...yes I admit - I too am caught up in all the Susan Boyle hysteria. Why not?? An average person - who has had challenges in her life, gets one shot to do something really big, and even in the face of laughter and cynicism - she takes that one shot and makes her dreams come true..what a story...
- no - my story is not so great - but it does involve taking one shot and making something of it.
SEA OTTER 2009
I have never raced Sea Otter in any capacity. I've gone to watch, gone to cheer, but never had the desire to race it. This year was different because I was mountain bike racing, and if you race mtn bikes, you gotta race Sea Otter (Snotter) at least once..
A couple of weeks or so ago, Carrie made an announcement on a local MTB list that Crankbrothers was running a deal - demo their wheels and if you podium, you get to keep the wheels....these are thousand dollar wheels!!! "shit!" I thought (after just having a great race at the Napa Valley Dirt Classic) "its worth a shot". I mean..they are cobalt blue - close to the color of my bike, and light as hell. So I closed Carrie's email, got online and reg'd for sea Otter, then sent an email to Crank Bros.
Three days later, these beautiful wheels show up at my door. It was hard NOT to focus on the possible outcome of this race - even 10 days ahead- knowing that I might possibly keep these wheels - "don't get ahead of yourself - stay in the moment" I kept hearing my coach say.
anyway - the Saturday before my race, Paule and Julie met me at the course to pre-ride. As fate would have it, circumstanced dictated that I would pre-ride the course at about the same time as I would be racing on the following Friday. PERFECT! It would give me a chance to see what wind was like at that time, and the temp. I always like to pre-ride at the time of day I race. but MAN! I did not like the weather...those damn gale force winds?? and 50 some ass degrees?? C'mon! this is California and this is Monterey? What the hell?? But I kept reminding myself that I needed to feel this to know (hopefully) the worst it could be. Julie was kind enough to remind me - it could be worse - it could rain too :) awesome.
Race Day:
I got to Laguna Seca on time, got everything together, and even got on the trainer to get good and warmed up. Chris was kind enough to fix my back disc so it wouldn't rub...I knew my strategy for the race - be the first to the single track, recover on the first bit of single track, and then I knew the various places i would eat, recover and push. I was worried about the mental aspects of the last 2-3 miles...the slog up the hills. I don't mind the physical aspects, but the mental of looking up and seeing nothing but rolling hills in a head wind - nah..not so high on my list. Leslie offered me a great piece of advice just before my race " dont look up- just ride and see what you need to see"...I held on to that.
Start was about 10 minutes late, but when we took off, as usual, I went like a bat outta hell. it was the nervous energy I am sure, but we rolled around the track and as we came around the first turn, I got hit with a wind wall and I thought the better of this stupid strategy..I sat up, and there were two girls with me who passed, I got on their wheel. I stayed there.
On the fire road, I passed them ,and as we approached the single track, I saw Katy. I told her I was coming up and I Was going to pass - she got on my wheel...SHE WAS AWESOME out there! she stayed with me, protected my back, and passed people when I passed. You don't have domestiques in mtn bike racing, but this sure felt like it.
more climbing - sand chute, road..single track climbing.. and I have a shadow. there was one woman I just could not shake. I watched her and always tried to keep up with where she was. if she tried to pass on an uphill technical I took the other side and would speed up. A couple of girls from other groups passed me, but I just let them go. I even walked my bike up one hill because I was overheated, legs tired, and I knew the run up would be a sort of bike recovery. it paid off.
Now its time for the damn fire road out. I see my shadow ..but I take off - weaving between the carnage of men who know today won't be there day..They cheer me on as I go, and I don't look up at the hills. I just keep going. Before I know it, I hear the marshall say - one more hill after this. I pass Brin (sp?)..another mouse, and he watches my back as we come into the finish. and then poof -- its over...and I am done. I look up the hill and see Joie..her race is over and she is chillin.
time for results...I really wasn't sure at this point where I stood. what if the girls that passed were in my cat? what if I had let my win go?? No matter. I executed the way I wanted and as long as I made the podium - the wheels were mine..tick tock .....
Results...a huge grin covers my face...yeah - that's my name in first place...ME! I won my category at sea otter. I did! I was amazed! my third mtn bike race and I win!!
well..maybe not. For some reason at the start, they split our category into 40-44 (my group) and 45-49. There was talk of recombining us for results..no WAY! then the girls I let pass WERE my competition! I could handle it if they were some girls I started with, but I didn't give chase to these?? A little distraught, I waited for the official results (and..not so patient if you ask those around me...)...
The UCI judges decided to keep our division split, so YES- it was me on the top spot! YAY for me! Katy held my phone up so Tif could hear as they announced my name. wow..speechless.
...and the wheels are mine. I walked over to the Crankbros tent, claimed my victory, and watched as she noted that I got to keep the wheels. I have to say a VERY special thank you to Crank Brothers. I am a 41 yr old beginner Woman (no I don't sandbag)...and for US to have the opportunity to win such bling is unheard of in the industry. Thank you for giving someone like me the chance to win something so amazing. I can't say enough.
- thanks for reading today....I will post a photo or two when I have some....
