Beacon and Legs 2014
Beacon hill is what I would consider a home course for me. It is in Spokane and a great place to ride. We usually spend fall, winter (when not too much snow) and early spring riding there. I was pretty nervous about racing here, I guess because there is some great competition around the area that would show up and I wanted to do well. Last year I rode the Ibis tranny which was awesome. I struggled this year with which bike to ride, but decided on the Ripley as I had just gotten it and wanted to see how it would race on this course. The course consists of 95% single track and some techy descents, I think this is why I like this race. True MTB.
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.
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.
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