Ontario Providential Track Championships

Milton, Ontario, Canada

March 6 – 9, 2020

For those reading this race report without any great knowledge of track racing, some background:  Track racers subdivide into two “types” – enduros (mass start races, individual pursuits) and meatheads/sprinters (match sprint, time trials).  For most people, doing both well is difficult, since the type of training required to excel at one does not translate into the other. (Think crit racer versus hilly road racer.)  Track races subdivide into mass start races, timed events, match sprints, and team events.  For most races, the mass start events consist of a scratch race where first across the line wins and a points race, with points awarded every so many laps for the first few across the line, double points at the end of a race (and points for lapping the field).  For most track events, the mass start races combine into an omnium, with the winner the one with the most (or least, depending on scoring method) points after all mass-start races.

Racing began on Friday, with the 2K Individual pursuit. This event is the one for which I trained last year and came to the conclusion that the word “subtlety” does not describe my ability to dial-up or down my effort level and while I could do “ok” in these events locally, at the national and world stage, I do not think I have the mentality of a pursuiter.  Hello, sprint.

I arrived in Ontario via plane while Chuck drove Oliver, our RV, across the border and to the velodrome.  The gracious race organizers allowed us to reserve pit space in the infield and two American track friends, Ted Michaels and Darrell Farlow, joined us.  Ted raced the Masters’ Omnium and Darrell the Masters’ TT and match sprints.  Chuck, being Chuck, did all three.  I registered for the TT (500m) and the omnium (4 races total).

Masters’ Women Time Trial – 500 meters – 2 laps.

My PR is a few seconds over 43, which is not a great time. I was excited to see what time I could produce, given that my training changed to focus on this event.  My heat was the last one for the field, and the fastest time was 2 seconds slower than my best.  A clean race should put me on the top step.

Sadly, that was not the case.  When my bike was loaded into the starting gate and I climbed aboard, I was canted and leaning up track.  I am not a strong enough starter to compensate for the angle.  I dismounted and said the bike set up was not right and asked for a reset.  The volunteer complied and reset.  It was still angled.  The official said to get on the bike, so I did.  Countdown – 5-4-3-2-1-beep.  I exploded as best I could.  My bike went up-track and I unclipped on the first rotation of my right foot.  I rolled off the track, dejected and a bit miffed.

As I soft-pedaled on the apron, the officials on the other side of the track told me I would have a re-do.  Immediately and on this side of the track.  I put my pedals where I like them to start and tried to calm myself.  Gun goes off and the same thing happened.  However, I had to keep going, so I pedaled with my right foot not clipped in.

That is racing.  I tried to get out of my own head and make the best of the 40 something seconds on the track. I had the slowest first lap and the second-fastest second lap.  Although, if you think about it, I did have the fastest time for someone using one leg (at least for my race).  I really wanted to see what dividends my winter training would pay, but that will have to wait.

Meanwhile – Chuck has his TT.  Typically men of his age have a 500 m TT. This one was 750 m.  It doesn’t sound like much longer but….. Chuck’s first lap was one of the slower ones in his field but he crushed the 2^nd and destroyed the 3^rd lap to finish 4^th, one step off the podium.  Darrell also crushed his TT (different age groups), landing on the top step of the podium.

Until Sunday, the number of mass start track races in my race history equaled one.  I increased that number by 400%, with four races: 5K Scratch, 5K Tempo, 5K Elimination, 40 lap points.  From years of crit racing, I know how to race a scratch and points race, although on a flat surface and with a bike having brakes and more than one gear.  In track racing, you cannot queue up at the start line – the surface is banked and clipping on a fixed gear bike would be a bit dangerous.  Rather, you hold onto the railing at the top of the track or onto a holder on the apron.  You roll out from the backside of the track in your pre-determined order and slow pedal to your starting position.  For me, this meant I had to roll up to the railing and catch the railing while ensuring I was lined up with the person down-track and my pedals weren’t at some weird position.  For my whopping one race experience – where I walked my bike up to the top of the track – this alone made Elsa, my chimp, a bit nuts (see the Brave Athlete book to understand Elsa).

Omnium:

While I wanted redemption and had this been a road crit, I would have been more comfortable trying to take out my frustration from the TT, I am also a chicken.  I have avoided mass-start track races like Covid-19.  During the break between the TT and the start of the omnium, I wanted to stay in Oliver, snuggle my emotional support stuffed animals, and quit.  I am not a participation medal person.  While I often chicken out in executing a race strategy, I don’t go into a race thinking simply finishing is the goal (except for Clarendon and Crystal City races in the Air Force Classic – finishing is good enough…).  So race experience was my goal.  So wimpy!

Scratch race:  5km which is 20 laps.  First across the line wins.  I was 5^th.  I felt comfortable moving around the track.  The pace seemed good-to-fast.  A couple of accelerations opened up a gap every so often, but people were willing to work together and chase them down.  Coming into the turn before the bell, a gap opened that I could not close down, so I was not in the mix for the final sprint.  Given my nerves, Elsa was ok with that.

