RACE RE-CAPS for 2004

LAST RACE OF THE SEASON--Mercy Classic in Arkansas...I took (3rd and 2nd in the individual races) for a 2nd place in the Women's 3/4 Omnium and on day #2, immediately following the 3/4 race, I finished 14th in the Women Open race.  I was very pleased, considering this was an NRC weekend, and the last of my 2004 season.  (Not crashing helped contribute to my celebratory mood!)...It was great to see Magen Long and some of the other big names, all in one field, and even more-it was an honor to race with them.  I'm already looking forward to next spring!

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NEBRASKA STATE RR CHAMPIONSHIP AND HAYMARKET PARK CRIT, September 11-12:

2 more first place wins in my old stomping grounds.  For more info: http://www.nebraskacycling.org/news/news-story.php?id=355

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GATEWAY CUP, St LOUIS MO, LABOR DAY WEEKEND 2004...4 races in 4 days...

Coming into this race I had fond memories of last year, when I'd raced as a CAT 4, and had come in 2nd overall for the weekend, having been in the money 3/4 races.  Although all 4 had been in the rain, I'd survived without a scratch and felt this year would be no different.  However, racing as a new CAT 3 in the women's PRO/1/2/3 field was an entirely different experience.  In a nutshell:

I showed off too much Friday night under the lights, going off the front and getting my name on the loudspeaker as much as possible.  IT cost me the race on Saturday, which I was unable to finish.  Later, I found out I'd raced both with a rear wheel that had been mounted crooked, so I was doing extra work! 

Sunday, I finally was ready to use my race wheel, recently trued (that morning)  by Rob, from the last crash in DG.  Switched out my training seat for a light race seat and man, I felt 100 pounds lighter.  I made a break about 14 minutes into the race for a prime, won the prime and kept going.  Held it for 2 laps, then got caught.  Hung out in the back of the pack and was eventually taken down into an outside curb when one of the women side-swiped the girl in front of me.  She and I went down hard and my bike was trashed: broken seatpost and wasted rear wheel.  As with DG, I had to run the bike into the pit, which was "conveniently" located a couple blocks away.  My bike was shot, so they gave me a temp-loaner, which I had no idea how to shift on, and I finished out the race on it...from somewhere, I had the energy to make a break with 2 laps to go, and got caught, then I made another break on the last lap and almost had the race in the bag till my legs blew up w/ less than 2 blocks to go.  Both Fri and Sun were not impressive finishes, but I won primes in both and had the announcers saying my name every other lap...at one point they started dubbing me one of their "favorites."  That always helps boost the morale!!!

Shown here--off the front early in the race for the prime...

Monday, got on the trainer and started to warm up...but the huge knot in my right hip/buttcheek from the crash, as well as other "owies" from the crash (skin missing from left forearm) got the best of me and after hearing about all the crashes that morning in the men's races, and knowing that if I went down again, I'd be out of wheels completely, I decided I could not afford to race Monday.  The $ I stood to gain paled in comparison to the cost of more bike parts and worse--more skin/pain.  Work will already be painful enough this week w/ my owies.  (picture a jury trial and my w/ my skin ripped off--how professional!!)...

all in all, a good weekend.  The optimist in me says: racing with the big girls will make me better.  I may not win any money or fame, but I'm hanging in there and one of these days, my breakaway will stick.

DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS--NATIONAL CRITERIUM CHAMPIONSHIPS, AUGUST 21, 2004

Shown here--before the races, we "RODE WITH THE BLUE TRAIN" along with other Postal Employees.  Quite a treat, especially since FLOYD LANDIS was there!!

well...this weekend wasn't at all what'd I'd hoped.  I was going for the win in the women's 3/4 event and a top 20 finish in the women's pro/1/2/3 event--but the win mostly, especially in light of the fact that it was the last year the postal service would be sponsoring the team and the national event, and since my mom is in charge of the event, she'd told everyone about the fact that i was racing, so it would've been a doubly-sweet win in front of all the postal workers and customers.  But...it didn't work out like that. 

