Oregon Trip and Sea Otter Race Report:
It has been a little crazy since we got back from our fun RV trip to California to do the Sea Otter Classic. We made the decision sometime around Christmas that we wanted to rent and RV and drive to California. It just so happened that The Sea Otter Classic Kris and I had made the decision to make thist our destination. We left in the RV on Tuesday and managed to make it down to Kris's Aunt Karens in Menlo Park by Wednesday night. We spent the evening and next morning there and enjoyed time catching up with her. The kids had a blast at the local park and riding their bikes in the skate park. We then headed down to Ibis HQ to check it out and pick up my Ripley 29er. It was pretty cool to meet the people of Ibis and to see their stash. Tom showed us their sweet bike gallery collection of retired Ibis bikes which was awesome. They gave us a great recommendation of a beach to head as the kids had been asking for the beach since Tuesday morning. I took a spin on the new Ripley while they played in the sand, I was pretty sold on the Ripley just spinning around. We then made our way to our camp site at Laguna Seca raceway. Friday was preride day, we made some minor adjustments to the Ripley and I was out for a pre ride. I had been sick for 2-3 weeks prior and wasn't sure how I would feel down there. On my recent rides I had still felt like I had lost all my power, so I went fairly easy just to make sure I didn't overdo it. I loved riding the Ripley around, however I was completely dissapointed in the course. There were multiple long sections of road or dirt road, there wasn't anything technical about the course. I knew this wouldn't benefit me at all as my training had been off for the past 3 weeks, I tried to keep a positive attitude and get mentally ready for Saturday. Kris managed to get to preride friday also and we hung around the venue checking all the fun things out. The kids were sold on the BMX tracks and couldn't get enough, even Ollie was rippin' in on the skooch. That afternoon we went to the Monterey Aquarium which is amazing and then to the Buba Gump Shrimp factory for dinner.
Race Report
Saturday came all to fast, I had read the start time a few days prior and it listed our start at noon. I didn't really think to check it that morning which led to an interesting start. About 10:45 we were headed over for the kids race and I was going to start warming up. I headed out to the track and all the pro women were on the track and I look over and saw one of the girls taking down a GU. I thought to myself that this was really odd as I thought we had an hour until our start. Then I hear over the microphone that call up for Pro Womens start is in 5 min. Well to say the least my warm up was cut short. In a way, I guess I spent less time being nervous as I only had 15 min to start. It was a tough race, we went out hard and the entire field just split up and I think a lot of us rode on our own. As a working mom of 3 it is mentally hard to get out there in that field of amazing women and not doubt yourself. I am super competitive, I had told myself the only thing that matters is that I give my 100%. That is what I did. I rode hard the entire time, my heart rate stats are proof of that. It was warm for me and that made it tough also. I am a very consistent rider and usually pass more people in the second half than the first. So when I came around for the second lap I tried my hardest to give my family a smile and start trying to make up some ground on the girls in front of me. It didn't take long before I started catching 2 riders. I always get excited and it gives me a boost when I catch other girls. I rode hard the second lap and managed the 36mi 5300ft of climbing to finish in 34th place. My husband and kids were waiting at the finish line which is always the greatest. The Ripley rode great and was super fun, I just wish there was some better single track to try it out on. It was happy to be finished to finally be on vacation. That night we went to the Vanderkitten team get together and hung out with Dave, Jono, and all. On Sunday,
Kris raced the single speed early, he actually was having a great race until he broke his chain with a mile to go and had to run in. It is such a good sport and had a great attitude despite. The kids were all about the pump track on Sunday and we stayed later than we had planned as they were having fun. Noah talked his Dad into letting him do the big air jump, which scared me to death. Noah likes to ride his bike, but we don't take him mountain biking or even to a pump track. The thought of him hucking himself off of a big jump onto an air mattress was freaky, he is only 8. He was determined and despite my opinion he was brave and did it. I was super proud of him.
After the kids were done playing we were headed to drive up the coast. It was a long drive home. We even spent the night in a Walmart parking lot, a must if you are RVing anywhere. We woke up drove to the beach and ate breakfast. The kids ran around in their pajamas and we soaked the beautiful scenery in. We drove to the Newport Aquarium where I had won tickets and seal kisses and a running race there last year. Noah and I got a seal kiss which I was not so excited about. We spent the afternoon at Southbeach camping area in Newport. The kids love the beach, I think they would spend days on end if they could just playing. We rode around a little on our bikes. Tuesday was a long driving day as we were headed all the way back to Spokane. We took the sunny morning to enjoy the ocean once more then headed home. It was a great trip and we loved having the RV.
I again had missed my warm up due to lack of a sitter and rode all but 5 min prior to the race. I usually go out at an even keeled pace and plan for the attack later in the race. I decided, despite the lack of a warm up, to go from the start and see what happened. I had a great start pulled away on the first hill climb and was on my way to what I thought was going to be a great race. There is not any long sustained climbs more of a climb, flat, climb, flat, climb top out and descend, then do it again. So We top out and start descending. There is a rock section that I have a love hate relationship with. Love it when I do it, hate it when I wuss out. I knew I needed to be on top of my game, I made the first section and messed up the right hander at the bottom. I made it just fine and made a plan to do it right the second lap. Even though this is my "home turf" I did not pre ride and when an arrow had been knocked down I managed to follow 2 men off the course and 1/2 the women's field followed. By the time it was figured out we had gone the wrong way, the other girls turned around and sprinted. I was now going to be on the chase. This killed my mental, I was beating myself up for going the wrong way. Needless to say I hauled down the decent and managed to take a drop I hadn't taken before, so happy the Ripley rode off it no problem. It was so smooth and fast!! I took that like the next 2 laps as well. I couldn't get by the girls on the descent, but tailed them down. I managed to pass 2 of them prior to coming around for the climb on the second lap. The climb started and I felt like I had everything zapped out of me. I was paying for not warming up and going out to hard. I struggled, Erika whom I ride a lot with, passed me and I couldn't stay with her. I decided I needed to get some nutrition and recover for this first part of the climb. By the time we were at the top she had 45 seconds or more on me. I was frustrated. I know I can descend well so when I got to the top I was going full throttle. I managed to maneuver the rock section at the top and rock the rest of the descent, I could now see Erika ahead. We headed into the 3rd lap and I was slowly pulling her in. I worked pretty hard in the middle section of the climb and passed her. I rode hard, my descent wasn't as good as the second as I was tired and didn't want to crash. But I managed to pull it off and I won the Pro Women. I was pretty excited Erika got back in her grove and finished just 30 seconds back. It was a good race faster than last year on a longer course. Not sure I will chose to go out that hard next time, I think I would have been faster had I just gone with my normal race style rather than sky rocketing my heart rate.
Saturday was also Noah's first real Mountain bike race, which is amazing because this is a tough course. He rode with Kris and did great. He is such a fun kid with such a great attitude. Love him!!! Kris managed a 4th place which is amazing considering his training or lack there of. Adrienne did her race and Ollie had quality Nana time. If it wasn't for a good friend that wasn't racing and watched my kids Kris and I wouldn't have been able to race, so I am so thankful for Natalie and helping out. Another great weekend on Single track!!! Thanks again to Vanderkitten for sweet women's riding gear and Ibis for making awesome bicycles.
