timpani, a nice end to an ass kicker of a week.

5 days, 4 races. sounds like a bad idea....i thought that too last night. but i am happy i didn't listen to "reason", cause now i am $55 up! plus this big tub of energy drink powder. i've never used that energy drink stuff - just good ol' tap water for me - but now i can try the rave of "electrolytes".

Let me just say Michiko is a rock-star. She told me I should do this race cause she thought it suits me - four corners, flat, wide roads -- also known as easy. (What is she trying to say?! haha.) Michiko was awesome enough to drive my sorry ass to Mountain View this morning, set up my bike, and then clean my chain. She is officially the best teammate ever, despite us being unattached.

I made sure to warm up long cause I was feeling a bit tired from those match sprints yesterday. I only did 5 or 6 full-on sprints, which probably is only around a mile of exercise...so I don't know why I was so tired last night. Once I got back on the bike, though, I felt good...minus a really sore crotch and a smelly jersey and shorts. I need to buy more shorts. I only have 2 pairs, and I hate one...and one pair of biking shorts is not enough. But I digress - the race.

Race started, I pretty much hung back and sat in. Things were pretty mellow the whole time - no attacks, which was good for me cause I didn't put myself in good position if there was one. The race felt so mellow and easy compared to those track races with the guys where I think my lungs are going to explode. There was a pretty bad crash at one point. Katie, I hope you are okay! We neutralized, then started racing again. Things didn't really pick up until just before the last lap. Here, I was in bad position and kept bridging up to get myself in better position-- I wasted a lot of energy that last lap from being stupid the whole race. I should have been in better pack position so I didn't miss that jump. Christy - from Eastside who I met at Berkeley Hills - jumped early before the turn. I was still a good ways back. Then it was the final straight away and I was on the inside of the turn, then I hit it after the turn for a long sprint ahead. Except I was a real moron and didn't catch anyones wheel and just sprinted up the right side of the road. I passed some people, then I passed Christy. Then I thought I had the win, but just at the line I saw someone on the other side of the road take it just an inch or so ahead of me. Had I seen her earlier, I think I could have kicked it more, but so it goes. Anyway, 2nd was pretty good, but I know I need to work better on my positioning. Mike was officiating - I see him a lot at the track, and he told me I really need to be smarter on my positioning. I really wasn't smart this race and was just pretty lucky. Also, my cornering is slow, and is something I need to work on a lot this winter. Good thing I don't have to turn on the track.

I am glad I did this race, cause it was going to be my last crit/road race this year. I was thinking of not doing it cause of my crazy track racing week, but glad I did - cause $55 is awesome and Michiko and I went out for lunch. I was supposed to win her the prime, but I didn't even go for it. Sorry. I'll get one next year I promise!

I figured cause I raced so much this week I didn't need to cool down. I feel fine today, so I guess that didn't matter much. Cool down, schmool down.