2009 Dunnigan Hills RR race report

summer afternoon
Originally uploaded by ue06

This was the first race I've done twice -- I did it for the first time last year. As I recall, last year I had a lot of trouble with the wind, fell off the back early, got back on the pack only due to the pack taking a wrong turn, and falling off again around mile 17. I don't remember much else until the last stretch, which lasted for what seemed to be an eternity. Needless to say, I didn't finish well.

Fast forward to this year's race -- my first road race after a summer of criteriums. I hadn't ridden more than 30 miles at a time in months, let alone at race pace -- and now I was going to try to race for 42 miles? Ha! On the other hand, I was in the best shape of my life. I was stronger than I'd ever been on the bike. I'd developed an ability to time trial through the low-energy phases, to keep going even when I wasn't having fun anymore. So maybe it would be interesting after all.

The race started late. We spent a lot of time standing at various lines, moving forward, moving back again, moving forward again. Most of the Velo Girls ended up toward the back of the pack at the starting line. At least I was able to position myself on the left side, which I knew from experience would be the side protected from the wind.

During the promenade along narrow roads, we realized our mistake in not more aggressively positioning ourselves toward the front at the starting line. Once the promenade was over, the front of the pack took off. A gap opened in the middle of the pack, and at least a third of the field was dropped off the back. But we still couldn't get around -- narrow roads with the centerline rule in effect. Damn.

Emily weaved her way through and hit it hard, working to bridge up to the front group. I tried to follow but couldn't stay with her. At least I was able to break away from the back group. On the hill at the first feed zone, I was able to pass a few girls; after that I TT'ed by myself for awhile until I caught up to some other girls who had been spit out the back of the front group.

A small group of us -- Roaring Mo, Early Birds Alissa, some girl named Brett, me, and... I think there was another one too -- negotiated an echelon that worked pretty well, each of us taking turns pulling at the "front" which actually was more like the side, given the wind direction. There was a bit of confusion once we turned the corner onto the frontage road, but we soon found the wind and our echelon began again. It worked so well that it wasn't too long before we caught up to a larger group that included Katie. There was a lot more confusion as the two groups merged. Finally we settled onto a regular paceline that worked OK, although not quite as smoothly as with our smaller group.

Once we turned west again and crossed over the freeway, I started cramping. Damn! I rarely cramp. Mentor Laurie Fenech told me to keep spinning, but I soon got tossed off the back of the group anyway. Damn! Now I was on my own again, at least for a short while. Alissa, Mo, and I regrouped for the hill section, but then Mo fell off pretty soon. Then it was just me and Alissa. She and I worked together for a long time.

A little bit before the second feed zone, Dana caught up to us. She'd been working with Tri-Flow Michelle and another woman named Deb (I think). The five of us cobbled together a paceline and worked for quite awhile. Near the end of the hilly section, a mile or two before the turn at Jack-in-the-Box, we picked up a SugarCRM girl.

After the JITB turn, the three Velo Girls picked up the pace -- we were in the homestretch! Dana and I did our TTT thing, all the while trying to coach Michelle as well. We were making great time! And then we realized that we'd dropped the other three girls. Oops.

After a couple of miles we spotted Katie up ahead with Brett. Dana kicked it up a notch and we bridged up to them. I was starting to feel the effects of my stupidity -- I hadn't been eating enough during the race, and was running out of energy. Within minutes after catching Katie, I fell off. And just like that, I was on my own, with more than six miles to go.

It was just like last year -- despairing along the homestretch, although I didn't even have Vanessa to keep me company this time. I kept my pace up but constantly fantasized about just pulling over. I was sure that Alissa and the other two would catch me any time, and I wouldn't even have the energy to hop on their wheel. I thought it would have been a relief -- once they passed me, then I could give up.

But they never did pass me. I got to the turnoff to the finish, and decided that I hadn't worked that hard for that long only to give up! I scrounged around and found just enough energy to put the hammer down, stand up for the climb up the overpass hill, and mash the pedals until I crossed the finish line. I still had no idea how far behind me they were, but they hadn't passed me! My feet were asleep, my crotch was a wreck, and somehow I had managed to pull a muscle in my left hand, but I'd finished, goddammit!

I spent much of the rest of the day kicking myself for not taking better care of myself nutritionally. Ironically, I'd even coached Alissa about eating while she and I had been riding together, before the hilly section. Ideally I would have eaten something about the time we turned the corner at JITB. But of course I was too focused on the siren song of the final stretch, with the wind at my back and the finish line apparently within reach. Damn.

On the other hand, I was pleased with my performance given that I'd only taken in about 250 calories during the race. Other than sort of bonking toward the end of the race, the only time I remember being in out-and-out pain was when my calves were cramping. The rest of the time, I was working hard, but not totally suffering. What will I be able to do next time?

Lessons for next time: kick and claw my way to the front at the starting line, eat more often!