Well, I LOVED the course. No, it wasn't a good "marathon" course, but I guess that's why I loved it.
Although I am perplexed. Looking at the overalls AT the race, I was listed as 5th overall in sport women. This morning when I looked, I'm now in 7th overall. I understand there was a single speed woman in there, and they post SS's separate at the race. . . . .but another sport women mysteriously appeared as well, and the top 3 women took a little shuffle from what the postings said after the race. Interesting.
Perhaps it's just my soreness this morning, the fact that every muscle in my body is screaming with pain and it's only 8:15am. . . . . .but I tell you, it's getting a little old to keep seeing the same top 3 women dusting the field by such a large gap, in this case by 11+ minutes. The only race I could crack the top 3 was a race that they weren't at. How discouraging is that? You line up next to them and know in the back of your head that the only way you're going to beat them is if they have a mechanical.
In a 3 hour race, to put 11:20 on the majority of the Sport women (everyone else was pretty clustered after that 11:20), that's incredible. And to do it every time you race. . . . . .well, I think that's the definition of EXPERT. I mean I'm all over the board and on a GOOD day (when one or two of these women AREN'T at the race) I can crack top 5 (I've done that ONCE this year mind you). And that's on a GOOD day.
Oh well. I guess I can just keep my fingers crossed that these women secure their spots in their age group and move up to place well in the expert field. . . . .where they belong. Until then, I'll stop "complaining" and be happy I even HAVE a series.
Your link to the every day life of Brittany Nigh, the Real Estate world and Team Pedal Moraine happenings.
About Me
Links
Help educate mororists and cyclists
Creation's Beauty
Peeps
- Super Fly
- Velocorapture
- spicyride
- DANO
- Regina
- Mountaingoat News
- Gizmo
- Amelia
- S.M. Lukas
- Bubba
- T Bender
- Joe C.
- The Rusty Tool Shed
- Chris Strout
- Amy D
- Ronsta
- Kenny
- Carlos
- Scott Cole
- Renee
- Julie
- Neil S
- Coop
- bdog
- DIHAF
- SugsCandy
- Jay
- Mikey
- Nathan
- Marko
- Creepyfriendly
- Tristan
- Matter
- TJ Woodruff
- Jeff Kerkove
- McCrimmon Adventures
- Tim Drankus
- jwm
- drd
- Old n Slow
- Spinninmud
- Shawn Hauser
- Mark G
Blog Archive
-
▼
2007
(233)
-
▼
August
(28)
- Finally Friday
- A new medication
- I have what she has. . . . . .
- Sunburst
- A couple of beers?
- Rhinelander
- Thank God It's Friday!!!
- Another project at the HOME office
- Meteorology. . . . .fact or fiction?
- Work, work, work
- My saddle had a blow out
- Mt Morris
- Rain???
- Almost the weekend
- Another golf outting
- Mt Morris. . .and more
- Weekend Fun
- NORBA rankings
- Yeah, it's going to be one of those days
- Prozac cat
- Tagged
- Crystal Ridge
- Have you ever had one of those days?
- Yeah, I guess I had "fun"
- Mud?
- Finally the Weekend
- Another TT ride
- Hot Hot Hot
-
▼
August
(28)
17 comments:
Yeah, huge gaps in time like that are a clear sign to move up. Hopefully that'll be the case next year. Glad to see you still did well! Wish i could have been there.
sounds like a great course! too bad it was too far for us this weekend. i hope they have it next year. awesome finish.
The reason for the reshuffling is that Kaitlin was in the lead but flatted with a mile to go. When Andrea Matter passed her, she gave Kaitlin her bike to ride in for the win while she walked Kaitlin's bike to the finish because Kaitlin had given Andrea a much needed bottle of water mid race when she ran out. The confusion with the results initially is that when Kaitlin rolled in, she was riding Andrea's bike so they punched in that number instead of Kaitlin's. And Claire, she got third because she passed Andrea as she was walking Kaitlin's bike in. Also, technically Kaitlin should have been disqualified for accepting help but Claire and Andrea spoke up and petitioned Don not to disqualify her.
So you will be moving up to expert next year right? Winning one's age group....not worth the energy complaining about others, just train harder!
Well, that explains a lot. Thanks Amelia. That also explains why there was a 3 minute gap between #2 & #3 when those two girls are usually a lot closer in time. I sure hope to be good enough some day to flat a mile out and still finish in the top 5. There sure are some DARN fast girls in Sport this year.
Actually anonymous, I will be moving up next year. It's not age group I'm after, it's the overall finish that's more important to me. I might be first in my age, but if they ranked Sport like they rank comp & expert, I think we'd all be surprised at how many "1st in age" women don't finish in the top 10....or even the top 15 overall.
I think it's hard to be motivated to move up when you're finishing 12-15 minutes behind the top SPORT girl. Look at how many really good women have finished in the top 5 in Sport consistently in past years, and simply stopped racing WORS, or turned to SS Sport instead of making that jump.