The women's 3/4 race was really skittish but I was really proud of myself and my sudden gusto into all the turns--I didn't touch my brakes once, which is very unusual for me and I was picking my line every time, rather than allowing other girls to take theirs and move me back.  I was racing very offensively.  The course is perfect for me--a little over a mile, a 200m gradual uphill, and then a little popper "suicide hill" on the backside, with 8 corners total.  Anyway--about 1/2 into the race, we all came flying around turn #8 and unbenknowst to us, a bunch of girls had gone down ahead and were strewn across the road.  By the time we saw it, we were in it.  I looked up mid-crash just in time to see the next wave of women coming on top of me.  It was a mess--about 15-20 of us got caught up in it, most didn't get back in.  I had to wrench my handlebars out of another girl's wheel and by the time I got up and got my chain back on, the pack was long gone.  I started to get on the bike, only to realize that my back wheel was so out of true that it was rubbing against the frame and wouldn't spin around.  so--I had to sprint, from the bottom of the 200m hill, to the very top, where the wheel pit was--at full speed w/ bike in hand (have you ever run in bike shoes?  It's like running with ice skates on!!...Duathlon, anyone??).  I got up there, they switched out the wheel and I got back into the race.  On the next lap, with my adrenaline pumping, I made a sweet break away attempt (see pic below of me coming up the left side), with about 2 laps to go.  But for the run up the hill, I could've easily held that break and taken the win.  However, after being off the front of the pack for about a lap, my legs blew up and I couldn't hold my lead.  The pack swallowed me up and spit me out the back, where I ended up finishing a very disappointing 18 out of 24 finishers.  (We started with about 45-50 girls).  I was really really bummed.

The pro/1/2/3 race lost its appeal to me as the afternoon wore on, and I began to get sore, in the ribs and shoulders, and some bruises showed up from the pileup.  If I hadn't pre-registered for the 1/2/3 race I probably wouldn't have done it, but it was good experience.  I managed to hold on for 26 min before the referees pulled me, and I was proud of the fact that I outlasted all of the CAT 3s who had placed higher than me in the race earlier...Of course, tina Pic won the race and it was a thrill just to have been in the same race as her and the T-Mobile team, and Quark and Genesis...

Shown here: the pride of NEBRASKA: Joe M. And Marco V. from team Kaos, on the front of the Pro/1/2 field...

Tour of Kansas City, August 14-15, 2004.  I chose to race with the women CAT 1/2/3 instead of the CAT 3/4.  I decided it wasn't about glory this weekend; it was about growing and getting stronger in anticipation of next weekend.  I was definitely humbled and reminded of how far I still have to go...but I am happy with my 8th and 9th place finishes because they were (a) not last place finishes and (b) they were the hardest races yet.    I think we avg'd 25 mph in the crit!  The Cliff Drive classic contains a brutal brutal hill and some technical turns...I stayed torward the front up the hill the first three laps, but had a "blow-up" in my legs when I approached it for the 4th time.  So, I slid off the back of the pack and ended up time trialing for the next 3 laps, finally catching the main field again as they approached the hill for the last time, just before the finish.  I caught a couple girls by surprise and managed to pass a couple before crossing the line.  I felt good about having stayed in the race, even when dropped.  My persistence paid off.  On Sunday, the crit in old Overland park...it was 1/2 under construction which made things interesting, but held in perfect weather conditions and without major mishaps.  I held on for dear life to the back of the pack and only made it to the front a couple times, once attempting to bridge the gap between the field and the breakaway pack.  Again, I managed to pass a couple just before the line, but was all out of gas...I think we averaged almost 25mph in the crit.  In the sea of all the blue, I seemed to be the only one wearing red...my NE roots showing through ;)  See below.  Results posted on kcbcracing.org.

this hill hurts so bad!!!

after the break got away, chillin' in the back of the main field, where I belonged!

For more info on the Nebraska riders in this race: http://www.nebraskacycling.org/news/news-story.php?id=341

Altitude Training in Colorado, August 3-10, 2004. 

Last October, I was humbled by the altitude and intense climbing in Colorado.  This year, I got my revenge.  While it was not exactly easy, I handled Cave of the Winds, Garden of the Gods, Cheyenne Canyon, Cottonwood Pass, and Cripple Creek without complication.  I am now a true believer in being light and pedaling efficiently...while my legs are trashed, I think it was a great week of training and I'm hoping to see the benefits in my big upcoming races...

Shown here, standing on top of Cottonwood pass, having started at 8000 ft, we climbed for 3+ hours and ended up at over 12,000 feet.  It took over 50 minutes to descend, at over 35mph. 

