True Grit!

Dino's first time on the top step of the podium! Note the snazzy jerseys - our race was sponsored by the John Wayne Cancer Foundation and we all received "Team Duke" jerseys as prizes.

Let's see, counting last week's race in Arroyo Grande, I have been on my bike a total of 4 times since before Christmas. Once to race and three times attached to my trainer in the garage. Oh, and I did start running again. I think I did 4 runs in that same time period. Fitness? Hmm, not in these legs. Fortunately, I think just about everyone else who is still racing is in about the same boat although some are gearing up for the road season. Unlike every other race I've done this season, I didn't experience any of my pre-race jitters. Nope, that alarm clock went off and I just laid in bed trying to figure out a good excuse not to go to the race. Let's see, O's still sick. She might barf all over the car. She'll need a potty every few minutes. S is cranky. I'm tired. None of those worked. Dave admits that he played passive aggressive with me and merely got up and started packing the car knowing that I would cave in and decide to go otherwise I'd hate myself for the rest of the week. I am glad I did!

El Dorado Regional Park is an enormous recreation area in the center of Long Beach, CA. It's a wonderful park full of fishing "lakes," playgrounds, miles of trails for families to ride bikes together, for people to run, dogs to frolic, and an awesome 'cross venue. Our trusty albeit testy new GPS system (that we've affectionately named "Lupita") guided us right to the venue without too many questionable turns. We arrived with plenty of time to set up, warm-up, and chat with friends before our races. Did I mention this is the post-season so people are pretty casual about the whole series? Dave unpacked his bike, changed into his kit, and took off on a warm-up lap or two of the "closed-to-warm-ups" course while I settled the girls. He came back full of smiles, gushing about the course. That's always a good sign for me. Did I mention that while it is the middle of January and most of the nation is suffering freezing temperatures, we are cooking in SoCal? It was nearly 80 and I was sweating just thinking about the race.

So the race starts. There are 4 women at the start: Maria, Robin, me, and one very young 35+ woman (or maybe I am just one very old looking soon-to-be 40-something Mom?). Since we were such a small field, we lined up with the men and off we went. Ah, but this race was different! I actually got the hole-shot for all of 100 yards! It was pretty cool! Of course, I nearly bit it as soon as we entered the sandy chute. And since I was now at the back of the pack, Dave of course yelled at me, "Get back up there!" as I rode by. I quickly yelled back, "But, I got the hole shot!" The youngish lady was off like a rocket never to be seen again! Robin took an early lead and I was able to hold Maria off for a bit until she took advantage of my lack of technical skills and passed me by on the first barrier set re-mount. After that, I was chasing like I always do. Unlike other races where I seemingly lose contact with the main group, I was able to keep Robin and Maria in my sights and within my grasp. I kept telling myself, "Patience, Grasshopper!" It worked. Sure enough, Maria slipped on the duff and I capitalized. Once I got ahead of her, I pedaled as hard as my little legs could go and worked to put some real estate between us. I kept looking back because I knew she was right behind me---but finally, she wasn't just right behind me. And, when I looked up, I was almost on Robin's wheel. No way? Way! So, now I had a new predicament: keep Maria behind me and catch Robin's wheel and figure out how to drop her. I am sure my face was purple by this time in the race. Maria's husband was great---cheering us all on. I remember him yelling, "Now we have a race. Get going!" I kept at it and once we cleared the more technical sections, I put everything else I had left in the tank into the pedals and went for it. I did it, I caught Robin and started passing her! Woohoo! Robin is a wily racer so I knew that I couldn't sit up and bask in my glory. I had to keep working. I was going so hard past the start/finish line that I didn't know that the race was over. Thanks to all those who told me I could stop. I weaved my way back to our car where Dave was waiting with the girls. I kind of staggered off my bike and plopped down on our car's tailgate while I caught enough of a breath to tell Dave that I finished 2nd! Yeah, it wasn't a big race but it was a huge victory for me. Finishing ahead of Robin was really something for me. She is the one person I really look up to in the women's field and she has taught me so many things this season about racing. And, too her credit, our race was her second race of the day in very hot Santa Ana conditions which are so different than those Nor'easters that she's used to!

But, here's the funniest part of my story. I am at the car changing out of my sopping wet chamois and jersey (don't visualize that one) still somewhat delirious when I hear the announcer say that they've re-posted the Women's 35+ results. I am thinking, "Why? There were only four of racing and we were pretty strung out; it shouldn't be that hard to figure out where we each finished!" Robin rolls up to me and tells me, "Guess what, you finished 1st!" How did that happen? What about the Roaring Mouse gal who roared around the course? Apparently there was some technical issue that took her out of our race equation. So, after a dozen or more races, I have finished everywhere from 1st to 8th! Go figure! One more to go...