It feels good to be back, after 13 days of busy travel and racing and being sick.
Apparently my poor performance in Vermont was a combination of allergies, asthma and coming down with an upper respiratory infection. I started antibiotics about a week ago (thanks to my allergist who takes very good care of me!)
The days in between VT and our trip to World Cup at Mont Saint Anne, QC were good. Spent time with family, friends and did some work, ate some really good food, etc. However, I was coughing and hacking and feeling generally crappy. Had some emotional moments once I realized that I might not be able to race the World Cup and reflecting on my terrible performances in Vermont. My parents and Greg and Teri did a good job convincing me to just give it my best shot. Greg told me that even if I lined up at the start, and couldn't even do 1 lap, I was still going to try!
Gareth had me take it easy most of the week to try to recover from my illness. Therefore on Friday at Mt St Anne, I could only do a visual inspection of parts of the race course. Knowing I would pre-ride Saturday AM, then race on Sunday I was ok with this. Greg and I watched the Quebec Cup race on Friday and I was able to pick out some lines I would take through the technical sections when I could finally ride it. Meggan and Teri were out pre-riding Fri evening and Greg and I went out again for more visual inspection.
Saturday AM I was eager to get out and pre-ride even though I was still feeling asthmatic and quite congested. Meggan told me it was OK if I had to stop and hack :o). I definately took advantage of it. Teri, Meggan and I did a few laps of the short, yet highly technical course. I really enjoyed being out there pre-riding with all of the other pros. Got to see many of my favorites on the men's and women's side.
The course was only 5k in length, and would end up taking the top female races only 20 minutes to complete. yes that means people were going to be lapped. My goal was to stay in as long as I could. I knew that being sick that could mean only 1 or even 2 laps. Who knows! There were a few sections where we would have to dismount and walk, but also alot of fun root/rock/mud sections where we rode. I must say other than the heat and humidity and allergens, I LOVE EAST COAST RIDING! It's REAL MOUNTAIN BIKING!
Sunday was the race! I was nervous because I still didn't feel great, but was excited to just get to try! They called all of us to the start line (there were around 80 women). The race started out SUPER fast and my legs tried to answer as best they could given the situation. It was going to be a tough race! The spectators certainly kept me going. It was just as I had imagined and seen in Off Road to Athens. Fans were ALL over the course, shouting, clapping, cheering in different languages (mostly French) and were very excited to be there. In the end I only survived 2 laps before being pulled, but didn't finish last and met a cool gal from New Zealand who was ALSO sick and gave the race a try just like me.
Highlights of the day:
1. Being called up to the start line in French "Numero soixante-dix-huit, aux Etats-Unis... Christie Pleiss"
2. The amazing spectators! "Allez! Allez! Allons-y! UP UP UP! Let's go!"
3. The spectators who were actually shouting out my name! It took my a while to figure this one out, but I remembered Heather telling me that some people will call your name when you come by!
4. Greg got to be feeder for me, Teri, Dara Marks-Marino (she finsihed 21st even after a bad crash!), Zeph and Heather . He did a great job! I know that Joy would have really liked this job too. NEXT YEAR JOY!
5. Watching Marie-Helene Premont beat Gunn-Rita with nearly a 1 minute gap! Teri and I were right at the finish line to watch this. It was an emotional sight and seeing Marie-Helene take the win over Gunn-Rita a 2nd year in a row in her own home race was AWESOME!
**** 6. Seeing Mary McConneloug get a solid 5th place podium finish!!!!!!!!
Overall, it was an awesome experience and I would definatley do it again. Hopefully I will be healthy this time and can stay in the race longer before being pulled! Nearly 1/2 of the field was pulled out of the race before the final lap! In the men's race even MORE were pulled out and some only did 1 lap!
Photos to come SOON!
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
A Weekend of Highs and Lows
Well, NORBA #3 Mt Snow is complete, but didn't pan out as I had planned. In the end, it was a fun weekend, got to see family and friends and had a great time with Teri and Joy. In the end, my performance had nothing to do with family and friends being present over the weekend. Race-wise, it was a terrible weekend for me. I guess I forgot how bad allergy season is out here! I got hit HARD with allergies and asthma.
Here is a short list of the BAD THINGS that happened to me this past weekend:
1. Back wheel BROKE at the hub during 2nd pre-ride (good thing I pre-rode 2x, however in the end it wouldn't even matter). Thanks to Joy for sharing her wheel with me.
2. Shifting problems (thanks to SRAM for sorting those out for me and thanks to Shimano for trueing Joy's wheel for me before the XC race!)
3. Leg cramps (i actually had to get off my bike during the race! that has NEVER HAPPENED TO ME). Who knows!
4. Crashed on lap 1 and handlebar was caught in my frame. That was really the start of the end for me in the XC race. Threw off my mojo completely.
