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Joanna Bechtel's Journal
Pescadero Road Race Report
Publicado por at 23:48 on junio 17, 2009
Pescadero Road Race
June 13, 2009
Weather: Upper 50s to 60s, overcast near coast, sunny inland by the end
Field: 50+ Cat 3/4, W 35+
Hopkins Honda/Code 3 Racing Teammates: Wikie and Furman racing in the 35+
Course: Promenade through Pescadero then 1.7 laps of the 28 mile course. Out of town a flatish section on Old Stage Rd followed by two little climbs and winding descents. Rolling along 84 until a right turn onto Pescadero Creek Rd with the feed zone, then a brief downhill section before the right turn and extended climb of Haskins Hill. Seven miles back to town with a descent along a pretty redwood-lined creek (I look around after I finished racing) and rollers. Repeat first section with finish at top of Haskins Hill.
When the orthopedic surgeon told me the Wednesday before this race there were no restrictions on what I could do (within reason, need some upper body strength before mountain biking again), I signed up for Pescadero. I did this race last year and finished in the second group, 22nd out of 52 finishers. My goal for this race was to get comfortable riding in a road race pack, tempo up the hill since I wasn’t going to compete for the podium, and keep the rubber side down.
Carla texted me the night before, letting me know she got in very late from Oregon and wouldn’t be there. But Furman and Wikie were at reg, having signed up for the 35+ (“strategic registration”). So I did have teammates for my first race back. ☺
Light drizzle earlier and then pretty humid, so I was sweating a lot during my trainer warmup and felt loose for the start. Furman, Wikie and I lined up right on the front. Furman said she was going to attack on the climbs up Old Stage. The year before we just had a tea party up until the base of Haskins Hill. Not this year.
Wikie pulled a ways out of town. There was a prime on this flat section, so after that we weren’t right on the front anymore but still up there. Then came the first little climb, Furman went, I stood up and was going pretty hard when we came around the corner and there was a truck. I slowed down a bit to make sure I got through the narrow road (probably not necessary, but I was being cautious), but other girls passed me and by the time we reached the top of that climb, I was at the back. Haven’t been working on the top end yet, so this climb hurt a bit. I was anxious about descending, but I felt a lot more comfortable than I anticipated. However, the lead pack was in front of me, so I wasn’t very close to anyone. Up the second climb, I couldn’t hang so I just tempoed up. Some gravel patches from recent road repair on this descent but very doable. Wikie passed me on the way down, yelled at me to hop on, and she pulled us back to a group of 6 or so. We pacelined it and caught back onto the main group along Hwy 84 before the feedzone. Through the feedzone. To the base of Haskins.
I just went at my own pace but still trying to push it. I went over the top alone. Wikie passed me on the way down again with girls in towand I hoped on. We were in this group of 9 total all the way until Haskins Hill for the finishing climb. Outside of town we saw Furman on the side of the road fixing a flat. Bummer! She was probably going to win the 35+. I sort of went hard up the first Old Stage climb to test myself. Felt pretty good. I made sure to be at the front for the descent and was in second position behind a Mouse. She was a good, smooth rider. I sat behind her in our paceline on 84 later and felt comfortable there. Up the second climb, didn’t feel as good. In the paceline along 84 I felt pretty cashed. Wikie encouraged me to tempo up the last climb as we went through the feedzone. I made it to the top, chugging along, and finished last out of our group of 9. I kind of wanted to contest the final climb, but my legs, elbow, and lungs said no today.
For my first race back though, I was pleased that my elbow didn’t bother me. When I first got back on the road, just holding onto the handlebars was an effort and bumps were rather uncomfortable. But I’ve healed enough since then that I can concentrate on racing hard and not how much my elbow hurts. I was pleased that I descended safely with other riders around, rode pretty well up all the climbs except the last one, and wasn’t too timid in the pack. It’s mentally tough jumping back into racing after an accident, and I felt good during Pescadero.
Wikie was a wonderful Mother Hen to me the entire race. I’m very thankful that she was there. Furman, I’m sorry you got a flat.
Categorías: Competición de Carretera
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