Champagne and Dirt Angels

Hell yeah!  Winning is waaayyyy better than getting second, and harder too!  Before I headed into this stretch of east coast racing, a special friend of mine told me that I should go ahead and win at least one race.  I was allowed to win, everyone would still love me!  I have had some stellar races over the last month, but the win eluded me.  Race morning, I downed my Brain Toniq, adjusted my Power/Balance bracelet and took a deep breath.

I lined up on the start line WANTING it, like I have not wanted it in years.  I paced myself up the first climb and got right behind Cathrine for the descent.  Georgia and Katarina got on the train and we all rolled through lap 1 together.  I noticed no one really wanted to drill it up the climb, so I set the pace.  I went into the descent first and quickly got a gap.  Love those 29″ wheels!  I hit the climb for the 3rd time and kept adding seconds to my lead.  At the top of the descent I had a :40 second lead.  Then I flatted the front tire.  It completely exploded in my face and I was left riding a rim down some pretty technical singletrack.  I wiped out huge in the grass field trying to make a right hand turn.  Cathrine caught and passed me as I was doing the loop through the trailers, and Georgia and Katarina passed me while Shep and Matt changed my wheel and gave me a Stinger and coconut water .

Gaining precious seconds

Cathrine was at the top of the first climb and Georgia and Katarina in the middle of it by the time I got back on my bike.  I didn’t think twice, I just stood up and hammered.  I passed them pretty quickly and set my sights on Cathrine. I caught her close to the top of the last climb and attacked her on the last steep pitch.  I wanted that downhill first!  I quickly got another gap and rolled through with one lap to go with a :15 second lead.  I did not settle in. I attacked every climb like there was a pot of gold at the top of it.  I collected the goodness and kept filling up my pockets.  I was gaining seconds with every pedal stroke.  Good thing too, because half way through the descent I flatted again, this time in the rear.  I had just enough air to not ride on the rim and tried to stay cool.  There was still some pavement and gravel sections and a climb to the finish.  It seemed like an eternity and I couldn’t believe no one was breathing down my neck.I rode as fast as I could and it was enough to win by :40 seconds over Georgia and :47 over Cathrine.  Wow, I could finally do the snow (dirt) angel!  The champagne tasted pretty sweet too!

Dirt angel

The short track just wrapped up and I drilled it at the front for :15 minutes to shake up the field and keep Heather in the leaders jersey.  It worked!  We are such a team.  I am so excited to go back to Durango and check out my new place.  10 days of  riding, rivers and loving life should recharge me for Australia.  Something clicked in me yesterday.  I realized that I do not have to feel amazing or have a race free from difficulties to capture the win. I just have to want it!  And keep wanting it with every pedal stroke.  Finally, I just need to allow what I want to flow into my experience!

One happy girl