5. The final straw: Asthma attack on the final lap of XC did me in. It was the worst attack I have had in years. I had to pull the plug on the race at that point. Wasn't sure if it would happen again, and I still had a while to go. It was emotional and hard to decide to pull out of the race. My family and friends in attendance, I had wanted them to see me do well. They still love me and are still just a proud. I think it was fun for them to see what this racing thing is all about. I know they all have a new appreciation for everything goes into it.
6. Allergies were terrible as soon as I arrived in Vermont. it carried into the Short track on Sunday, sore throat like when I have strep throat! Raced anyways, and at least I got some points for the series in STXC. Wasn't a good race for me, but at least I tried.
The GOOD THINGs that happened this past weekend:
1. Family and friends came to see me race: Mom, Dad, Marsha, Lydia, David, Noble, Liz, Mike, Jen, Drew, Seth, Karen, Mandy, Dan and Joey! Quite a turnout!
2. Joy took one for the team and gave me her wheel during pre-ride and walked all the way down the mountain with my broken wheel. In return, her wheel is going to be racing with me at the Mt St Anne World Cup this weekend ( as long as my allergies will CHILL OUT).
3. LOVED the XC course at VT. Prob the best XC course I have ever been on . Loved the technical roots, rocks, mud, etc! the hardtail did just fine and I was pleased with how I handled the tech sections. It was really really fun.
4. During the XC race, Adam Craig passed by me and said "Hey.. is James here?". it took me a second to figure out what he meant and that he was talking to me. Adam is roommates with my teammate James Williams and recognized our team kits. I was so excited and so tired all I could say was "James... here.... yes". hahaha.
Greg and I are still in NY (back home with family) until tomorrow. Tomorrow we will drive up to Quebec and shift gears towards another race weekend (WORLD CUP... eeek!). My goal, get over these allergies, pre-ride as much as possible and just do my best during Sunday's XC race. It's going to be a different race altogehter, even faster and possibly even more technical.
Here is a short list of the BAD THINGS that happened to me this past weekend:
1. Back wheel BROKE at the hub during 2nd pre-ride (good thing I pre-rode 2x, however in the end it wouldn't even matter). Thanks to Joy for sharing her wheel with me.
2. Shifting problems (thanks to SRAM for sorting those out for me and thanks to Shimano for trueing Joy's wheel for me before the XC race!)
3. Leg cramps (i actually had to get off my bike during the race! that has NEVER HAPPENED TO ME). Who knows!
4. Crashed on lap 1 and handlebar was caught in my frame. That was really the start of the end for me in the XC race. Threw off my mojo completely.
5. The final straw: Asthma attack on the final lap of XC did me in. It was the worst attack I have had in years. I had to pull the plug on the race at that point. Wasn't sure if it would happen again, and I still had a while to go. It was emotional and hard to decide to pull out of the race. My family and friends in attendance, I had wanted them to see me do well. They still love me and are still just a proud. I think it was fun for them to see what this racing thing is all about. I know they all have a new appreciation for everything goes into it.
6. Allergies were terrible as soon as I arrived in Vermont. it carried into the Short track on Sunday, sore throat like when I have strep throat! Raced anyways, and at least I got some points for the series in STXC. Wasn't a good race for me, but at least I tried.
The GOOD THINGs that happened this past weekend:
1. Family and friends came to see me race: Mom, Dad, Marsha, Lydia, David, Noble, Liz, Mike, Jen, Drew, Seth, Karen, Mandy, Dan and Joey! Quite a turnout!
2. Joy took one for the team and gave me her wheel during pre-ride and walked all the way down the mountain with my broken wheel. In return, her wheel is going to be racing with me at the Mt St Anne World Cup this weekend ( as long as my allergies will CHILL OUT).
3. LOVED the XC course at VT. Prob the best XC course I have ever been on . Loved the technical roots, rocks, mud, etc! the hardtail did just fine and I was pleased with how I handled the tech sections. It was really really fun.
4. During the XC race, Adam Craig passed by me and said "Hey.. is James here?". it took me a second to figure out what he meant and that he was talking to me. Adam is roommates with my teammate James Williams and recognized our team kits. I was so excited and so tired all I could say was "James... here.... yes". hahaha.
Greg and I are still in NY (back home with family) until tomorrow. Tomorrow we will drive up to Quebec and shift gears towards another race weekend (WORLD CUP... eeek!). My goal, get over these allergies, pre-ride as much as possible and just do my best during Sunday's XC race. It's going to be a different race altogehter, even faster and possibly even more technical.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Why Bother!
Well things WERE going well until we had to race in some of the hottest temps/conditions I have ever raced in (almost as bad as Bonelli 2004, but at least this time I didn't DNF). I need to revisit my hydration/electrolyte plan, and even my food plan because my stomach was in turmoil during the race. Some may ask why we would actually do a race in near 100 degree temps, I am asking myself that same question! HOWEVER, I learned that I need to take a step back and evaluate my race nutrition.
I felt good at the start and surprisingly excited to go out and race, but soon into the first lap, my stomach started churning. It was not pleased with me. It was unbelievably hot, with little wind. I quickly fell out of 2nd place; descending down the bumpy trail just made my sidestiches and stomach discomfort worse.