It's not always a matter of training harder. I think it's more about where and how you fit into the overall picture. There is no COMP class for women. Either you race Sport, or you jump into expert where you're racing against girls you have no chance of beating - ever. Even if you quit your job, hire a full-time professional coach and train till you drop.
I'm not saying the top 5 Sport girls are "wrong" for choosing to race Sport...I'm simply saying I think there are a LOT of girls find it hard to say "I'm good enough to move up and race Elite", when they can't even crack the top 5 or even the top 10 overall in Sport.
Are people saying it's not a good "Marathon" course because it was hard?
I think people are defining "marathon" courses as more "roadie" like....and longer in duration. If that's the definition, then yes, it was "too hard" to be a marathon course. Surprisingly traffic flowed very smoothly given how much of the course was indeed singletrack.
Yeah, sometimes racing gets "too hard".
And even in the single-track there were plenty of passing opportunities to be found. Indeed the course was tough. But, I enjoyed the fact that it wasn't a "roadie" course in that you needed to have some mountain bike experience to boot.
Having spent much of the last couple of years amoung the also rans in class, I can attribute it to lack of training. But, I have noticed that during these marathon races the number of really good / speedy citizen men that are passing me which can be really depressing. I race because I like to push myself and have come to the conclusion that if that isn't good enough then I should quit racing. My competition is from within.
The social aspects of meeting all of you at the race venues is what makes the weekend fun for me. I'll never be a great rider and I'm fine with that. Having been passed by the top elite riders now in all three marathon races I am amazed at how fast they all are. And even with the cramping issues Mike Phillips was dealing with yesterday he still was polite & fast as he went by.
I agree, those top elite boys were not only FAST, but very courteous when passing as well.
Great post! I agree with you 100% There will always be better racers than me but it is the fight inside of me is what counts the most at the end of the race.
I am actually looking forward to moving up to expert just to get away from some of the crap that goes on during a sport race.
Sometimes I wonder if that is the right thing to do when it is so difficult for us to crack the top 5 consistently at each race. I think it is great that we have competition and that is what motivates me. I am afraid of moving up to expert to find I may never ever do well and then just end up DNFing or quiting the series all together because all the training in the world will not make me any better especailly at this age. There really is no middle ground, after sport your up there with the BIG DOGS!
I know myself well and I love a good challenge and look forward to it every day.
OR maybe we can train our A** off this winter for Expert Fitness and then show up to all the Sport races without a series number and dominate the field. LOL
Which one do you think I am going to do?
my 2 cents
Just a comment from the peanut gallery.. some folks can have a great day and still not see much difference when they muck up the top 5 standings.. Count your blessings...
Not long ago we were posting some pretty kicking national results, no?
(if this is out of line.. sorry, I'm tapering)
-jwm
jwm - you're right. I am happy that I'm doing as well as I am. My intention wasn't to necessarily "complain".
I admire all the women who are out there in this series, even if they beat me by leaps and bounds. I'm sure there are women who feel the same way about me....who feel that I'm doing better than I should in sport....who would like to see me move up. I guess we all have to do what's best for each of us. I know 2nd place is as close as I'll come to winning an overall in my "mountain biking career", but I also know 2nd overall is pretty darn good.
As for Norba, well, it's nice to be ranked so high, but that just goes to show you what a joke those rankings are. If I were REALLLLY that good, wouldn't I be winning all these races? Norba is really all about how you do in your age class, and how many races you attend.
BUT, as I always tell Captain...."I don't suck anymore". And that's what it's all about....keeping it upright and giving it your best.
I appreciate everyone's feedback. That's what blogging is all about....being able to say what you're thinking and feeling, and having people share their thoughts. And I welcome those thoughts....if they've got an identity attached to them.
Oh what an interesting race!Also, Im excited that your moving up. (you are bad ass!) But, it has been fun watching you race since you have been rocking it out there. nice job and hope to see you guys out there soon. Thanks for cheering
The decision would be made much easier if the women had a comp class. It's a huge move for you guys as my oldest daughter is experiencing this year.
Meg plans to move up next year as well and is preparing to take her lumps too.
I also agree...that course was top-notch. I am a huge fan of the trails up there. The best stuff was not even in the race.....I'm not sure if it could be....
brittany, i will chime in along with bubba, as a dad. folowing the superbe lead and example of her friend sarah lukas, MK went to elite (riding a 21 year old singlespeed) after never ONCE cracking top five as a sport. i don't believe she was ever even close, really - tho i might be wrong about that last bit.
i am pretty sure you beat her more often than not as a sport, and i am pretty sure you have been top 5 a couple times.
so just do it and ave fun, or keep chasing the always-gonna-be-there-wicked-fast-sports. it is al the same, and how much fun ya have is always up to you. best wishes, tmontee
Post a Comment