LWC Road Race

We traveled to my old stomping grounds in Kentucky for the first official race of the season. Unsure of what I felt about it. Feelings of sadness from missing the town and the people, feelings of excitement to put my legs to work and ride my bike, feelings of nerves of possible disappointment...All the feeling flood me before the race.

(Photo Credit to Ryan Storm)

The field size was good and the weather agreeable. I felt stronger on the course this year. We had 2 longer laps. The first lap went well, stomping up the climbs and having a nice group split. I found myself settled in the lead group with my teammate Ashley R. Trying to stay away from working too hard we trying to find a good spot. The rest of the lap was not too bad until we came up to the lap point...Little Cake Hill. Do not be fooled by the pleasantly delicious sounding name of the hill...it is a BITCH. Steep, long, painful. Some have called it "Ashley James's Hill" for her crushing efforts she put on it last year. Little Cake Hill as the one who suffered. But this year there was no Ashley James to hurt it, so in turn, it just hurt me.

The winning attack happened on this hill. Anna Young and Jackie Kurth blasted up it leaving the rest of us in definite pain. I put my strength into my legs and my heart to get me up it with the group. I got to the top with the rest of the strung out group. It regrouped quickly...But I did not. The cramping calves allowed me to be dropped very easily from the recovering group. I spun and spun to keep them loose, but it was not going to subside any time soon.

Once the cramping went away I found myself with one long, hilly lap to go...Alone. I was able to keep motivated to hope those behind me would not catch up. Last thing I wanted was to be caught by the chase group, even though it would have made the lap so much more enjoyable. There is not much more to say about it as I rolled in for my finish.

My legs were a bit tired, confidence a bit bruised, but I am well on my way. It will take a little time I know, but I cannot give up.

Tomorrow we are set up for the crit race. Something I have been performing a little better in.

Until then, enjoy!