Thoughts after the Meeting

My mind was buzzing last night as some of us congregated at Chicora Alley. We will get minutes out soon. I would really encourage you to use the balance wheel in terms of your cycling capabilities. Put each element on one of the spokes. Be detailed. Instead of skills, give each skill needed to race, a spoke. Rate yourself......more importantly, get one or more of your team mates to rate you or look at the wheel with you. Remember, their perspective is often more accurate than yours. Unless you are currently a Tour rider, you will very likely have some flat spots in your wheel.

It is these flat spots that must be addressed for you to improve. Most folks want to work on the stuff at which they are already good. Champions train their limiters.

Two things came up last night that are heard very often:

* I am not a sprinter

* I am not a time trialer

Here's the truth. There are only two ways to win a race or even get on the podium. One is sprinting and the other is in a break away. If you get in a break, it usually requires sprinting to establish it and you must time trial to sustain it....either individually or in a multi person basis.

So if you can't do either, you might just as well go home! Or, hopefully practice these skills. We talked about clinics and embedding practice of these on TEAM training rides. It is imperative that we learn these skills.

After being in business several years I found that most people claim they have, let's say 20 years of experience. Really, they have 1 year of experience 20 times.

We are entering our second year. Our opportunities are to build on the tremendous success we had this year......in racing, 116 top finishes. This doesn't even count all the other great things we accomplished.

Let's make sure that in 2011, we create our second year of experience vs. repeating 2010!

We planted the seeds last night for great year.......see you on the podium.

Vista Grand Prix Crit Columbia, SC

My son Jeffrey wanted to do the race on Sunday. I thought what the heck, since I was already here, I should do the masters race and at least get a good work out. 1k 4 corners and a hill. I am not a crit racer and less a crit racer in pouring rain, so when the guy behind me nicks my wheel from behind in the third corner of the second lap and all I here is this crashing sound. I wonder at that point of the race what am I doing here? So there is this hill. No big deal, but when you have to fly over it 25 times (because someone had to attack almost every time) it starts to hurt. I bit my teeth together and finished the race. 4th overall (+35) and 3rd in my age group (+45). Even received a medal.

Tour of the Carolinas

After 6 days of premier Carolina terrain, we ended with a ride with George. Many of TEAM headstrong were along to celebrate the 26th for Wein.

Earlier in the week, we had the group out and Bird was back at a convenience store. G noted that instinctively the other headstrong riders waited back for him. Today, Mel flatted and Sam and Perry pulled over to stay with him. I guess it these little things that make me thankful for our team and each of you. Sam/Perry, thankyou for helping Mel!

The tour encompassed 400+ miles and 20,000 ft of climbing. Everybody kept the wheels down and had great time!

2010 Top Rider of the Year (IMHO) --- Team Headstrong

Giselle Weekes.... Nationals Podium 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, State Champion RR, ITT... Cover Girl.....

Awesome.....

The picture above appeared in Hincapie Sports annual Team Kit Brochure. The kits were designed by our own Mel Dias, Samantha Smith and Christina Maddox. We are proud Giselle and our kits were chosen by Hincapie for their brochure!

City of Greenville CYCLING NEWS update

Those of us that live and ride in Greenville will be very encouraged to learn of the undertakings of the city in promoting itself as a bike friendly place to live and ride. Please take the time to research the information that is covered in the following link. It speaks to the initiative, the bike friendly comunity and the bike friendly business designation. The Greenville Powers-at-Be have provided bicycle maps (roads, mountain and trails), as well as oportunities for training/development such as Traffic Skills 101 (learning how to ride on a road), as well as the legal side of driving and sharing the road with cyclists. There is also information on Greenville's mass transit move to incorporate bike racks on the city buses.

This site has many downloadable forms and brochures for you to utilize and/or share with longtime cyclists and beginners.

http://www.greenvillesc.gov/ParksRec/Trails/bikeville.aspx

A big THANK YOU for Andrew Meeker, Urban Designer for designating many roads with "Sharrows" (graphic of Arrow and Bike--sharing of the road between cars and bikes).

