This was my first road race in 2 years. I've always been a little wary of racing on the road or maybe I should say getting hurt racing on the road. I don't have a basis for it; I just always have. The day started out in Atlanta mild and cloudy; by the time Leigh and I drove over the SC/GA state line, it was cold and foggy. The roads were a little bit wet, not the greatest conditions for a road race. I didn't have much to fear b/c they began to dry before our race started.
Thirty nine women lined up for the open women's race. There was a bonus of $50 to the first Cat. 4, so there was some motivation to do well and try to stay with the pack. I've ridden the 7 mile Donaldson Center course before, so I knew what to expect. There are only 2 small hills, both coming within the first 2 miles on the course. The rest is pretty flat with one small grade at the back of the course that's really too small to call a hill. We were to do 5 laps. I got a position in the second row on the starting line to the right side of the field. I should have been somewhere in the middle. We sauntered off after the starter's gun sounded. Immediately after the first corner, 2 Genesis riders went off the front. The peleton followed at about 40 mph going up the first hill. I got caught out to the right and could not latch onto a wheel. The next thing I knew, I saw the entire peleton whiz right by me with about 8 other riders getting dropped as well. Someone (Liz) caught me, and we decided to work together. Within the next half lap, we caught another rider (Rita). We added her to our paceline. For the next 3 and a half laps, we did a 3 rider paceline with 60 second rotations. Rita seemed to get a lot of the hill pulls, and Liz and I pulled a good bit on the flats. We averaged 18.6 mph. On the second to last lap, I scouted out the place to start my sprint for the finish line. Even if we were riding for not-quite-last-place, this is what a training race was for. I was determined to get in a good sprint. I picked a spot from where I thought I could hold my sprint out. We rounded the corner going into the last lap, all glad that the suffering was almost over. My heart rate had been within my race zone the entire time. About two miles into the final lap, I tried to shift into my big ring, and my chain dropped. The other two women waited up for me. I couldn't believe it; it must be a first for road racing! A few gallons of grease on my hands later, I got my chain back on, and we picked up with our paceline. About half a mile from the finish, I began to get ready for the sprint. Liz was pulling, and we were nearing the finish. I let her pull me as long as I thought I should, and then I jumped around her. I could feel the lactic acid burning inside my legs. I looked slightly back to see Liz there about 10 feet from the finish line. I couldn't hold my sprint for one more second, and she nipped me at the line by about 2 inches. What a great sprint and what great practice! Liz and I were both out of breath but smiling.
It feels great to finally be getting in some early season racing!