Here--the velodrome in Colorado Springs, watching the Masters' national championships...I think these guys are truly crazy!!!

In the background: Cheyenne Canyon = a good 25 minutes of pure pain...

MIDWEST MELTDOWN, Aug 1:  It's good to be back...my first race today, after a 6 week hiatus...I competed in the first-annual Midwest Meltdown duathlon out at the KC Speedway...I had the privilege of running and cycling on a track where the big boys and their cars are usually going over 100 mph...it was a riot.  I "helped" my dad get through his first duathlon, which consisted of 1.5m run, 15mi. bike, 4 mi run, not that he needed it--he rocked!  I ended up taking 1st in my age group; strangely enough, the 2nd and 3rd place women were also both named MEGAN!!  Pics and results at www.midwestmeltdown.com

 

THERE WILL BE A GAP HERE FOR THE MONTH OF JULY WHILE I CRAM FOR THE MISSOURI BAR EXAM...my next race will be Tour of KC, in August.!!  The good news though--I won the Midwest MAXXIS Cup Women's 1/2/3 series!!!  See below:

MAXXIS CUP OVERALL STANDINGS: http://spokepost.com/series/standings/midwest/cat123women.pdf

June 19-20 2004: Kansas State Criterium and Road race championships:

This weekend went much better than the last few...I was getting ready to take a long hiatus, gladly, but now the thirst is back.  The Crit on Sat was great--we were graced with the presence of two pro women, one of which who was introduced as the Australian Champion at Quad Cities (or something similar)...the crit was fast and after my wreck last weekend I found myself braking into almost every turn --from fear...but--I played my cards a bit smarter this time and sprinted to a tough 3rd place in the sprint, after we'd split the field up throughout the race.

Rob also fared well in the Master's Crit:

Sunday's RR was long long long...supposed to be 69 miles--ended up at over 75, done in 6 mile loops--talk about getting to know the course!!!  We all followed the pros' lead and they seemed content to sit and leave it for the sprint.  I ended up getting boxed in by the yellow line and --while fresh enough to come around at the line--was prevented from doing so by the yellow line rule--see pic below.  Came out 4th...

(here's the finish--the women in orange are the pros!!)

Both events boosted my MAXXIS standings in the series, of which only one race is left...I'm hoping to hold my first place standing and maybe get a shot at winning a bike frame!!

KCOI Stage Race June 12-13...TT, crit on Sat; RR on Sunday.  Shown here warming up for the TT--

3rd crash of the year...lost a lot of skin this time...I keep hoping it's out of my system now.  I am learning the hard way what road rash on "one's bum" feels like.  Apparently my crash was noteworthy--I am the "unnamed rider" in this article.  http://www.ljworld.com/section/citynews/storypr/173012 

I am starting to look forward to having the month of July off from racing (gotta start studying for the bar exam some time, I guess!)...Luckily, I've managed to hold onto my 1st place standings in the MAXXIS cup series.

Quad cities (Memorial Day wknd) and Omaha weekend (June 5-6)...again, not much to write--went down in a crash during the Quad cities crit; Omaha weekend was--Ok.  But again--lessons learned and that's all I can ask for...

shown here--quad cities--my first chance to race against Magen Long and other notables...I came into a crash and went down but took a free lap and got back into the game.:

Scholfield Honda Circuit race and Criterium--May 8th and 9th, 2004

Well, I learned a lot about tactics this weekend, and was taught a very costly lesson on breaking away during the crit on Sunday.  In an attempt to "rally the troops" and inform the other 2 women I got off the front of the pack that we had a gap and should work to stay off, I talked too much and worked too little for just a moment, and all of a sudden found myself in no-man's land between the break I'd created and the chase pack...I ended up sitting up for the chase group to pick me up.  What a disappointment...Lesson: make the break happen, keep your mouth shut, and get the heck onto the first wheel you see of the fellow-break-awayers before they drop you.  I was operating under the assumption that they wanted me in the break with them.  WRONG.  I am continually reminded that "friendships" made during races are fleeting.  Some day I will learn...

Below: Sitting 4th back in the lead pack during the circuit race on Sat.  Sitting #2 place--a CAT 1 racer.  (= stiff competition for the weekend!)  Came out 4th in a sprint for the finish that involved a trailer and an on-coming car, and the yellow line.  What a mess...

Here--(me on the left)-the sprint for the crit finish--I took 3rd place.