Farewell, but Not Goodbye

As a few of you may already know, the State RR was my last race for Team headstrong. I have decided to ride for Kenda next season. This has been an awesome year for me, you guys have pushed me to do things I never thought possible. Although we will be on competing teams next year (watch out G), I will always consider every member of headstrong a friend. I will miss being your temmate. How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.

State RR Congrats

I just wanted to congratulate everybody on their awesome performances on Saturday! I especially wanted to thank all the cat 4 woman who really sacrificed for me out there. I only regret that I couldn't win it in the end, but I have a bone to pick with Courtney in future races--I'll get her next time or at least make her work for it =-)!!!

p.s. I apologize for seeming melancholy at the awards. I was actually felling really bad (blood sugar low and dehydrated)--I promise I was not mad or upset (you guys will know if on the rare occasion I get mad--lol)!

CAT 4 WOMEN CLAIM TITLE BUT FOCUS ON STATE RR

The Cat 4 TEAM has dominated the WE Racing Series this year and is so far ahead going into the State RR Championship that the lead can not be overcome.

Emily Wood and Elizabeth Brady have accumulated the largest point totals with 210 each and have good shot at individual placement. Christina Maddox, Lara Shaw and Kristi Stratton have racked up solid points, as well, to make it a team accomplishment.

THEY ARE NOT TAKING THE STATE RR CASUALLY THOUGH!!! The whole group has been feverishly preparing.

It will be war on Saturday, as the team pursues the State Championship Jerseys in Cat4 and several age group categories. The team looks for stiff competition!

Jerseys will be awarded on stage, Sunday, at the US Pro Championships.

TEAM headstrong gets it done in the dirt!

This past Sunday was Team Headstrong’s first (and definitely not last!) mountainbike skills clinic, held atGateway Park, behind Sunrift Adventures in TR. What a blast! We’re sorry that more members of the team weren’t able to make it., but we’ll do it again.

Deb, Jon and I met at the park at just after 8am, to set up the obstacles borrowed from Upstate SORBA. It’s amazing what you can carry in one hand when you just can’t let go of your coffee mug.

At 9am, Headstrong team members began to arrive and set up their bikes. Kristi borrowed a bike that Deb managed to score for her, Randall and Christina were on their own bikes (though Christina had bike envy by the end of the day. There are worse afflictions to have, we decided!), Perry showed up on a snazzy Specialized Epic, Bird on a ‘niner (you can climb trees on those things), Emily on something yellow and heavy which did not slow her down a bit (sorry Em, I don't remember what it was!) Deb on her very fast, very flashy Trek, and Steve and I on our Giant Anthems; a real motley crew of bikes.

Sam gets the fun started while Deb is fixing Kristi's pedals

We started working on basic balance on the bike, learned the skill of “ratcheting” which you don’t really use on a road bike, but is essential to staying upright in tight spaces on the trail. We had a “slow race” where we had to keep moving, towards the same end of the field, and the last one to get there was the winner.

From there we moved to wheelie-lifts, learning how to un-weight the front wheel to clear obstacles, and we practiced lifting our front wheels onto a box about 3 inches tall and then progressed to one about 6 inches tall. When everyone had mastered that, we moved onto the bunny hop, which is a lot of fun on a bike with some kind of suspension.

Emily crushes the Teeter-Totter first time around

The “teeter-totter” seemed to be the most intimidating of all the obstacles, but after two or three times, everyone was ready for a much bigger one. Piece of cake!

We spent some time moving through each obstacle on the field, teaching the correct way to shift body position for maximum traction and a smooth ride. Without exception, everyone mastered every obstacle there – it was great to see the confidence levels rising, and the “aha!” moments.

After every obstacle was checked off the list, we set up a continuous course, the idea being not to touch a foot to the ground, even if we had to wait for the person in front of us to keep moving. Everyone did a fantastic job, and made it look like they’d been doing it for years.

Teenie doing the shimmy on the skinny (real mountainbikers really talk like that.)

At about noon, we packed up and had some lunch, and then headed off to Paris Mountain State Park to put our newly-learned skills to practical use, and to learn some more that aren’t really teachable until you get to real situations. In the trails we learned skills like correct gearing and body position on short, steep, rooty power climbs, body position on tight descending switch-backs, and correct position for steep descents with some obstacles. It was great fun encouraging each other, and everyone did really well.

