself - 206 miles is a LONG way.  Will I be able to nail the hills and stay with the group?  Will the feed zones go smooth?  I pray for no flats.  So much to think about.

I want to do very well and finish in under 10 hours.  I feel like my training has been great, I think I should be ready.  So I just hope that all goes smooth and I am able to stay strong.

Sanpete Classic

Well I am now convinced I am cursed with 2nd place.  I landed another 2nd in the Sanpete Classic.  I thought I had this one - but I started my sprint to the finish just a little too soon and just couldn't hold it.  Now I have the strength and abilities - I just have to work on the tactics of racing.  I am learning though.

Bikes for Kids

Bikes for Kids was a fantastic Stage Race for me.  I took 3rd in the Crit - 2nd in the Road Race and 2nd in the Time Trial.  I finished with a 2nd place in the GC.  I am bummed that the season is coming to an end with only 3 races left for me this year.  I should be upgrading to CAT 3 by the end of the season so that will be great for a fun start next season.  I am debating Cyclecross - I just hate to not to have a race to look forward to.

Race Updates

I did the Porcupine Hill Climb on July 9 and took 7th.  It was a tough race with a mass start - I couldn't figure out who what ahead of me and what place I was in during the ride.  I wish I had done better - but it was still a great ride.

I did I Think I CANyons on July 16 - this was a crazy tough ride.  I am so glad I did it though because I am sure it made me stronger.  We did Little Cottonwood Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Millcreek Canyon, and Emigration Canyon.  13,000 feet of climbing and 110 miles.  We finished in 8 hours - which wasn't too bad, especially after taking a bit longer lunch than I would have liked.

Got another 2nd Place finish on July 23 at the Chalk Creek Road Race.  This was a fantastic race - I lost 1st place by an inch - this just means try harder next time.  I was on the front for way too long too - gotta learn how to stay off the front a little more.  I am looking forward to the next few races - gotta just race harder and keep getting stronger.  I am having a great season and hope to upgrade to CAT3 before the end of this season.  Gotta get one 1st place finish.  :)

Update

I realize I have gotten behind with my race updates.  Well I continue to get stronger and stronger - taking 5th place in the Antelope Island Road Race on April 30.  But my most recent race is the most exciting!  I took 2nd place in the High Unitas Classic on June 18.  What a fantastic race!  I continue to work on my hill climbing and continue to get stronger with each ride. Training 6 days a week - hoping to bump my training up to 3-4 hours a day.  I just wish I could afford to race every race out there - so I could upgrade faster.  I also am working towards getting the new Wilier bike I want - gotta get a bike that can keep up with me.