Catching Up

I would love to post more photos of us and the race, but there is not a photographer here really covering that area. All I have for you now are screen shots of results & prep. Here in Spartanburg, SC after our 3 hour drive, a spin and course preview, and some early dinner. I am really sleepy and tired. I could easily close my eyes and take a nap, but I will fill you in on the happenings up to this point.
We are quietly nestled into our host housing and finally have web access so I can update you.

Last nights race was really smooth and fast.
We averaged 25.1 mph, a total of 23.7 miles, 56.32 minutes, and I had a max of 32.8.
I felt great and was looking to go with a break about 1/3 of the way through the race, however, I think Vanderkitten was not represented and we quickly came back. Up to the halfway point there were consistent attacks by TT1, Vanderkitten, Jittery Joes, and Tibco. Colovita would try to preserve their crew by covering and setting up for the sprint.

A finishing stretch crash found Tina Pic on the ground around 1/2 way through the race. No apparent reason other than the touching of wheels, she would return to take 2nd. Primes were plentiful and I just sat on my heels thinking that I had the finish to look forward to.
With 3 to go, TT1 animated the pack and quickly sent a rider off the front. She would be reeled in and away we would go...for 2 more laps.

Let me tell you a little about the course. You start and some 25 meters you bank a left, then a right and into the first real right hand turn. For half a block you motor, in or out of saddle, depending on where you were in the pack. You then hang an open bank to the right and it opens up to an approx. 3 block street that we ripped at 27-30 mph into a right hand constricted turn. Much like an alleyway, it was sprint out of that corner and wait to see who slams on their brakes at the last turn. The best possible position was no further back than 6th or 7th hole. The last turn came at you like a sneeze and the barriers broke your speed if you found someone pushing you to the outside. Out of the last turn was always out of the saddle effort.

So...3 laps to go..the calm before the storm. With 2 laps to go it seemed as if the teams were organizing. Tibco had set their sites on the front end and the pace hit the fan..I had missed the necessary moved this lap to put myself in the fire and play with the speed on the front end and the two last turns.

Okay...I HAVE guts and nerve, but for once, I think I choked. It took me a split second to think twice about it and guess what, I didn't have to worry about it because my ass was on fire trying to make up ground after a pinched corner. "Now Carrie", I say to myself, "why are you here when you know you belong up there?" No wonder you are hoofing it for the last 2 turns. With no recourse, I hit the last two turns with all I could, in the position I was in, from there. 21st.
Hmmm, pull it out? Yeah. What I thought.

It takes longer to catch up from behind than it does to think about making others catch up. I am catching up on all this from the inside out perspective.
All in all, I felt great, held great position the whole race and would love a rematch.

Who's that Spartan in my TeePee?

Don't Stop..Get It, Get It.

We parked next to a cute little bed and breakfast at the corner of Canton and Newstead in Beaufort, SC. As we are getting our bikes unloaded and gear on, a lady leans over the railing and comments on our saddles and then the conversation of the race begins.
We love it when we get the chance to educate the community about the sport we love so much.

The little town was being transformed into a fast and furious little crit course


in the matter of a half hour. The Swagger crew does their job and they do it well. Thanks to all the hands and to Ashley for making for such a great venue.

I climb aboard my trusty CAT, okay so this one, to go retrieve my number from registration and a new Rudy helmet that Colovita would be kind enough to give me to protect my noggin. Thank you Iona and girls. The fact that you cared not only to notice, but to also offer a solution. Indeed my Bell Sweep was looking a little weather beaten in the back, from the hours of bag travel.

The Race...yes, yes...It was a crap shoot to the first turn, sprint and stay hooked. Small, bottle necked, left turn into a alley sized street, 2 blocks long. Out of the saddle and strung out from the very first turn, I beared down for a what would be a very active and brisk race. The race averaged 24.3 for 1:11 minutes and 28.92 miles. My max was only 31.8, which would explain my placing or the fact that I lost the mid race prime to Laura Van Gilder.
I have to hand it to Laura, alone and on the defensive at all times, she definitely sticks her neck out there to keep it real.