Perry getting his "dirt" on

It was a fun day, and I think, without exception, every one of us learned something new. The skills used in mountainbiking translates over to road cycling, and will help us all become better skilled road cyclists.

Powerbar : Power To Push

Thank you to Powerbar for providing nutrition for our event.

WILD FIRE STRIKES BOULDER, CO!!!

Our friends, Joe and Joyce Friel are in Boulder for the summer and have had close call with a fierce wild fire that took more than 50 homes in their area. You will find this link interesting: http://www.dailycamera.com/news/ci_16032818

Please also enjoy Joyce's perspective on the events of the week:

Life is a White Board

Every once in a while we all experience something in our lives that puts things into focus. Something that helps us rebalance our priorities and reassess our world. A flood, a fire, an accident, a death, a near miss or some other unexpected calamity. For me right now, it is the Four Mile Canyon fire burning just west of our home in Colorado. The water-bearing helicopters and retardant slurry bombers haven’t stopped for over 2 days and the air is full of acrid smoke and ash. We are focused on the positive in that we have no direct harm and there have not been any injuries reported from this fire. I heard one of the victims who lost his home say in a newspaper interview that Life is a White Board and his had just been erased clean.

It seems to me this is an apt metaphor for those times in our lives when we are caused to stop and reevaluate. Rather than focusing on the life that was there a second ago that just got erased, maybe we should focus on ensuring the white board always has written on it what is most enduring, most endearing and most valuable to us.

As this gentleman went on to say, it wasn’t the ‘stuff’ he would miss, it was the memories. His family was fine and he could rebuild, but he would always long for the ancient Mayan ruin items he found in South America and he would always long for treasures he brought back from Egypt. Now he will concentrate on the treasures he has with him that are dear and enduring which are his family, his health and his life.

I’m wondering what is written on your White Board of Life. Is it something worth preserving through your actions and deeds or is it something more fleeting and less substantial. I know I sometime get caught up in the day-to-day scribbles on my own White Board and lose sight of the messages I most want my family, friends and colleagues to know and always remember about me.

Now is a good time to assess as the clouds are moving in and we have a 30% change of rain to help the fire fighters get the Four Mile Canyon fire under control.

Joyce Friel

Let's give thanks they are OK!

One Mo Time

Fork Shoals at 9 am Friday the 10th to pre ride the State RR course! Should be several TEAM headstrong riders there!

State Course Training Ride

Sam, Mel, Wein, Teenie and I hit the course this morning pretty hard. We worked on pace line, 30 second pulls, pulling thru and powering the hills.

We studied the course for opportunities and challenges. When to sit and when to stand. We talked tactics. We launched attacks.

We all agreed our skills were much improved from when we came together as TEAM headstrong. We all showed very strong fitness for the upcoming race.

Teenie and I met Perry later for lunch at Chicora Alley. We talked racing and TEAM stuff. Perry is focusing on the USAT National Long Course Tri Championship in Myrtle Beach on Oct 2.

I feel very fortunate to have you guys in my life and be associated with the TEAM. This is a big part of my life and a continual source of joy. I think it has helped me race better but that shrinks in comparison to the happiness it all brings. As LA once wrote, "It ain't about the bike."(or something like that?)

RACE TO THE ROCK 7K TT

Race to the Rock took place on Sunday at Lake Lure. This is a 7k TT that ascends Chimney Rock, a grade of 7%. Lake Lure is the site where Dirty Dancing was filmed. We stayed at the historic 1927 Lake Lure Inn and Spa in the "Beach View" room. We attempted to stay in the actual inn, in the Patrick Swayze room, but for 250$ a night, we opted out. We found ourselves, and another friend who rode up with us, around the back of the actual inn in a more moderately sized room. It was great!

The TT started at 7:30 from the Inn itself. We were up at 5am scarfing oatmeal and eggs hoping to get a good warm-up in before the actual climb. About 10 minutes before the start, we were told by the Setup Events crew that the TT would be a mass start! With not much time to dwell on this new information, 10 women approached the start line. The first mile of the course is flat to rolling. Emily set the pace and tried to pull off, but all the riders, including the winner from last year, Cara Applegate, followed her to the left, not letting her get off the front. Emily was doing all the work. Eventually, i was on the front, but not wanting to kill myself before the big climb, I just rode a moderate pace........