After a couple laps I started to feel somewhat better, although I felt like the heat just ate up all of my power. There were a few climbs were it literally felt like we were on fire. The last climb of the 3rd (out of 4) laps, I started to get disoriented/dizzy and more nauseous. I had a bottle mishap where I didn't get a bottle before the 3rd lap started which may have thrown me off. However, I am not sure it would have helped. I did feel thirsty which is never a good sign! I knew it would lead to problems. At one point I felt like I was going to vomit, but it subsided.
On lap 4, even after being cooled off with hoses by spectators, my body was just shutting down. I was sort of delirious, but do remember hearing Bert's name called out over the loud speaker as starting his 5th lap and kicking butt in semi pro (as usual!). It was sort of like an out of body experience at that point! Other girls started to pass me and I basically knew it was just not my day. I saw Joy and told her to hurry up and pass me because "everyone else was doing it". The cramps were getting bad enough where I just couldn't push like I wanted to. People pulled away from me pretty quickly on that last lap :o) However, It was fun to get to see Teri and Joy have a good day (well Joy's was good until the drive home, and when she discovered her sunburn through her jersey .. see http://joyonbike.blogspot.com for more!)
Congrats to Teri for being a great teammate out there and staying positive and smiling finishing 3rd. She deserved the podium for sure! I knew right away that her attitude and sportsmanship was stellar and I was hoping she would make it to the podium. Also congrats to Mandy who took a solid 2nd place! I closed out the field in 4th place.
Congrats to Jeremy who did great in his sport race, taking home another medal. 4th out of 15 riders.
Also James who was called up to the start line as a leader in his class. THAT WAS AWESOME to hear! Thanks to James for being a great friend and support no matter what (and for helping my friends). I decided to be silly and run in my flip flops along side James on his last lap.
Bert once again kicked butt out there! He's amazing!
Thanks to everyone who cheered for me and poured water bottles on me. Roger, Vanessa, James, Mary Ellen, who knows who else! I can't remember because I was delerious. Chris was out there cheering in a good spot, I am sure everyone who saw me out there, knew it was apparently my turn to have a bad day! Thanks for the support anyways and it means alot.
Next stops: NORBA #3 Mount Snow Vermont and UCI World Cup XC #5: Mt St Anne, Quebec, Canada.
I am bringing my laptop so race reports should happen promptly!
I felt good at the start and surprisingly excited to go out and race, but soon into the first lap, my stomach started churning. It was not pleased with me. It was unbelievably hot, with little wind. I quickly fell out of 2nd place; descending down the bumpy trail just made my sidestiches and stomach discomfort worse.
After a couple laps I started to feel somewhat better, although I felt like the heat just ate up all of my power. There were a few climbs were it literally felt like we were on fire. The last climb of the 3rd (out of 4) laps, I started to get disoriented/dizzy and more nauseous. I had a bottle mishap where I didn't get a bottle before the 3rd lap started which may have thrown me off. However, I am not sure it would have helped. I did feel thirsty which is never a good sign! I knew it would lead to problems. At one point I felt like I was going to vomit, but it subsided.
On lap 4, even after being cooled off with hoses by spectators, my body was just shutting down. I was sort of delirious, but do remember hearing Bert's name called out over the loud speaker as starting his 5th lap and kicking butt in semi pro (as usual!). It was sort of like an out of body experience at that point! Other girls started to pass me and I basically knew it was just not my day. I saw Joy and told her to hurry up and pass me because "everyone else was doing it". The cramps were getting bad enough where I just couldn't push like I wanted to. People pulled away from me pretty quickly on that last lap :o) However, It was fun to get to see Teri and Joy have a good day (well Joy's was good until the drive home, and when she discovered her sunburn through her jersey .. see http://joyonbike.blogspot.com for more!)
Congrats to Teri for being a great teammate out there and staying positive and smiling finishing 3rd. She deserved the podium for sure! I knew right away that her attitude and sportsmanship was stellar and I was hoping she would make it to the podium. Also congrats to Mandy who took a solid 2nd place! I closed out the field in 4th place.
Congrats to Jeremy who did great in his sport race, taking home another medal. 4th out of 15 riders.
Also James who was called up to the start line as a leader in his class. THAT WAS AWESOME to hear! Thanks to James for being a great friend and support no matter what (and for helping my friends). I decided to be silly and run in my flip flops along side James on his last lap.
Bert once again kicked butt out there! He's amazing!
Thanks to everyone who cheered for me and poured water bottles on me. Roger, Vanessa, James, Mary Ellen, who knows who else! I can't remember because I was delerious. Chris was out there cheering in a good spot, I am sure everyone who saw me out there, knew it was apparently my turn to have a bad day! Thanks for the support anyways and it means alot.
Next stops: NORBA #3 Mount Snow Vermont and UCI World Cup XC #5: Mt St Anne, Quebec, Canada.
I am bringing my laptop so race reports should happen promptly!
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