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Iconic Pulpit Rock. Not the best picture, but man was it pretty out there! |
Under a relentlessly hot sun, on the dry SoCal-esq trails of Pulpit Rock Park in Colorado Springs, we wrapped up the US Cup Series yesterday with one final HC level Cross Country race.
Not racing against the fastest women in the US (and some from other parts of the world) for a few weeks, and having a head cold for three weeks/not doing much in the workout category took it's toll on my confidence, and I went into the race just hoping for a top 10 result. Maybe I'm just a low expectations kind of girl, but I would rather be pleasantly surprised than devastated by a race result. Somehow I was both those things at the same time yesterday.
My first reaction to the race/my result of 6th place in an HC level field was to be ecstatic. I can't help being surprised that I am able to ride with these women who just a year ago were way beyond my ability level. I was pumped that all the training I have been doing for the last two months matched up so well with the specific features of the race (altitude and punchy, short climbs), and impressed with the brilliance of my coach. I was also a little shocked that I had kept up on the descents for the first half of the race, and even Georgia noticed my improved descending!
As time passed though the disappointment set in. Why didn't I fight harder for 5th place? How did I come so close to that podium, but loose it on the LAST DESCENT?! Why couldn't I just be patient and draft during the race instead of going to the front and wasting what precious energy I had (maybe I could have used that effort to keep Georgia away on the last lap!)

I don't think racing is in the cards for the next two weekends (until Nationals) so for now I just want to express my gratitude to some of the outstanding people who made my 7th overall US CUP standing possible. Thanks to CTS for providing me with the most kick ass coach. Matt really is brilliant, so much so that I was thinking about how perfectly he prepared me physically while I was racing! Thanks to Kappius Components for hooking me up with super light, super wide rims. I may have fought Brendan on the concept of getting on wider rims, but he was right times 100. These wheels are the main reason my descending has improved so much. Thanks Sugio Apparel for the incredibly cute new kits. I've done a few races in the new kit now, and I am so stoked to wear it every time! And thanks to Adam, Don and Daimo for all your work this weekend washing bikes, handing out water bottles, providing us with a shady place to sit and a wet rag at the finish line. You guys work so freaking hard, for far more hours than us, and you never ask for any credit at all. This is the dream, and it wouldn't be possible without you three. And obviously I am over the moon grateful for the dream bikes I get to race on. Both the Scalpel and Fsi are the kind of bikes I used to salivate over, and now I get to race them. It's seriously a fairy tale :)
One last thought for the day... RIP Alex Meows.
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