We eventually made it to the Chimney Rock Park entrance, turning left. We had a hair over 3 miles to go to the summit. I found myself with three or so women. The pace was full throttle now as we did switchback after switchback. We eventually caught up to a few men and sat on their wheels. It was down to Cara and I for the women. With about 1.5 miles to go, I was in front of Cara and she attacked me from behind, shooting up the left side. I countered and caught up to her and sat on her wheel. I eventually was riding side by side with her, woman to woman. It felt great. I was there as if to say, i can hang with you without drafting on your wheel. With less than 1/2 mile to go I started to pull away from her. The final pitch was somewhat steeper. I could hear the people cheering above me as I rounded what would be the last switchback. There would be no need to sprint against her. She was not in sight. I sprinted under the finish line as the first woman up Chimney Rock (19:17). Cara finished 2nd (19:37), and Emily rounded out the podium in third (20:13).

Emily and I won a combined 25$ for a 2nd and 3rd place finish at Paris Mtn TT. This race, we combined for 150$. I hope Greenville will continue to step it up for female racers.

After the TT, riders were only allowed to descend the mountain in groups of 12, following a golf cart with rangers, which was followed by an ambulance with lights going. It was quite a sight as we descended the mountain, switchback after switchback, the riders constantly having to slow as to not hit the ambulance that was there for "safety", haha.

After the race, we did a cool down with Cara around Lake Lure. For those of you who who rode the "cool down" after the last Paris Mtn. TT, it was anything but chill. We found ourselves riding very steep pitches, steeper pitches than what we had just raced! The Lake and sunshine was spectacular, soothing our sore legs and luring us into the beauty of creation. That afternoon we decided we would hike Chimney Rock, all one million steps to a view that was incredible. I think I am more sore today from the hiking than the actual bike event :)

I am thankful to Emily for the great pull at the start and also for letting me get in front of her as a car braked on the way towards the base of Chimney Rock. If she hadn't let me in, I would have most likely lost the group, getting trapped behind the car. THANKS!!!

Looking forward to State Champs!
Race on.

NC State RR Championship

OK, so……
It’s a sad state of affairs when your master’s riders are requesting hearing aids as part of the team “kit”… maybe this is why there are so few AARP USA Cycling members……..
I am not sure how it is you can mix up a simple 3 color code system up, but TEAM headstrong did….

Green….. I feel good and am going (you block)

Red………. Did deep…. let’s go (like closing a break down)

Blue……….Chill…. relax.. (let’s recover)

40+ riders lined up for the 50+ NC State RR Championship, including Dave LeDuc, Butch Holt, Dave Stevens, Gary Jackson, Peter Leousis…. and Joe, Randall, and myself….

Team plan…… relatively flat course with 1 little wall at the end of a 1 mile climb 2 miles in, numerous rolling hills… will end in a sprint… need to sit in and wait for final run in, but we cannot let a group with LeDuc get away, so we will close down the breaks if he is in it…….

Something Chandler said to me on Tuesday is ringing in my ears….. “race it .. poll to poll…..right Bird”

Go..

2 miles in we hit the climb…. at the crest I am at the front… a lone rider has gone off the front…. we roll along to the next “bump”… I attack… pass the lone rider getting a break going with 3 other riders…. maybe 20 yards…. pack coming up…. settle back in… LeDuc goes…. I jump and chase… close it down… Gary Jackson goes… chase it down… riding at the front ….. several riders launch attacks… we close it down…. even though LeDuc is not in the break…….. Joe goes and closes a break down on a little climb… that hurt….. heading back towards the Start/Finish… now LeDuc goes to the front and starts attacking…Randall goes to the front closes….. LeDuc goes again……… I am right there as we pass the S/F making 2 right hand turns to start the second lap…. drilling it at the front…….