Lincoln Plating Series-April 17-18, Lincoln Nebraska: Sat: RR and TT, Sun: Crit

The first of the MAXIS CUP SERIES...

My first FIRST place...both as overall winner, and as the winner of the RR, TT and crit

 I think the early season races out west and the long winter full of hard spinning classes and dieting paid off this weekend.  The wind was insane--20-25mph, and the temps were high.  We were paired with the Masters 35+ and Cat 4s for the RR, and with the Masters 35+ for the crit.  (Thanks Revolution for all the help!!)  Switching my triple out for a double at the last minute made me a bit nervous--bike overhauls are never good the day before a stage race, but it had to be done.  That bike is a whole new machine now, and while I used to scoff at the "gram geeks" I'm starting to realize that less weight really does matter.  I also realize, though, that this was an early-season win...so I'll count my blessings and leave it at that.  A great weekend overall--our local promoter did a wonderful job and I think it was a reminder to us all that much work still needs to be done before the peak-worthy races are upon us.  The lesson learned this weekend?  When warming up on rollers, do it in a private place...because when your chain slips off and you fall down, there's no need for everyone present to witness the debaucle!  For results, see www.nebraskacycling.org.

(Shown here receiving my medal for the RR on Saturday)

And here--the podium shot for overall:

SECOND VENTURE INTO THE WEST: the McClane Pacific Cycling Classic, Merced, California

March 13-14, 2004: Saturday-18 mile Crit; Sunday-48 mi RR

I suppose when one spends 10 days driving over 4000 miles in the car, in and through several handfuls of states, it is reasonable to expect a few mishaps.  Rob Helton and I drove from Omaha to Kansas City to Oklahoma City to Flagstaff to Phoenix (where we trained for severaldays in the sun), through LA, to race.  My first NRC race--And yes, my first crash--a right of passage in all cyclists' careers, I'd imagine.  With my tattered jersey and bent bike in hand, I came home with a stupid grin on my face because I can say I gave it my all and I hurt more than I thought possible. 

 

The Crit was first--unusual--but definitely my preference.  70+girls in my race...The course was slightly less than a mile, flat, lots of corners and with all these stupid little reflectors stuck in the pavement...who puts those there??!?!  Big field, definite team influences.  Velo Bella, Amgen, Trek/VW, SoCal...hell, there were too many there to name.  I made a break off the front early on, and actually lucked out with my timing because as I crossed the S/F line off the pack, the announcer yelled "prime lap."  I held onto my break the entire lap until the back side, when my legs began to scream "no more" and the girls swarmed around me.   (note to self: don't go that soon again!)  I sat in a few laps, then went to the front again and tried to get off the front with 3 or 4 girls that had been dominating the lead group.  We were unsuccessful, but no one else got off the group and it came down to a pack sprint, luckily, with a nice long straighaway into the finish.  Having found a decent gear, I passed 10+ girls and felt strong all the way through the line.  My legs still felt ready to rock in the RR.  Even better was later on, getting to watch the likes of Pic and VanGilder race in the Pro race...they've teamed up together and now ride for Genesis--Pic is amazing!

 

Enter: Snelling, CA.  And they mock the midwest for our open fields and sporadic farms...hah!  Don't be fooled--those Californians have a few of their own country roads.  Stuck, of course, amidst almond trees (pronounced "ammound" if you're from CA) and vineyards.  Whatever...the course was closed and full of rolling hills--perfect, in my book.  A larger field than the day before (94 girls!), which made me a little nervous.  A fairly short race, each lap was 24 miles...the first lap was fast and choppy-lots of slowing up and coming to a screeching halt with girls all hollering "slowing, slowing."  It got somewhat frustrating.  I sat in, then, mostly due to agitation, I went to the front and was about 6 back when a girl went off the front and I went with her.  We stayed off for a few minutes--I don't think she really wanted it to work, and the pack grabbed us.  As it did so, another girl went off the front and I went with her.  We stayed off for a few more minutes before the pack put a stop to it.   I had the energy for it, so I went with it.  The perk to being teammate-less is, you do whatever strikes you at any given moment, I guess...As we came up the feed hill, the front surged and during that chaos, water bottles started flying.  Next thing I knew, another girl and I went down pretty hard.

