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Kim Wik's Journal
San Rafael Twight Crit 7/11/09
posted by WIKIE/Von Diesel at 09:01 PM on July 13, 2009
July 11, 2009
Place: San Rafael, Ca
Teammates: Furman, Kimmy, Vanessa, Karena, Joanna and Me!
Teams present: Tibco, Sugar, Proman, Wells Fargo, Vanderkitten..... others
49 Total Riders
I remember last year that this race was really tough so my goal was to finish this year and stay out of trouble since I am going on vacation. All the girls from the team were there and it was great seeing everyone. When I was warming up I felt good and actually was ready to race. It was nice that we were able to take a good 5+ laps around the course to check it out. I was pleasantly surprised that they changed the course a bit. The last 2 turns were newly paved and made it really fun to fly through. Lining up at the start girls were trying to get position and then the official told us to take a lap. The reason for the lap was to get us to back up so that they could do call ups. Oh boy, that means there are some really, really strong riders here today. One of the Tibco girls was a champion from Newzeland, I think. Then there was Coryn from Proman that has national championships up the kazoo, and did I mention she is only 16, CRAZY fast. And there were others. We headed to to the line and once again they had a cannon for the start. I thought to myself, Why do they do this to us! Last time at Burlingame it really startled me, this time not so bad. The bad thing was that every one got off the line like they were being shot out of a cannon. Right away my heart rate was sky rocketing. I kept thinking I hope the race will eventually slow down, right, never happened. Before the race Aimee told me to hang in for at least 30 minutes and I thought no problem. Well, I looked at the clock and it showed 52 minutes, crap, we have only been racing for eight minutes, I am doomed. Then I looked again, 44:12...... help me please. Evey lap I worked as hard as I could to stay on and recovered on the back side. When the race was getting close, less than 10 to go, there was a pause on the S/F line...... that is when I decided to do something. I came up on the right and just went for it. Made the right turn, down the backside and went flying around the last 2 turns in the front of the pack. What a feeling it was.... then past the S/F I started to get tired and let the pack come around on my right. By that time I was praying I could get on the back of the pack and recover a bit. With about 6 to go, 2 Vanderkittens (I think) bumped and went down in front of me, I swerved to the right and missed going down but my momentum was gone. I looked up the road and saw the pack turning the corner, darn, this is going to be hard to get back on. Needless to say I TT for the rest of the race. My legs were hurting and it took everything for me to get up the little kicker, but then again recovered and had the best time taking the last two turns all alone. What a fabulous feeling, even though I was last, coming around the final turn and people cheering for me. I wanted to give it all and I did. My vision was so blurred this race that I only really saw Joanna and Furman every now and then, but I know my team was there and gutting it out just like me. After the race, people that I didn't know kept telling me good job in hanging in there at the end.... made me feel good. I won my own race within myself. Vanessa placed 5th and come to find out she went down in that little mishap, good for her, go V!
I was glad when all was said and done. I now can go on vacation and enjoy myself. Next is Timpani, and I will look forward to racing with my girls again. I checked the results and noticed they put me last when I actually passed Ruth and Hannan on the last lap, oh well, all is good.
Thanks to Monica, Anna, Aimee, Carla, Kristen, Carl, Mason, Erin, Richard and my Mom for coming to watch the race. Hearing the cheers from the side line is absolutly fantstic. You all kept me going in this race. I am now looking forward to this race next year.
I will miss you all when I am gone. Look for me on t.v., the crazy chick running along the riders, that will be me. LOL.
Love you all and thanks for all the support.
Wikie
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Comments (1)
10:22 PM on July 13, 2009 UTC Anna Voorthuijsen-Woldring wrote:
Great job hanging in there, Wikie. We'll miss you while you're in France. Have a great time!!!