Wait… what was the PLAN??? LeDuc going… … has 20 yards…. another rider and I at the front decide we are going to let him dangle off the front to try to wear him down….. so we control the pace…. Randall coming up ……. BLUE… I shout… Randall attacks I SAID “BLUE” Randall is going … as we head up the wall… spending quarters like a geriatric at the Las Vegas slots….. everyone now chasing frantically …. Randall closes it but has spent every cent….. I am redlining as we are nearing the top of the hill ….. riders passing me as a gap forms…….. I am OK, I am OK…. settle down…… close it at the top…..

Shit.... the wheel truck goes around me with 2 cars in tow forcing me to hit the brakes on the false flat….. pack slowing …. stand… pass 1 car…. I cannot get around the second car, which is behind the wheel truck… the peleton hits the descent and ………. is gone…. as the truck and car accelerate away…. chase … chase…. done… just done……
Randall blew…. I settle in and solo the rest of the race, praying that something happens to slow some riders down….nada… LeDuc drops the field heading into the final sprint and wins it solo….. Joe comes in 15th, he says (little does he know he actually placed 8th in the 50-54)
Post race… Randall wants to know why I wanted him to go at the worst part of the whole race…….. Blue…Chill…..!!!! not KILL….. (not to mention WHAT HAPPEN TO THE RACE PLAN? especially as it ended in a field sprint just like we thought)
Unabiding Loyalty……. ..... bordering on stupidity…..
Randall’s simple summary…. “Bird, we rode that like a B Donaaldson race, when it was actually an A race…….” very true… very true…..

SCTAC

We have many people that are new to racing. I always say when you start something new, you need to find yourself. How do you do that?

Answer: Ask yourself the right questions.

One right question: Do I like to go to SCTAC and ride/race in the A or B group?

Most tough questions don't have black/white answers. However, if your feelings about going to SCTAC are not largely positive, it is highly likely you are not cut out to bike race. It is bike racing in the safest, simplest, most convenient and cheapest manner. I realize it can be intimidating to get started out there as I made my debut at Donaldson only a few years ago. I had hurdles to get over....big ones!

As the season has progressed, some of you have stopped coming to SCTAC altogether. I realize we all have lots to do and life gets in the way. While, I may be SCTAC biggest fan, I am not there every week. Your total absence, though, tells me that you may really not like to bike race.........this is not a bad thing, just something that must be understood.......what you REALLY like and want to do in cycling is what is important.

From another perspective, I will tell you that I do not know one successful bike racer in a 40 mile radius who does not frequent, what I laughingly call, the Tuesday World Championship. As a long time student of learning, I believe there are 10-12 reasons why SCTAC is vital to becoming a solid bike racer.

That is all a moot point if you don't like it.

We will be forming the TEAM for 2011 soon. We will be asking for commitments to racing schedules for 2011. One of the commitments for racers will be participating at SCTAC five times a year! Before you make such a commitment, take time to think about what you really want to do. What are your goals?

We plan on having people involved next year as members........this involvement will allow participation without as much commitment. Much more on this at the upcoming team meeting in September.

We are a racing team. We race road races, crits, TT's, mountain bikes and multi sport. Each of us approach all this with different emphasis and priorities. It is my desire to keep our focus as racing as opposed to just riding. We have had a great and fun year. I will be talking about next year with each of you individually in the next few weeks. I hope to discuss your goals and the team goals.

Our success will come from aligning those goals!

Oak Ridge Omnium

RR/TT/Crit in Oak Ridge, TN. My AG has 5 guys in it from Nationals. Saturday window:

6:00 PM - Warming up for the 8 mile TT and thinking of one word: REDEMPTION. I DNF'd the RR in the morning on a mechanical.

6:09 - Staging - Durward Higgins is starting 30 seconds in front of me in his National Championship Skin Suit. Sure he won the 65-69 AG in Louisville but the National Champion is the National Champion and this dude is a legend. Here's my chance.

6:11:30 - Durward is off. "I am coming for you, Durward."

6:12 - I am off and hammer is down!

6:13 -Headed up some rolling hills: "Oh my Gosh! I am taking him....I am closing."

6:22 appr - At the turn around. "He is only 10 secs ahead...my advantage is 20 seconds!"

6:23 - "You got him, u gotta go hard cause Ralph(Smook) was close at the turn."

