Race Report #2, Empire State Games Qualifiers for Central NY region.
Sunday, June 1st, 2008.

Second weekend at the races for me. Marsha wanted to do all three
events that day, the uphill TT, the circuit race, and the TVC Circuit
race immediately after. I told her I'd give it a shot too. I
hitched a ride to Binghamton with FLCC-er Mariano Garcia (who did
very well, particularly in the TT and ended up qualifying). I didn't
expect to qualify, but Marsha had said there'd be good competition
and it would be good training. Training. Yes. I like that word.
I was not looking forward to the TT, short as it was. Most
rocks roll uphill faster than I do. It would hurt but it would be a
good warm-up. Marsha whipped out a brand-new weapon-a shiny new Fuji
TT bike. Very pretty, and yet lethal-looking like most TT bikes. I
think it's a combination of the aerobars and those weird side
handlebars(what do they call them? bullhorns?) We rode around a bit
with Tami and Charlsie, both of whom I had just met along with Sarah
and Amy. I thought of saying hi to Margaret but she looked REALLY
busy with officiating and paperwork and I didn't want to get in the
way.
As I was riding aimlessly in circles about 4 minutes before I was
supposed to start the TT, I heard a hissing noise. My front tire was
flat in half the time it took me to find the hole. I missed my start
time but borrowed a wheel from a nice guy who'd just come back down
the hill (Wayne?) and went up the hill anyway. The official at the
start was nice enough to time me even after I'd missed my start. I
did my best. Ow. Marsha and I headed back down the hill, I gave my
benefactor his wheel back and started walking my bike back up to
Ano's car to change my wheels. The official's car came up and
slowed, he rolled down his window. "Five minutes." Now I was really
about to be in trouble. Ruth Sherman had arrived early for the TVC
race and helped me frantically change my wheels and top off my
tires. I made it to the start of the circuit race barely in time.
Our field was 6 women if I remember correctly. We started
off at a decent pace, all together for the first couple of laps.
After the first prime Sarah Krysiak rode on away from the group and I
tried to go with her. I had never ridden with her so of course had
no idea how strong she was. Well, now I know. Afterwards we were
apologizing to each other, she said sorry, I said sorry for not being
strong enough to even hang on...
I tried to keep her in sight as long as I could, but
then I was alone, and dangling in the wind for I don't know, half a
lap, a lap? I thought of easing up and going back to the group (I
couldn't see them at that point but they weren't far back). It
seemed like a cop-out to slack off though. Besides they were certain
to catch up any minute. It didn't matter, I was having a grand old
time whatever happened. Sure enough they came rolling right along
and I happily found a place to hide from the wind-which was atrocious
on the back side of the course. We all rode together for a while...I
didn't have the confidence in my legs to go for sprint points.
Nobody knew when Charlsie disappeared, all of a sudden she just
wasn't there. I was rather wound up by being in a race again (it's
been a while) and did some cheeseball newbie-type things like going
out to pull too quick and jumping off in front instead of keeping it
steady. Marsha, Tami and Amy were too polite to just say "cool your
jets!" Instead they offered some mild pointers...then I did something
really boneheaded. The men went cruising on by, and out of sheer
habit I sped up and was about to follow...oh, they created such a
nice breeze going by..."VANESSA!" I heard. "DON'T RIDE WITH THE
MEN!" I'm so used to going on Sunday rides with the guys that when
somebody goes rolling by it's automatic to jump on and go along.
Well...some part of my mind knew better but somebody *cough* was a
little overenthusiastic. I did get my chance to play with the boys
next Sunday but that's another story.
Eventually we finished. Sarah had stayed way out in front,
we never saw her again. Marsha and I were too tired to jump right
back on course for the TVC race...woops. Overall results were that
Sarah, Amy and Tami had qualified for the Games. Marsha was 1st
alternate (she did awesome in the hill climb), I was 2nd alternate.
I was left with a few impressions after this race:
1. Sarah is fast. Yikes.
2. All the women in that race were very cool. I would ride with
them any day...or ride behind them in the distance, as is more
likely.
3. Don't ride with the men. Unless you've been officially OK'ed
to do so-i.e. your name is Ruth Sherman and you got put in the men's
field in the TVC race.
4. Uphill individual TTs are my least favorite event ever. Even
when I DON'T flat 4 minutes before my start time.