... OK, Slight exaggeration to those non-cycling enthusiasts but anyone who enjoys getting around on two wheels will agree, today is one of the most important days on the calendar!
After a couple of rest days post TT, which saw the running of the National Criterium Champs , it was time to put the game face back on for the RR. My prep over the last couple of days consisted of plenty of motor pacing, down time at the coffee shop, massages, recovery and plenty of mental rehearsing for the race (if only I put this much effort into my school work!!! :p). I had driven over the course numerous times and knew it like the back of my hand... but unfortunately for me, knowledge of the course would be the least of my concerns!!
The Women’s race kicked off at lunch time and by then, it was already over 40C on the road. Perfect race conditions...if you’re a desert camel. I warmed up in an ice vest and had a biddon glued to me at all times in attempt to keep myself hydrated. My legs were feeling great during the warm-up and when my coach asked how I was feeling, I gave him a very confident “9-10/10” today was going to be a good day in the office, or so I thought. I rolled to the start line with my game plan and as always,excited to start racing!!!!
When the gun went off, the girls set off at a pretty solid pace up the first climb. Last year’s race was one of attrition but also about your position in the bunch so I forced myself into the top 10 on the climb. 1st time round and I was feeling good, happy with my bunch position and with the legs. 2nd time up the climb and the pace was on, but this time I was drifting back... and quickly at that. My body suddenly felt like a bag of lead and i was dagging on the back of the main group...not a good feeling when you have 8 laps remaining!! Made it to the top of the climb and forced myself back into the top 10 on the decent, hoping my legs were just getting warmed up. 3rd time up the climb and same story, except when i went to get out of the seat, i had a sharp pain in my lower back and left leg...what the???
(at the end of the race, i remembered that I changed my cleats the day before the race, thinking i was doing the right thing by ensuring my equipment was all up to scratch... but i hadn’t ridden them under load and realised that my left one was slightly out of whack. I had no float in my pedals and so after a few laps riding in the cleats; the poor position was having a negative effect on my already sensitive lower back.... rookie mistake!!!!!! Note to self, and to anyone for that matter: do NOT change your cleats just days leading into a big race, but ensure plenty of time so you can make necessary adjustments to avoid feeling like a complete idiot and sacrificing your chances of performing well).
So I was scrambling back onto the pack yet again playing survival, which was not my intention at all!! Leading into the race, I was hoping to be aggressive in the early stages of the race knowing my fitness wasn’t where it should have been so that I could help set up a good result for my ACT teammates. A few more laps went by and I got dropped but was determined to finish. The temperature had increased to what felt like a million degrees and I was getting biddons every lap but nothing seemed to be helping me. It literally felt as though you were melting! I took a mouthful of food and couldn’t stomach it because of the conditions (I learnt later that eventual race winner Ruth Corset was throwing up in the closing stages of the race!!!! What a legend!!). I was catching groups of riders who were also feeling the effects of the weather but realising that there was nothing major riding on their performance at Nationals, took the option to pull out. I had worked my butt off, like many other riders going into the race and I would have thought giving up would never be an option for me... and usually it isn’t. I was dagged solo off the back about 15min down on the peleton with 3 laps remaining... I dragged my butt up the highway climb to the feed and broke down. Saw my soigny and pulled the pin. If I had been still in contention in the race, sure I would have kept going, after all it is only pain, but i was near last and the pain in my back was increasing rapidly...There was more for me to lose from continuing than to gain.
So that was the end to a rather disappointing Nationals campaign. I went in with such high expectations and put a lot of pressure on myself to perform well that I guess my goals for the race became a bit unrealistic for my current level of form and fitness. I guess the bottom line is, i just didn’t have it on the day.
Although disappointed that i’d gone against my number 1 rule and that was to “never, never give up”, I was pleased that amongst all the emotions running through me, I was able to stay focused on the bigger picture and that is the importance of my health in the longevity of my cycling career. Race to finish over 15min down and risk losing all of the positive work my support team and I have done to ensure the full recovery of my back, or pull the pin and although to have to live with the consequences, be fit to fight another day.
My results at Nationals may have not been what i'd hoped and what i'd needed to get some offers for racing later in the year but I was still able to go away from the trip with a whole load of experience and new found knowledge!
Full results can be found at http://www.aorcc.com/images/Women's_RoadRace_Sat_9_%20Jan.pdf
I was fortunate enough to be able to pick the brains of some of the Nations most elite cyclists in Vicki Whitelaw and Tracy Gaudry and I'd like to thank them for sharing their experiences with me and putting up with all of my questions over the past week... It is much appreciated and the tools you have provided me can only help me to achieve my goals in the sport!! I believe that I still have a lot to learn about the sport and having people like Vicki and Tracy around to 'mentor' me is definitely invaluable.
So thanks for hanging in there with me and sorry I haven't got some more happy news to report, but hey, you have good days and you have bad ones... that's life, and it happens to the best of them!
Until next time,
xx
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