6:27:52 - "He(Durward) is gaining- get a bigger gear...drive it drive it drive."

6:31: 36 - At the finish line - "I think I got him, maybe I got?"

6:34 - "What about Ralph and the others?"

7:14 - I am in anguish. The results come up from the course:

Randall Maddox - 1st - 19:36

Durward Higgins - 2nd - 19:48

Ralph Smook - 3rd - 20:11

REDEMPTION is sweet!

Sub 12

I can only speak for myself. My goal for the Paris Mtn. TT was to go sub 12 minutes. It is funny how when you are warming up for a race how fast the time goes by. At other times, time on a bike can drudge by at an ever so slow pace.

I found myself at the staging area far too quickly. I was seeded to start behind a gentleman who was wearing a very American TT suit. He looked serious, tall and lean. I had my garmin watch set to auto pause. Nicole Johnson did the official count down, and Captain America was off (this was a dubbed nickname by a few riders behind me). I was ready, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 GO! The first minute was brutal as my legs started to fill with lactic acid. I had had a great warm-up but even just the short amount of time spent in the staging area, it took a little while for the legs to kick in and loosen up.

I could see my moving American target up ahead. My goal was to gain ground, and I did. I used him as a pace bunny never taking my eyes off of him. I do not recall what was going thru my head as I ascended the mountain. Maybe I was thinking about the coffee I had had at Em's that morning and hoping for an extra caffeine turbo boost? Maybe I was thinking about puppies and kittens and how my HR was probably at 185bpm. I'm not sure, it doesn't matter. I had to focus. I was gaining on Captain America. I did not dare look at my watch until crossing the line. It read, 12:06, which was approx. the same time I had had at the last TT. I knew with the auto start option dialed in, I would be close to 12min. If you haven't done the TT before, it is a rolling start, you get a few seconds to clip in before the actual line and your official time begins.

Last night I was up at 2:30am with achy, cramped up legs. I layed in bed reading An Idiot's guide to learning Latin. I hobbled down the stairs to the fridge, had a snack and ascended the long flight of steps back up into bed. I can say this, my legs hurt, it was pure torture and joy at the same time. We are blessed to have the ability to push our bodies to the limits like we do. To exceed limits that we never thought were achievable. I work every day with those who have cognitive and physical limits. I am reminded daily to live for today. As Christina and I like to say, "I'm just thankful to be here." To be in this moment, to be on this team, to learn and grow from each of you.

I felt good on the climb, not quite as good as last time, but managed to eek out a sub 12. Sub 11 next year? Sure, why not?

Carpe Diem!

Paris Mt TT

I came back in from Oak Ridge and poured over the results. Brady went on line late Saturday afternoon and checked out the finishes but I had to see these numbers for myself. We had KP, Weinacker, Emily, Perry and Joe in the TT. Mel, Stratton(aka chipmunk) and others apparently joined for a couple hour ride after.

But, the times! KP-11:30, Wein-11:58 and Em at 12 and change?? You have to be kidding. How fast can these hill climbing wonders get?

Let's talk TEAM headstrong 'racers in training'! John Dias, who just signed on with Les Amis, cranks out 11:33!! Jeffrey Lehner- 10:57. Is Jeffrey even out of high school.......I am talking genetical predisposed! Wow.

I hope one of you participants will give us a blow by blow!

Big Birthday

My birthday is today but last night was the real celebration. Some guys have parties and go to bars etc. I went to SCTAC with Bird, Mel, Joe, G, Gillespie, Sam, Tom and Lindsey. Despite 90 degree temps, threatening rain and high humidity we put an all out assault on the A Group.

There were all the 'Usual Suspects' on the warm up and pack speed came up quickly after GC Hill. We were averaging 26mph. People were going backwards and flying 'off the back'. I know how it feels because at times that has been me.

Bird bridged to a breakaway. Lindsey was off in the next break(is she amazing?...later she told Bird that I taught her to set out the first break and go on the second one...did I say that?). I took 3rd wheel as a really strong guy closed about hundred meter gap to a breakaway. Wow, that took it out of me. I almost snapped and at the end of lap 2, I went to mid pack to rest.

