Okay, so after telling myself that the weather always changes by the
time the weekend rolls around and trying to believe it, it didn't change
by Sunday morning. We left for the race in a downpour, but it was only
8:00 so it had to get better. If not, I always tell myself, once you get
good and soaked, it won't matter, so just race and try to have fun!

Well, at about 9:15 or so, it stopped. Yahoo.. so what if the roads were
wet, at least it stopped pouring and we all were out and about warming
up and feeling good that at least it wasn't raining. It sure was a
chilly day though, and some good hard winds to boot!

The waiting is the worst part, us cat 4 women got to go last but not
least, and for only 5 signed up by the night before, 7 more brave souls
came out to ride in the unknown weather to make 12 of us total.. much
more fun with more!

OFf we went, with the wind pushing us out rte 392, wow, what a nice easy
start to a race, no work for that first 7 or so miles.. then up Parker
street we went, well that was all fine til we opened up at the top, very
windy for those rollers out in the country.. 5 of us managed to get away
and stay away from the pack, but we had to work so hard into the wind,
seemed like every corner put us into more headwind. Even pacelining we
had to be going a meer 13 or so mph for a bit of the time... felt like
we were crawling.. I looked at my watch, I just wanted to at least
finish faster than last year, who knew it would be this windy! Well, we
got through the rollers, the wind, the wall and headed the last 6 or 7
miles back to the finish.. well, more wind than you can imagine.. One of
the girls in our group was so strong, she managed to end up pulling all
of us to the last corner in town before we headed to the corner that
would take us up to the finish.. she was tough, we were all thankful!
then there it was, the long hill to the finish, we rounded that corner
and up we went to the finish line that was moved even further up the
road to help to string out the larger men's fields.. fun for us, okay
right!!! we didn't need much more stringing out..

anyway, Ruth, who led us into this wind, and through town, the strong
Cornell racer, took off up that hill, she was awesome, I chased and
chased until my legs could no longer hold much, and started slowing
down, though I did manage to get a bit closer (close only counts in hand
granades and horseshoes though, unfortunately) and the rider behind me,
was able to take me on and leave me right at the line and take 2nd
place, she was really good too.. I ended up in 3rd place, and actually
to my surprise, was 7 min faster than last year!!! how great is that!!
Rode with a great bunch of women and had a great personal best time..
and big cookies for celebration after!!! a really fun day...

In the Cat 123's marsha lost her pedal off the bike somewhere on the 2nd
lap so she had to quit, darned it.. no pedalling with one foot for that
far of a distance.. and Margaret came in 9th place doing a great job...
I could tell more, but I didn't race that one!!!

Good day for everyone. Charlsie did awesome in her new Sho Air Team
issue with her sparkly new bike, 5th place in cat 4 women.. we will keep
racing with you charlsie!!!

Great Day Everyone!!