Hotter n' Hell...Epic Weekend

This past Saturday I competed in my first ever road race with my Bad Kitty teammates, Lisa and Casey at Hotter n' Hell. This was actually the first road race for all three of us.  Our fearless leader, Shawn, helped us develop a solid race plan for this day.  While we all felt pretty confident in our abilities, the fear of the unknown was still  there.

As we lined up I was scoping out the competition.  Some of these girls looked strong, but I really didn't know what each was capable of.  There were about 25 women racing the cat 4 100K with us.  The race didn't start out as I had expected.  It was SLOWWWW!!! We were cruising along at about 15-16 mph for the first few mile.  It certainly didn't feel like a race.  My team's job was not to ride up front and set the pace, so we sat in and tried to maintain our position peloton.

The pace did eventually pick up, but it wasn't too bad.  When more than one girl tried to break away, we chased, and then the pace settled again! Even though we weren't riding all that hard most of the time, we couldn't let our guard down for a second.  We were constantly watching the girls in front, and of course, we couldn't forget about the girls in the back of us. You never knew when someone was going to make a move. This race was probably more mentally exhausting than physically exhausting.

The only setback in the race came around mile 40 when Casey broke a couple of spokes on her front wheel.  I'm not sure exactly what happened, but during a turn I felt something on the heel of my shoe and wheel.  When I looked back Casey was getting off her bike.  Man, I sure hated leaving her behind, but that was part of the plan. We couldn't stop for her...we just had to keep riding.  The wheel truck was right behind us so she could get a new wheel and continue.  Unfortunately, she never made it back to the pack.  She described it as an individual 20 mile time trial.  It wasn't a complete loss for Casey.  She's competing in a triathlon in a few days, so it turned into a good training day.  At that point it was just Lisa and me.  I knew I had to keep her in a good position to sprint it in at the end of the race even if it meant burning every last one of my matches. Fortunately, I was still feeling great, and so was Lisa.

The last few miles was really where the race picked up.  A few of the girls were trying to separate the pack, but we worked together and managed to stay in.  Lisa began making her way away from me and got closer to the front so that she was in the best possible position for the final sprint.  The girl was looking strong!!  We really started pushing hard during that last couple of kilometer. During the final sprint, Lisa got far enough a head of me that I could no longer see her. I was pushing as hard as I could.  It felt like my heart was going to explode. I heard another racer screaming at me to keep pushing.  It turns out that it was a girl who beat me at a crit weeks earlier named Missy.  I can't tell you how much I appreciated the push. Thanks Missy!!

After I crossed the finish line I found Lisa. SHE GOT THIRD PLACE!!!  I was so excited!!!! We did it!  Our goal was to get her on the podium and we succeeded! We executed our plan and it worked!  I was more than pleased with my own results as well.  I was only 6 seconds off Lisa and 8 seconds off the first place winner.  It turns out that all three women who made it on the podium were first time road racers. We completed our race in just under 3 hours.  The wind can be an ugly factor at this race, but this year it really wasn't an issue.

Casey came just a few minutes later with a big smile on her face.  She didn't have the luxury of other rider to draft and work with during the last 20 or so miles, so she actually worked harder than any one else.  I saw her heart rate files...impressive! We hung out at the finish line for a bit before pedaling 3 miles back to town to the podium.  Words cannot explain how proud I was watching Lisa on the podium stage.  I was proud to see my friend up there, and I was proud to see Bad Kitty Meow Phat Kat Racing representing in our first big race.  The cold beer that we bought using prize money right after was truly the best tasting beer EVER.

The entire Hotter n' Hell experience was amazing. We had a great time and made a lot of new friends. For the most part, the women we raced with were encouraging and displayed great sportsmanship. I learned a quite a bit from these very strong riders.  I'll spend the next few weeks working on a few things in preparation for Texas State Road Races at the end of September.

We couldn't have done what we did without so many people helping and encouraging us along the way.  A big shout out goes to Shawn Jantzen for preparing us for this race.  He has taught us so much about racing and is truly our biggest supporter. He made me get on my bike on days I didn't want to ride, and he pushed me to ride harder when I didn't think I could. Our kit sponsor, Jakroo, made sure we looked good in the peloton. Lots of people commented on how awesome our kits looked! It is seriously the most comfortable kit I've ever worn. Our good friends at Gnar Lube  provided us with some sweet smelling chain lube.  We all know that a happy chain means a happy bike.  And of course, a big thanks goes out to Marinara Pizza in Plano, TX for fueling us up the weekend before our big race.

"I have always struggled to achieve excellence.  One thing that cycling has taught me is that if you can achieve something without a struggle it's not going to be satisfying." ~ Greg LeMond

        Me, Casey, and Lisa

Busy!! Busy!! Fun!! Fun!!

This summer is certainly shaping  up to be a an exciting one.  I recently began working on a few projects with my friend Shawn who is an avid cyclist and professional photographer. For a long time he has talked about starting a cycling team, and I'm excited to announce that Bad Kitty Meow Phat Kat Racing is officially up and running.  It's pretty excited to be a part of something new.  Earlier this week we got the first shipment of team kits.  They look amazing...lots of fun details!  It felt like Christmas when the FedEx truck pulled up with the goods. 

Last night was our first night to race under the new team name.  We headed out to the Thursday night crits at Fair Park.  The new kits did get some attention.  Lots of people commented on how good they looked, and we even got a few "Meows" as we rolled by.  

