April Update

After racing in a blizzard at Tour of the Depot in Tooele - I ended up 5th on the road race.  The time trial was canceled due to weather and I came in 4th on the circuit race.  Placing me at 5th overall.  It was a cold nasty race that scared a lot of the competitors away - but because I am just a bit crazy - I wasn't going to miss it.

Tomorrow is the East Canyon Road race.  It starts and ends with a 6 mile climb.  This will be a great race - my goal is to stay with the lead pack and hold on. 

Wahoo!

Tour Del Sol was a fantastic race for me!  I came in 5th place overall.  My goal was to stay with the pack in the criterium and the road race and I did it!  I feel that I am getting stronger and can not wait to see what the rest of this season will bring.  I have Tour of the Depot coming up next week - it should be a great race.  The weather is finally nice as well so I can get some great rides in.  This is going to be a great year!

Getting Stronger

I went for a fantastic ride on Sunday with a great group.  There were a couple really strong guys and I was able to keep up with them!  One of them was a Cat 3 - it felt so great to be able to ride so well.  A couple of them commented that I was a strong rider - I feel like I am getting even stronger.  I am so excited for this weeks race - we will see how I do.  Look out - I am getting there!  I can only keep getting better.

RMR Crit Series

I have decided that I need to improve my weakness.  Criteriums are my fear and weakness - so that is where I need to get the most practice.  I did my first Crit Race with the Rocky Mountain Crit Series yesterday.  I did OK - I decided to register for Flight C rather then D - so I am in a tougher category.  There are not enough women racers - so we get to race with the guys.  In fact I was the only woman in the group.  I felt so good - I didn't even come in last, it is always nice when you can pass the guys.  This will only make me stronger and better as the season progresses. 

Callville Bay Classic

Well I had another great race.  I improved over my last race - and plan on getting better with each race I do.  My hill climb Time Trial could have been better - but the more comfortable I get with Time Trials I will be able to do so much better.  I try to reserve energy and I am learning I just have to go out there and go for it.

The Road Race was tragic, one of the racers was hit by a car and the race was neutralized.  This was a bit of a bummer - because I was doing really well.  There was a great sense of team work though - we were all concerned and there to help wherever we could with the other racer.  I think that is something that women racers have - compassion.  We all road back to the finish together and got ready for the next day.

The Crit was so much better this time - I stayed with the pack until I lost my momentum on a corner.  I got to close to the fence and it worried me so I kind of lost it at that point.  I will do so much better the more I do crits.  I did witness a couple of nasty crashes and that scares me - but I guess the best thing to do is to face our fears and just work at improving.

Three weeks of training for the next race.  It will be great - I will be ready.

Winter Again

Just as when I thought I was going to get to hit the pavement - it snows!  I did get 3 good rides in this last week before it snowed, but I would have loved some great rides this weekend.  I really focused on intervals and hills this week.  Callville Classic has some fun hills - I have got to be prepared. 

I have been reading a fantastic book - The Cyclist's Training Bible by Joe Friel.  It is fantastic and I am getting some fantastic ideas.  I am working on changing my training a bit - such a fantastic book!  I highly recommend it to all.

I am getting very excited for this next race.  As the season progresses I can only do better.  This is going to be a great season!

First Race!

Well I have completed my first stage race.  I had a blast!  I did not finish quite as well as I had hoped but it was my first race ever and my first race of the season.  It is tough to train here in Utah and compete with racers that get to train year round.  I finished 19th, so I at least landed in the top 20.  There were 32 women in my category, but only 26 finished the race.

My next race is in a week and a half.  The training has been bumped up - and with the temps in the high 50s this week I will be hitting the pavement with some crazy interval training.  I did my favorite cycle class last night, yoga and some weight training this morning.  Out on the road this afternoon.  It will be a tough week - but it should get me in a little better shape for the next stage race.