Early attack attempts by Laura Bowles(Vanderkitten), Melissa Sanborn(Vanderkitten) Jennifer Rassmussen(LifeSport) and Nicki Waansgard(Colovita) eventually would come back. I only thought to myself once about going with Jen and Nicki, but felt sitting sheltered and motoring was a better plan for these legs today.

As we neared the final 3 laps I jocked for my last position to hold. 2 laps to go...a quick brush between Melissa Sandborn(Vanderkitten) and Rebecca Larson(Jittery Joes), I held spot. One lap to go and I buried my sites on noone passing for the 3/4 of the lap left until the 200 meter finish. The line, the line!!! I jumped off of the few ahead of me and found to my right a very tall, Altarum racer that was closing the hole that I was headed toward. I regrouped and made my last jump. I made up a couple of spots and thrilled to poke myself into the top ten.

The dynamics that were shown by Vanderkitten and TT1 were amazing, however, I have to say, it is a pleasure to see the strategy and execution of "game" demonstrated by Colovita/Sutter Home for the win.

Our hosts, The Flemings, were the fantastic Team Supporters for the fast race. Thank you for cheering and the wonderful shrimp and chicken pesto pasta for dinner. We enjoyed sharing a piece of our world and hearing about yours.

We hope to have more photos to post, but the photographers were hiding I think.
In the car and on to Walterboro...

Roswell Redemption

So I missed my big break...or THE break. However, the race was smooth (only 2 crashes, one of which impeded both other Team Rev riders). Averaging 25mph, the primes were plentiful and the action consistent. Once the break was established the field settled in for a few laps to gather their thoughts. I maintained position at around 6-10th hole, keeping my eye on the accelerations and counter attempts. With Tibco, Colovita, and TT1 all represented in the break, any attacks were quickly shut down.
I hear the announcer(Dave Towle)....or did I?...
"$200 prime on the next lap"
As I crossed the line ahead of the pack, for what I thought was a nice stipend to the day, I hear him say something garbled about a prime on the next lap....."are you kidding?, I am off the front, just went for a prime that really wasn't there and now they shout out the correct lap" All of this my fault I know, but nonetheless frustrating.

The dynamic of the race was great and fun to catch how well the Tibco and Colovita squads maneuver for positioning. Somewhat like a nice game of NASCAR. In and out at will, up and back...attack, attack. Team Type 1 delivered great prescence in both the break(Jen McRae and Kori Seehaefer) and the pack.

With 4 laps to go, I ready myself for the final effort of the day. The work at hand. Somewhere between 3 and 2 laps to go...I have a bit of a flurry and miss my move up. Going into turn 3 on the last lap, I shoot up the right side and tag onto the lead 10 riders. The last turn opens up and the 300 meters to the slightly downhill finish is upon me...I jump and take 10th in the field sprint. Not stellar, but I will take 19th today with a smile. I rode well to stay atop of all the mess and came out with a little cash to boot.
For an old lady with 2 kids(Gavin & Aubrey),
a parttime day job, and a passion for racing, I am happy to be here and enjoying some great racing with my teammate and companion, Chris Roettger.

Athen Twilight--Giddy Up!

So the "real" season starts off, not like a gunshot, but more like a cannon.
Last nights race was a real humbling experience for me. I have raced with these girls, against these teams, etc. etc. this past year and held my own and mixed it up at times, but...I just didn't have the mustard that was necessary at the defining moment.


The image does not contain me....bt shows the grit on everyones faces.
It all began with position, position, position. From staging, to call ups, and the to the starting airhorn. As we jetted off the line, a pinch of a Kenda rider was just to my front, and I know it cost me some 10 spots at least into the first corner, when I was already looking at some needed ground to make up from where I started.

Strung out, sprints on the backstretch hill and the finish side hill, my Aerocat and I dug and put ourselves in the moment. The corners were not my problem, only the constant interval, after interval sprinting up the backside hill. I eventually eased off the back when Jenn "JennX" Reither (Vanderkitten) slipped from my grasp and I was on the defensive thereafter.

I eventually was joined by a 3 other riders to try to close the gap. at 28 minutes, I could feel the follow moto breathing down our necks.

He would eventually retire me from the race. Sometimes you have a bad day...between Pollen and temp changes...I will take away that I gave it what I had and came up short.
Next stop....