NCCX Race #2

I don't think this will be a long post....I'm tired and my legs hurt a bit after the race this afternoon.  I arrived around 11am and hadn't been there more than maybe 5min when Dallas rolls up.  We chat for a bit then he goes to change into street clothes while I get my bike/stuff ready.  We meet back up near registration, then just hang out watching the ongoing race.

He tells me about a few places to watch out for and then I head out to get in a practice lap or two.  The course isn't really all that bad - there's a section near the last part of the course, near the finish, that is a very short/steep uphill and a right-hand off camber turn in another section.  The first practice lap, I wasn't prepared for that short hill and had to unclip & walk.  Made it through 1.5 laps and then lined up for the race.

I did pretty well for the first 2 laps, but going hard & fast in cool air will bring on the exercise induced asthma that I've had some trouble with previously.  I haven't had much trouble with that in over a year, so I wasn't really expecting any trouble.  But, damn...it hit me and I had to just slow down.  Crap.  And, I was doing pretty well, hanging with a couple other women, passing a few of them.  I just had to slow down and ride easier.  Oh well.  Then there's "That Hill".  I climbed it 3 times, each one harder than the last, but made somewhat easier by the fact that there were so many spectators in that area, encouraging you to dig deeper, telling you that you can do it, you're almost there! that there was no way I was going to unclip.  

So, that's pretty much it for today's race.  I'll be very surprised if I'm not DFL for this race.  Dallas didn't seem to think I would be when I talked to him afterwards, but I'm not so sure.  I finished up, went and changed clothes, started to head over to the Start/Finish to see my placement, but, just was too tired.  I'll have to wait on the results to be posted online.

Next week, is Race #3 in Boone.  That one is probably going to be a hard one with mucho climbing, which I totally suck at, whether it's on the road or in the dirt.  No pictures today, other than the few I think Dallas took while I was racing.  I'll post them up once he sends them to me...

Pretty tired now - had a shower and I'm going to lay on the couch with my kitteh and watch a little football this afternoon. :)