Just before the race started, big dark clouds began moving in and the temperatures dropped a bit.  It was nice to get a break from the blazing 100+ degree temperatures.  I felt better in last night's race than I have at any other crit.  I was able to stay with the pack a little longer than I have in the past. I was one of only 3 women in my race, so I don't feel so bad that most of the other cyclist were riding circles around me.  My friend and teammate, Lisa, was one of the other women, and she kicked butt! Go Lisa!! I'm getting more comfortable riding in the pack.  The turns still make me a little nervous, but I have to admit that I feel little bit like a bad ass when I'm able to take corners with riders only inches away from from me. 

I still have a lot of work to do, but I'm excited about this new adventure.  In August I'm racing...yes RACING... the 100 K at Hotter n' Hell.  I did the 100 mile rally there a few years ago, but this will be different.  I won't get to cruise into the rest stops to eat snow cones and take pictures. 

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in being a part of Bad Kitty Meow Phat Kat Racing.  We welcome men and women at all levels of cycling.  All you need to do to be part of club right  now is purchase a kit.  We have several options to choose from. Visit www.badkittymeow.com to order yours. 





If constellations had been named in the 20th century, I suppose we would see bicycles. ~ Professor Carl Sagan 

Crit Racing...A Whole New Adventure

I recently decided that I wanted to get into crit racing.  Basically, a crit (short for criterium) is a fast bike race race on a short course.  You go round and round for a specified amount of time.  This type of racing is completely different from the racing I do in triathlon. The point is to stay with the pack and NOT fall behind. It's hard racing from the start.

Last night I showed up for my first crit race at Fair Park.  I was there last week as a spectator, and I was super excited to be there this week participating.  I showed up in my official Dallas Racing/Park Place race kit.  I'm so excited to be a part of their team...they have certainly rolled out the welcome wagon. My road bike was finally getting some much deserved love after nearly two years of watching my tri bike have all the fun.  To make her feel (and look) better, I even treated her to some new race wheels so she would feel a little more legit. I'm not sure who was more excited to be racing, me or my bike. It really was good to be racing with her again.  I rode her in my first few triathlons.

I knew I was out of my league before the race started. I was one of a handful of women racing with a lot of men.  I was even lined up next to professional triathlete D'Ann Arthur.  Umm...really! At least I knew who would be kicking my butt and that I was in good company. I felt better knowing that my partner in crime, Casey, was right there with me as well.  It was her first crit too.

As soon as the race started I was in trouble.  I couldn't get my foot clipped into my pedal and I was dropped from the group shortly after the second turn.  Yes, it was that fast.  I tried to catch the pack, but just couldn't.  As I finished the first lap...way behind the pack, I was feeling a little deflated.  I really thought I would have been able to hold on for a little while.  There was even a point when I thought about quitting because I knew the pack would eventually lap me.  That's when I had one of my little "come to Jesus" meeting with myself.  I told myself that I would stop when the race was over or when the officials pulled me.  Quitting wouldn't make the next race any easier. They don't actually pull people from this race for getting lapped, so an early exit wasn't a possibility.  I was just going to have to keep riding hard.  And did I ever ride hard.  My heart rate was so high that I actually felt sick after a while. My lungs and legs were on fire!

At one point, one of the other girls in the race who had gotten dropped from pack, slowed down to give me some tips on cornering.  SERIOUSLY, this girl was nice enough to take time in a race to give a rookie some pointers!  Talk about making the new girl feel welcome. I cannot say enough about all the nice people out there.

The pack actually lapped me twice.  Each time I tried to tuck back in with them, but failed.  I couldn't even stay close enough to watch them to see how they handled things.  I am proud of the fact that I did stay vertical and I didn't cry.  It was nice to go home with all of my skin still attached to my body.

If I had know the outcome of last night's race, I probably would have waited a little longer before doing my first one, but I'm really glad that I did it.  The truth is, if I waited until I felt "ready", I would never make it to the starting line.  The whole experience was amazing.  Despite the suffering, which is more than I've suffered in ANY triathlon, I did have fun.  After the race I got to hang out and have a couple of cold beers with some great people. Like triathlon, I felt very welcomed in this new community.

I have a lot to learn and a lot of work ahead of me.  I need to get stronger, and I mean A LOT stronger if I want to be able to hang with the pack.  Since I have a little over two months before I go back to work, I have plenty of time work on my skills.  There are a ton of people from my team, Dallas Racing, as well as some great friends who have offered to help me out and give me advice.  This new adventure is just what I needed.  I love a challenge and can't wait to race again next week. 

As far as triathlon goes, I certainly am not throwing in the towel. I'm still running and swimming and getting ready for the X50 next month. I think the crit racing will be a fun way to improve my strength for triathlon.

I've been able to use my experience of triathlon to try to teach my students  lessons in goal setting and perseverance.  My experience in cycling will hopefully help me to teach them even more lessons.  Failures are only failures if you allow them to be.  They are opportunities to pick yourself up, take what you learned, and get back on the horse.  I will probably never be an elite level cyclist, but I'm determined to have fun and see just where this sport will take me.

A big thanks goes out to all my friends and family who are supporting me in this new venture. Congratulation to Casey Poe for being brave enough to start this adventure with me.

                                           Here is my picture right after the race. Thank you to
                                           teammate and friend Lisa Stone for letting me borrow
                                           her jersey since mine hasn't come in yet.


"Beyond pain there is a whole new universe of more pain." ~~ Jens Voigt