A lesson learned and an epic battle with Yvonne………Janet writes in, fresh off a solid showing at the Senior Olympics.

Enjoy….

Subject: Sr. Olymics

Hi Austin,

Well, the races are over, and I did not meet my one goal of coming home with four gold medals….. It happened in the 40k race. It started out fine, there were three of us drafting a new gal who didn’t know what was happening. I actually felt sorry for her, we were using her. She really wasn’t going very fast, but no one wanted to jump ahead. We had picked up a couple men who had started a minute before us, and latched themselves on to our pace line. Yvonne was one gal I was determined to beat in all races, she was right on my wheel in both races. We got to 500 meters and I took off, leaving the line behind, I felt elated…I was leaving Yvonne way behind– but I didn’t know my one competitor was also in the line and came up when I took off. She came up on my left side and just before the line I saw her wheel, she beat me by 4 tenths of a sec. The worst part was, I was
so sure I was ahead that I had let up before the finish line just enough to let Bobbi get me. Man, did I ever feel awful…such a disappointment. I know I could have beat her if I had just kept my legs going past the finish line. That was Wednesday. I felt better Thursday morning and went all out on the 10k tt. I beat Yvonne by over two minutes and was the second fastest gal of all ages. I also had beat Yvonne in the 5K TT on Wednesday morning by two and a half minutes, again the second fastest. Thursday afternoon was the 20K race. I was rather tired by this time and wasn’t sure how I would do (once I got going I was fine). I didn’t want Yvonne to get on my wheel again as I knew she wouldn’t take turns pulling. And that is just what happened, on my wheel again, but there was another gal that we latched on to. Two others took off ahead of us, one we never did see again. But the yellow jersey gal was a little too far ahead, I was afraid to use that much energy to go around and try to catch her, I knew Yvonne would be on my wheel the whole way. So I waited. Finally the gal who had been pulling all this time asked if I would lead, of course I said ok (this was the time). I laid it on a little faster than we had been going and slowly was catching up to the yellow jersey. When almost there I looked back and Yvonne and the other gal weren’t there! They had dropped way behind…. That made my day. I followed Yellow Jersey’s wheel from then on, up to the 500m mark, which was slightly up hill. I then took off around her and left her in the dust. Again I came in the second fastest of all age groups. Only a 57 year old beat me in the three races (40k exception, two beat me, one was my age) All in all I had a good two days. I learned a valuable lesson this week, and it won’t ever happen again. I will never stop peddling until I am well past the finish line……

My heart rate got up to 172 in the 10K TT this morning and 170 in the 5K TT. 165 in the 40K race and 170 in the 20K race. For the first time we had chips on our ankles to record the time. It really worked well and so much easier than trying to see numbers and calling them out. Especially the men who had bunch finishes. I have the times and ages of all the riders. If you are interested I can send them to you. It’s just us old folks, but we have a great time and make many lasting friendships. I will be going to the Nationals in Louisville, KY next June 22-July 3.

Janet

Check out my “Thoughts From Janet” page for more.

Categories: Daily Jibber Jabber.
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