I wasn't sure what would happen with my race season after the array of injuries I was victim to. The 5 weeks I missed of training hurt. But, I was already signed up, so I went for it.
June 28th I raced in the WildCat 100 (66 mile race). I had barely been on the bike, I was having some shoulder pain, and I couldn't do any front wheel lifts. I decided to just take it easy, and get off any place I felt I was a fall risk. The day turned out to be super hot, in the low 90s with high humidity. Fortunately this course isn't super tough. There's a bit of climbing and some technical places, but not bad at all. Even with my broken body and feeling uneasy just being back on the bike, I was able to make it through all 66 miles. I was the first and only female finisher!! I won a real nice new helmet.
July 19th was the Carrabassett Backcountry Challenge. Now that's another story. The course is really tough. Lots of technical, lots of steep up and down, and the thickest mud you can imagine. I had gotten in a few rides, but I was still feeling limited. No front wheel lifts. I was still having pain every day, so I knew falling (which I always do on this course!) put me at a high risk for re-injuring myself. I decided at any place I felt I was a fall risk I was just going to be super cautious. Fortunately it was about 10 degrees cooler than at WildCat, though still hot enough to feel lousy out in the hot sun. I had gotten in a few decent rides, but I was still a bit uneasy after those 5 weeks off. I tried a front wheel lift once, and it didn't work. My shoulders are both still not back to normal. It was a long, slow day, but I'm really happy to say I finished it. I was probably an hour slower than I would have been if I had not been hurt, but I made it through a hard 63 miles. 5 women started, 4 finished and I was 4th. Who cares! No one, myself included, would have thought I would even be on a bike at this point!
Next up: the 12 hours of Millstone on saturday the 26th. I've never ridden there, but from what I read it's super technical. Wish me luck! I leave you with a couple pictures of the course in Carrabassett Valley.
June 28th I raced in the WildCat 100 (66 mile race). I had barely been on the bike, I was having some shoulder pain, and I couldn't do any front wheel lifts. I decided to just take it easy, and get off any place I felt I was a fall risk. The day turned out to be super hot, in the low 90s with high humidity. Fortunately this course isn't super tough. There's a bit of climbing and some technical places, but not bad at all. Even with my broken body and feeling uneasy just being back on the bike, I was able to make it through all 66 miles. I was the first and only female finisher!! I won a real nice new helmet.
July 19th was the Carrabassett Backcountry Challenge. Now that's another story. The course is really tough. Lots of technical, lots of steep up and down, and the thickest mud you can imagine. I had gotten in a few rides, but I was still feeling limited. No front wheel lifts. I was still having pain every day, so I knew falling (which I always do on this course!) put me at a high risk for re-injuring myself. I decided at any place I felt I was a fall risk I was just going to be super cautious. Fortunately it was about 10 degrees cooler than at WildCat, though still hot enough to feel lousy out in the hot sun. I had gotten in a few decent rides, but I was still a bit uneasy after those 5 weeks off. I tried a front wheel lift once, and it didn't work. My shoulders are both still not back to normal. It was a long, slow day, but I'm really happy to say I finished it. I was probably an hour slower than I would have been if I had not been hurt, but I made it through a hard 63 miles. 5 women started, 4 finished and I was 4th. Who cares! No one, myself included, would have thought I would even be on a bike at this point!
Next up: the 12 hours of Millstone on saturday the 26th. I've never ridden there, but from what I read it's super technical. Wish me luck! I leave you with a couple pictures of the course in Carrabassett Valley.