I raced Spring Prairie today. The cat 4 women had four laps around the 6.5 mile course that includes a lot of rolling hills and one long, steep climb before the start/finish line. We were combined with the masters 40+ women [who, it turns out, were all cat 3s], but scored separately.

I felt good going in -- and my bike was in good working order, no shifting problems at all in this race. I put my 27/12 cassette on my race wheel and with my compact crank could ride all the hills in my big ring. So no danger of dropping a chain. I was climbing well, and after the first lap was in the first group of 5 that crested the big hill. After turn one on the second lap, there was some attacking. I stayed near the front and matched the accelerations. After turn 2, a tall, powerfully built woman made a move on the false flat, three of us stayed with her, and used the descent to gain more distance. The four of us were off the front -- and I realized the other three were masters racers! If we could stay away, I would win the cat 4 race!

The next two and a half laps were very painful. We worked together pretty well to increase our lead well into lap three. And then the jockeying started. I took extra pulls as the masters riders eyed each other and conserved energy for the race up the hill to the finish. Two of them were small and could just float up the climbs. The tall woman attacked before turn four, but was easily reeled in. The two little climbers took first and second, I crossed the line third -- winning the cat 4 race!

It was thrilling to see my name at the top of the results sheet! I've won a cat 4 race and, even better, a road race. A really HARD road race.

Track racing is hard. It's also super fun. But, damn, it's hard.

I took my brand new track bike to Northbrook last night for a win-and-out, a 24 lap points race and an unnamed distance race. I took third behind a Pegasus girl and Gigi in the first and last races, and finished with the combined cat 1-2-3-4 pack in the points race. I got no points, but I finishing the race was an accomplishment.

So, not terrible for my first time. My bike feels good - aggressive. I don't have that pop that the women who are winning have. I can ramp up to fast, but I can't just explode with speed and get a gap. But that's why I've taken up track racing in the first place, to learn how to do that.

I'm not sure I have the right gearing, but it's too soon to change it out, I think.

I was greatly relieved to feel OK on the bike. After the last two mornings, I wasn't sure I'd be doing more than watching. But the only problem I had was remembering to keep pedaling. I'm feeling way more confident about Spring Prairie now.

Gave up on my workout this morning after 20 minutes. I don't know what's wrong with me -- I feel weak and shaky, hot like I have a fever, and like I could easily black out. I even let some guy on a comfort bike with a backpack ride by me. I chased half-heartedly, but I just didn't have the drive. THAT is really freaking me out. But I'm just so weary. The weariness doesn't pass like the rest. It just gets worse all day long. Yesterday I took a 2 hour nap after work, only waking up when the phone rang.

I'm worried about Spring Prairie on Sunday. I've been looking forward to this race all year.

Someone recently described me as "slight." Which is far from how I think of my physicality. I feel sturdy and able, yet ever aware that there are people much more physically powerful than I all around me. I've often wondered how others experience their bodies -- what must it feel like to be a man with that effortless strength? What must it feel like to be a small woman, weighing less than 100 lbs? Do they feel different in their bodies than I do in mine?

I'm tired today. Really tired and sluggish. My legs felt like clay on the bike this morning and I ended up cutting my workout short and shutting my eyes for 20 minutes before starting work. Which is usually rejuvenating, but I continue to feel more and more exhausted. I wonder if I'm sick.

Spring Prairie is on Sunday and it's one of my target races. I want to feel really good and energetic that day. What should I do now to help me get there? Maybe I can go home early today and take a long nap.

I'm hoping to be able to get to the track tomorrow evening to race for the first time. I'll see how I feel, I guess.

----

Sprint practice last night was really helpful. Shane analyzed my form and gave me some exercises and intervals to do to help me improve. I really need this. There's no reason I can't become a decent sprinter. Its not natural to me, but with some work I can start to get the spin and the explosion of power. Heh, everything is "with some work." Good thing I enjoy it.

Hi Eve!

I've just struck a deal for an excellent track bike. I'm very excited. Sadly, its not the Colnago. It wasn't meant to be.

MY BIKE IS FIXED!!!

I had the sweetest ride today in the lovely weather, shifting all the way up then all the way down and then doing it again. And then again. I touched my shifter and it changed gear smoothly and quickly. So awesome. It didn't skip between gears, it didn't refuse to consider the next cog, it didn't shift all on its own. It did what I asked immediately. So easy to take that for granted.

Turns out my cable housing was cracked and also loose on one end. Which I knew, but didn't know it was the problem. It was overlooked while every other part was switched out. But now it's fixed and I'm ecstatic.

The track clinic on Saturday went well. I was a bit tense my first time on a fixed gear, but doing a miss and out race and a couple team pursuits really helped me relax. And I came in second in the miss and out! Have to remember not to stop pedalling when I throw at the line. I'm now shopping for a track bike. I'm interested in the Jamis Sonik, but Jamis didn't anticipate the demand and they're hard to come by. Yojimbo's has two frames my size in stock, one of them a gorgeous sky blue Colnago that I find myself stroking lovingly every time I go by. Too bad it doesn't fit my wallet.