 

Shaken and outright MAD I got up and checked myself out...my right shifter was all bent in and my right middle finger felt like it'd been slammed in a car door.  Minimal bloodshed, and amazingly, no scrapes on my legs or arms.   I was still  FURIOUS.  The chase car replaced my flat spare with one of my other wheels (always always always put wheels in the chase car!!!)  I didn't drive all the way to CA to sit in the SAG...so I worked like hell for what felt like 100 miles (probably closer to 10 minutes) in my biggest gear and FINALLY caught my group.  (next time wear full-fingered gloves!!!)  It was worth the work when I saw the looks on some of their faces!  I was so fired up the remainder of the race...the speed picked up and we began to shell girls off the back and going into the final section of the race, I was ready to sprint.  Girls were acting pretty funny and the group was really really jumpy.  I couldn't get around to the front, so I was forced into another group sprint, which I guess was fine with me.  I finished in the top pack, even after my crash.  I later learned my rear breakes were rubbing my wheel after the crash because the wheel was out of true--Another note to self: always always check the bike over following a crash, before deciding to chase!  It was a learning experience nonetheless, and that's what we went for.

more results and photos at: http://www.mclanepacificcyclingclassic.com/past_champions.htm

Training in Fountain Hills, AZ

Bartlett Lake, where the "Posties" train!

Checking out Yosemite's water falls, near Merced, CA

NORTH END CLASSIC: YUMA, ARIZONA

February 21-22, 2004: Saturday-66 mi RR; Sunday-40 min Crit

January 11, 2004: PF Chang's Rock and Roll Marathon

...marathon #4

...what a blast!  Bands and cheerleaders at every mile to keep us going.  But the person that said Phoenix was flat with no wind is CRAZY!  Miles 17-21 felt all UPhill and into a headwind!!  Oh well...another 26.2 behind me and best of all, a client of DFT finished his first marathon there!  (See Success stories).

Shown here with my dad (left) and client Brian Day (right)  before the race began:

Waiting for the buses with my Grandmother--ASU stadium behind us.

The start line--29,000 people!

Oh man it always feels great to be done running!

Shown here at the finish with fellow Omahan and life-long marathoner, Mike Huggenburger:

...and here comes Brian Day (blue jersey), a Defined Fitness client, finishing his FIRST marathon!!!

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2003:

Fall 2003 trip to Colorado--took advantage of the heat wave and was humbled by the altitude and the steep climbs...I have a whole new appreciation for "switchbacks" now!!

 

The Chicago Marathon, October 12, 2003.  If you can imagine 40,000 runners and a million spectators (shoulder to shoulder, 3-4 people deep the ENTIRE way!!)...I couldn't until I lived it...it was by far, the coolest marathon I've done!!

Amidst the mass of humanity...it feels good to have that 26.2 behind me!

Pictures from the 1/2 Max (1/2 Ironman distance triathlon) At the Lake of the Ozarks.  More photos, as well as results, will be available at www.ultramaxtri.com

My mom and I right before the swim started.

Below, a glimpse of the 1.2 mile swim course

Mike Cimino and I, ready to get in and warm up.

Coming up the hill from the lake, to grab my helmet and bike from T1

The bike portion is my favorite part...

Coming off the bike at T2 (legs are a little wobbly)

Heading out on the 13.1 mile run (this smile stayed with me the entire time!)

A finish line has never looked soooo good...all done in 5 hours, 49 minutes...

Receiving my 2nd place plaque in Women 20-24.  All in all, a good day!

Shown below--pictures from the Gateway Cup 4-Criterium series, Labor day weekend...

Coming around the group, up the hill on "The Hill" (Sun)

Riding my brakes and rounding corner #1 in lots of standing water, in University-Park (Mon)

Results: Gateway Cup Overall--Women 4 : 1 Julie Tatar  2 Megan Hottman 3 Pam Hinton 4 Jill Thole 5 Laura Starr 6 Marilyn Cullinane 7 Carol Hotton 8 Rebecca Cato 9 Michelle Jensen 10 Catherine Scott

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August 16-17, 2003: the National Criterium Championships in Downers Grove, IL...After Tour of KC, this was only my second crit EVER!  What a rush to race with the "big girls!!"

Even bigger rush: standing with the TEAM POSTAL boys--woo hoo!!

 

My first triathlon--the 1/4 Max (1/4 Ironman distance) in June 2003, Innsbrook resort, Missouri