17.may.04

Sonoma Short Track Report

So in the XC I cramped... and that usually means trouble in the short track. My muscles will be weak and tired. I knew this going in.

I was in the second start row once again. A great place for me to be... and I wasn't going to blow it today. As we rolled off the line, i felt great. I was right up in the mix.

We hit the big road climb. I would catapult myself up to the top 5-10 easily. I did this for a few laps before my legs said enough. This was around the 10 minute mark. Those first 10 minutes seemed to fly by, but the final 10 + 3 laps were so painful...

I toted yet another rider around today for a lap, a Kenda rider- not willing to be sportwomanlike and take her pull. But wound up working with a Cannondale rider to the end, Huisman and I took our turns til the final straightaway and we took it to the line. I was just an inch ahead of her wheel at the finish, but i think we were thankful to each other for the help for the rest of the race. It was great to finish the race. For the first year ever, I have finished every short track race so far this year- huge improvements over years past.

++

we took the drive to smelLA after short track. It took 7 hours or so. But Ty, my teammate Cindi's husband, drove the entire way sans complaint. I felt like i had a gallon of coffee- i had motormouth mode going on. and didn't sleep but a wink. Even though i really dislike LA- it is still comforting to see familiar sites. Road and places I have been and seen before.

We slept in Covina with Ty's brother and his wife. I am awake by 7- even though we arrived near 1am. it's 9 now and i am still the only person awake. But my buddy Hector is on his way to take me up the mountain!!!!!

namaste

tonya

16.may.04

Sonoma Cross Country! by Tonya

Infineon Raceway is dry, and treeless. It wasn't dusty at all, which is strange, but it was hot and dry. And a couple of the "climbs" were just brutal. "Climbs" because at least one was a hike a bike. And it was long.

My race was essentially a comedy of errors. From the get-go. It was just after the start, with the entire peloton speeding up a paved road, turning right (sharply!) onto a gravel climb. I got bumped, and fell over like a toothpick. I am not sure why I lost my balance, I just didn't have it going on. Since the entire group was together, my fall cost me my spot... dearly. I was in the back instantly, and a sea of riders was thinning out onto the first bit of narrow track. The task ahead of me was daunting.

I was able to steadily pass a lot of women, some of them passed me back. But in the end I had most of them. When I caught my teammate Sandi, she latched onto my wheel and i pulled her around the back half of the course, along with Katerina and a Velo Bella rider. No one wanted to help, except Katerina, so we traded off on the pull. Sandi and the Velo Bella rider attacked on Katerina and I in the feed zone. We finally caught back up after the next climb.

But- My last lap was brutal. Cramps! Yea- great- cramps! The cramps caused me to have to stand still on the hike a bike while i got passed. I simply couldn't move my legs. The walk was tough, every time i bent my knees was sheer pain in my quads. I simply didn't think i could make the hike, as i kept getting passed. I made it to the top, but a few places behind where i was at the start of that crazy walk.

I finished well, not as good as i would have liked, but with all the events in my race, I managed to pull off a decent finish.

results..

next: short track!!!!

namaste

tonya

15.may.04

In Sonoma. Aside from having to get up at 4am yesterday, travel was great. Smooth sailing and everything was close to being on time.

Everyone races today. Kristi is taking off right now- Paula must be already finished. I am sitting in the bungalow I am sharing with the Ford girls getting prepared for the race. Frozen waffles, almonds, coffee... an early breakfast.

Last night we (Cindi, Sandi, Kristi) had our clinic with 7 beginner women. Once again, among the doubtful eyes- the unbelievers- we saw huge amounts of success. As I explain the components of the bunny hop, and the women ride by lifting 2 wheels off the ground... the doubters believe and are laughing all the way down the parking lot. This is why we do it.

The course is like nothing i have never seen before. I mean beyond the obvious new trail i have never ridden. This track, not a trail, is mostly gravel roads, paved roads, and dirt paths through bumpy grass. Not a stitch of singeltrack. No rocks. Just a winding twisting course. I haven't actually ridden the entire course, which is unusual for me at a National, but it's all steep climbs and sharp gravelly turns. And we get to ride it 3 times. So i am not really worried about it.

More later with results and reports from cross country!

namaste!

tonya