On Saturday I went out and competed in the Eric Kautzky Memorial Track Race out at the Alpenrose Velodrome. I was looking forward to this event because while I had only just started racing at the track late last summer, I had only raced against one or two other riders at a time in Match Sprints and felt a little insufficient when it came to proper competition and race experience. Here though, at an early season track event I could race against a few more people and also learn and try my hand at some of the other “types” of races that riders will do in an omnium. We as CAT4 women, were slated to do an 8 lap scratch race, a 15 lap points race, and the Alpenrose mile (6 laps). Due to the low numbers of junior women and masters racers... they also combined them into our Cat 4 race, adding to the number of people we were racing against but scored separately from.
For me, I hadn’t been on the track or on my track bike since last July and August when I raced in several of the Fast Twitch Fridays and won them for the month. In fact, the track bike that I bought was one of the former GT rentals from the velodrome. After I purchased it, it was disassembled and has been resting in the corner of my room all winter in eager anticipation for it’s big paint job. I finally took the bike to get painted last month and sadly, did not get the bike back till Friday morning... the day before the race. With a tight building/racing deadline on the forefront, I went to Cyclepath, and pleaded for them to get the bike built up for me in two hours, to which (a case of beer later) they happily obliged. Long story short.... a bit of time and a fair amount of cash later, I finally had my track bike back. It was powder coated all bright and shiny orange, with a custom decal in periwinkle blue and then a coat of clear gloss over top. Accented with some bright blue bar tape and it’s one lean, mean, BTV racing machine. I just hoped I was ready to race too.
One thing that I was not really prepared for in regards to the race was sitting around all afternoon. I guess it really isn’t that much different than being at track races in jr. high or crew regattas in college.... I just hadn’t really experienced that type of racing scenario in a while. All of the races I’ve done recently you go out for 25 minutes or 2 hours and then boom, you’re done for the day. Here, it was race for five minutes... sit for an hour or so, race for five minutes.... sit for an hour or so, etc. And basically, it’s hard to keep the momentum going with so much downtime.
So, needless to say, my first race which was an 8 lap scratch race, was probably my best of the day. I had amped up for that race and felt good to go at the start. Legs fresh and ready to roll. I did well, placing first in the CAT4’s and gaining some points. I was pleased with the finish, but I was out in front for most of the race which isn't really the best idea. It’s not that I wanted to be there... but no one was willing to come up and pull the group so I just stayed there, setting the pace. Granted, the front is nice because there is no one to box you in, but in track racing a quick attack from the back or the side can pretty much make or break your race and one thing that is going against you in the front... is the element of surprise. By the time someone sprints past you, it’s gonna take a really quick response to answer back and chase them down and more often than not, you’re not going to have enough room. So, I think in racing, my socialist desires to “help the group” and “do my share” need to take a back seat. I should be more of a capitalist; sit in, let someone else do the work and then blow past them in return for their kind efforts. But once again.. these are the things you learn the more you race, and this is why I was out there. To learn and slap my head saying “doh” when I find myself pulling in the front again.
(photo by the amazing Eryn Barker, to which i have to thank her and her family for cheering oh so loudly. thanks!)
The second race was a 15 lap points race. Meaning, every five laps there was another sprint for points. I really had no plan or strategy going into it. The earlier sprints were worth more than the later sprints and if I could win a few sprints, I’d be that much closer to securing my lead. However, having not done a 15 lap race at the velodrome yet... I didn’t know how much gas I had in my tank and how hard I could push myself for those early sprints. I didn’t want to go out hard and then die at the finish... but then again... what if I waited and reserved and missed an opportunity? So... I didn’t push as hard as I could have early on and going into the end of the race... I didn’t have enough room to get past the girl who had passed me with a lap to go (we’re talking a wheel of difference at the line). While I gained some points coming in 2nd or 3rd in the sprints and then 3rd in the final sprint, my lack of points in the sprints gave the other girls a chance to gain some points on me. Bleh.
By now it was about 2pm in the afternoon and at this point (being out there since 9am) I was getting a little tired of waiting. This once again goes back to my earlier comment about having a posse out there, I think that would have helped me not get so mentally drained. I mean, for a little while at the start some friendly faces showed up and I chatted with them - but the majority of the time it was me, trying to stay out of the sun and trying to stay hydrated. Not that I’m blaming lack of a posse on not being able to pull it together, it just helps to stay mentally focused when you can take your mind off of things. Anyways, by now my water was warm and kinda nasty. I had tried to eat a clif bar, but just like that bagel in the early morning... I couldn’t really eat it. So, I was pretty much malnourished for the day. It’s funny because my mom is a nutritionist and I have always been quite the avid reader of sports nutrition and even served as an nutritional advisor to my rowing team ... so I know what I need to eat and to do... but sometimes knowing and doing are two completely different things. But like I said, I was out here on a sacrificial exploratory learning mission... and learning I was. (Oh and ps dear readers, pretty much by this point I’m giving you excuses).
Well, the third race of the day was the Alpenrose mile, which is six laps around the track (basically three minutes of racing). Trying to learn from prior, I didn’t want to be out in front but I found my self there but with another rider on the side. Ok, that’s not bad... I thought, I know I have one rider behind me and one to the side and one behind her. Just keep tabs on everyone, I kept reminding myself. And it pretty much lasted this way for the whole race... but then going into that last lap and a half we took off in a sprint and a chase... and shit, I thought... I just don’t have it right now. I gave a good fight at the end, but the other girls out sprinted me and I came in third again. By this point, my third place overall in the Omnium was pretty much cemented.
Oh well, it could have been worse I guess? At least I gave it a try and I’ll have some knowledge of what an all day track race is like so that I know how to prepare myself mentally and physically for the next one. Which, even though I beat myself up about it, I need to remind myself that this is what this this race was for. And, the more I go out there the more I learn and the more experienced I’ll be. And that... when the race comes down to milliseconds between wheels crossing over the line, is what matters the most. Regardless, till I get some of that experience, I’ll still throw in a few more leg squats at the gym.... just to keep it on the safe side.
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