Union Vale Road Race
Just Andrea, Emma and I for this one. Having spent the night in Poughkeepsie, it was game on the next morning at 9am. Two repeats of a hilly 14-mile course with a 1.5 mile finishing climb. Yes indeed, a race course made just for little ol’ flatlanding me!
And to be fair, the first 8 miles or so weren’t bad. Emma helped me stay with the pack, we were all in good position, it was excellent fun in a hill-climbing sort of way.
Second time around, not so much with the fun. As we climbed the hill to the feed zone (a hill I’d barely noted the first lap), I started to lose contact with the group. As Emma drifted backwards to try and get me, I yelled at her to stay where she was—there was no way at all I was going to be a factor in the remainder of the race. Andrea was drifting back at the same time, and before we knew it, the hill was topped out and we were chasing again.
Up ahead of us, Emma was able to organize a group to chase back on. Back where we were, we just time-trialed in a desperate attempt to find the pack again. We came close once, only to have them accelerate out of corner and away from us like a flock of Lycra-wearing birds. It was a frustrating reminder of how burnt we were.
Ultimately, Emma not only chased back on, but stuck right where she needed to be and took 8th, a real testament to how strong she’s become that she could not only keep me in the race far past the time I should have been and still contest the remainder of the race. (As a side note, the race was won by a triathlete doing her first road race, which just goes to show how keeping your nose in the wind isn’t always a bad thing!) Andrea & I trickled in a few minutes later, taking 19th and 21st. It’s back to the hill repeats for us….
And to be fair, the first 8 miles or so weren’t bad. Emma helped me stay with the pack, we were all in good position, it was excellent fun in a hill-climbing sort of way.
Second time around, not so much with the fun. As we climbed the hill to the feed zone (a hill I’d barely noted the first lap), I started to lose contact with the group. As Emma drifted backwards to try and get me, I yelled at her to stay where she was—there was no way at all I was going to be a factor in the remainder of the race. Andrea was drifting back at the same time, and before we knew it, the hill was topped out and we were chasing again.
Up ahead of us, Emma was able to organize a group to chase back on. Back where we were, we just time-trialed in a desperate attempt to find the pack again. We came close once, only to have them accelerate out of corner and away from us like a flock of Lycra-wearing birds. It was a frustrating reminder of how burnt we were.
Ultimately, Emma not only chased back on, but stuck right where she needed to be and took 8th, a real testament to how strong she’s become that she could not only keep me in the race far past the time I should have been and still contest the remainder of the race. (As a side note, the race was won by a triathlete doing her first road race, which just goes to show how keeping your nose in the wind isn’t always a bad thing!) Andrea & I trickled in a few minutes later, taking 19th and 21st. It’s back to the hill repeats for us….
posted by liz @ 9:33 PM
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