In lap 3, we neared the back side hill with the red brick building on the right, when all hell broke loose. People and bikes were flying. I went left to the grass and a guy was down in front of me. People were running into my back. I stayed up and rode to a stop!

Tom was down. A young friend, Brian, was down along with 10-12 others. It was carnage but everybody started to move. Bloody, bent wheels and bruised. I pray Tom's hip is not fractured.

Bird and I hightailed it to the car to come back and get Tom. Everyone else was on their bikes. We caught the back of the B Group and it started to rain. I was done for the day.

Later, Bird took me to dinner at High Cotton. We talked a lot about cycling, the TEAM and other things.

So, what is like to be 61??? Well, riding in the A Group at SCTAC with your team mates/friends and having dinner with a great friend is pretty sweet. People congratulating me on Nationals and that was pretty cool, too. It was the first time I realized that how placed there did not matter as much to me as the fact that I had the cohones to go. I think I will remember this birthday for a long time! Thanks to those of you who shared it with me.

Team Headstrong in the Midwest

Ok, Randall told me to update you all on what I have been up to. I went up to Indy this past week to visit my family one last time before Christmas, and to help my mom as she had surgery last Monday. On Sunday, August 8th, I raced a local crit. It was a .6 mile course with three turns, and one very technical almost 180 degree turn. When I showed up at registration, they told me I was the only women who registered. They told me I had to race cat 4 men under 35. So, for my first official circuit race I had to race cat 4 college guys. The first twelve minutes were extremely painful--I hung on, but it was all I had. Then the paced settled in and became somewhat manageable. Then we hit the preem (?-sp) lap. There was a break of five guys, and the guys in front of me weren't going. They told us if we got lapped we would get pulled, and I wasn't abt to let that happen. I went on the chase. I barely caught with everything I had (it took about .4 mi to catch)--unfortunately when I went, many jumped on my wheel. It settled in to a manageable pace again until the last couple laps. I position myself fifth with .3mi to go and headed on the inside track on the very technical turn. The guy in front of me went wide and then cut to the inside--I had to slam on my breaks to not nail him. Everyone started passing on the outside while I was stuck on the inside behind this guy who wouldn't go. Finally, on the last turn before the finish line another guy cut me off and I just had to follow him in. Craig said he heard me yell at that guy for almost taking me out--he said 'honey you got to understand, not one of those guys wanted to live with the thought of being beat by a girl, and they were going to do whatever it took to keep that from happening.' So I finished in the pack, but 14th overall. After a week of taking care of my mom, I decided to take my hand at a Ohio RR on the way back to SC. I had been warned about these Ohioan girls. They lived up to their reputation. The field was small but intense. This race had way less climbing than FB, but it hurt worse. The course was a 10 mile looped course for a total of 40mi. It was a women's open, and three of the women were very good. Within the first climb--(abt 2 miles in) that was 2 mi long, there was attack after attack. After the climb, there was rollers, and then a sharp winding decent on the worst roads I have ever seen--I really thought I was going to wipe out. The last 5 mi on the looped course was a very long slight uphill with a headwind. At this point there were four us in the break. They started a rotating pace, but when I got up there they left me there and would not come up to pull. Finally, they waited until they thought I was tired and attacked me. I responded and we went through the same thing again when I started pulling they wouldn't help, and then they attacked again. I barely caught, but I was really feeling it. This went on and on until we hit the climb on the second lap. One of the girls tried to break and I noticed the other two couldn't respond--I had a little, but not much. I went after her, but she kept such a hard pace on that climb I couldn't hang after she had intentionally used up my legs on the first lap. I kept her in my sights for the rest of that lap and the next, but I couldn't catch her. I finished the last lap all by myself--knowing she was ahead, and worrying that the other two could catch if they started working together. I finished second overall, and first for cat 4. I was told I finished 50 seconds behind the leader and 5+ minutes in front of the next girl (finished in 2 hours). Anyway, all the Ohioans wanted to know who was Team Headstrong--so between the team's European adventures and all of our southeast races, and now racing the midwest--our name is getting out there!
Kristi Stratton
ps Congrats to all for Master's Nationals. The gal that won today knew all about Giselle!