Tempo race:  5km – points every other lap for the first across the line.  Bell would ring to denote the start of the point lap.  Apparently, one woman thought points started after the neutral lap.  We roll through the finish line for the first lap of racing and she takes off.  I put my head down and hopped on the train in the sprinters’ lane, thinking….well, this is what I will be doing for the next 20 laps.  Three laps down and the bell rings for the first point, sprint.  Regroup.  Pace slows. At this point, I was suffering.  I knew I should be further up in the group and tried moving up but backed off a bit during the sprint for each point lap.  Not yet comfortable standing out of the saddle surrounded by others.  5^th again.  Turns out that rabbit for the first few laps though the points started after the neutral lap.

Lunch break – thank goodness.  I had spent less than 45 minutes racing but I wanted to call it two and done.  Darrell made a Starbucks run. I have to say that was the best almond milk latte ever. With some food and caffeine and the promise to my legs that we had only one more race, we rolled up to the rail.

Elimination – 5 km, once the racing begins, the last one to cross the line (measured by the back of the bike) on the elimination lap is pulled out of the race.  Situational awareness is key. I miscounted.  I thought we had N+1 when we had N.  Oops. Eliminated.  Again 5^th.

Points Race – 40 laps, points 4 deep at 30, 20, 10, 1 to go.  Double points for the last sprint.  I managed to grab a couple of points in the race.  The person sitting in 6^th attacks and gets away.  No one chases her, so I move into the sprinter’s lane, put my head down to pull the field back to her.  I look back.  No one behind me.  Crap.  I look at the lap counter.  6 to go.  Double crap.  “Do I continue to chase?  Wait…she is one place below me.  If she stays away, would I drop to 6^th?”  I checked the leaderboard out of the corner of my eye and realized 5^th was mine.  Should I keep going?  I did.  The leaders in the omnium caught me in turn 3 on the last lap.  I had nothing left to use to stay with them.  Upon reflection, I should have attacked and tried to lap the field.  I was far enough down in the points that I was not a threat to the top three, so they may not have given chase.

Other races:

Darrell kicked some butt in the match sprints, coming in 3^rd and 1^st in the TT.  Chuck raced extremely well.  Ended up 9^th in the omnium, 4^th in the TT.  For Ted – he does what Ted tends to do in a points race…take lots of points early, finishing in the top 10 as well in the omnium.

Lessons learned:  I have a lot to learn about mass starts and the strategies for success.  Change pedals or get some straps.

Things to do moving forward:  Race more.  On the track.  Earn some color on the sleeves of a Brihop jersey.

A huge thank you to the Masters’ Women in Ontario.  They welcomed me into the fold, encouraging me and making me feel like a local.  The organization of the event and the quality of the officiating (starting gate comment aside) were top notch.

US Masters’ Nationals
Winston-Salem, NC
May 25 – 28, 2016

With Masters’ Nats scheduled during a month when I am not teaching, I set my sights on three races, targeting the time trial (TT). Why the TT? I like to be in control. Race strategy and tactics are not my strongest suit, so the TT made sense to me. If I adopted and adhered to an appropriate training plan and executed a race strategy based on my power data, I will have given 100%. If someone beats me, I can be disappointed but without regret.

Chuck developed my training schedule, stressing progressively longer intervals at my “I hate this” zone. Wendy joined me on Tuesday evenings to spin inside and suffer with a computrainer workout modeled after the TT course. Chuck added ETap to improve ease of shifting on my TT bike. I avoided illness and cursed allergies. I gave up wine and Nutella to minimize empty calories. I went back to my old love – weightlifting during the winter months.

Finally, departure day arrived. We loaded up the RV with 6 Scott bikes and a lot of Zipp wheels. NC bound. We stayed in High Point, about 30 minutes from the road and crit courses and an hour from the TT. We were joined by my teammate Christine and the rest of the Evo Men’s Masters’ team. Nine people, two dogs and a whole lot of carbon.

Road Race (RR):
3 laps, 88.5 km
Women’s 50-54, 25 preregistered.

The day before the RR, Chuck, the Fuenti and I checked out the loop. Compared to MABRA courses, it was rather flat and reminded us of the old Murad RR in the Poolesville area. We would have the full road which was great for us and essential for the men’s fields which had more than 100.

We arrived at the course early and set up our camp. I started my pre-race “Let’s get far too nervous” routine. Fill bottles, pin numbers, sit and stare into space trying to calm butterflies. Remembering to breathe.

USAC combined our field with the 55-59 age group (still scored separately), bringing the total field size to almost 40. Four women represented MABRA, Janelle and Chris (Colavita) joined Christine and me. Janelle and I lined up side-by-side on the start line. Vic, Dave and Chuck were taking pics as we listened to the chief official give instructions. Given the palpitations of my heart, I could not really hear what was said. I just waited for the whistle and the start of my first National Championship race.

Without any serious climbs, the course would not significantly narrow the pack. As we counted down the miles, some attacks did occur but were easily shut down. During the climb on the steepest hill on lap 2, I was riding toward the back of the pack on the right side edge when someone decided to pass on the non-existent pavement to my right. How we stayed upright, I am not sure but….I found myself sprinting to reattach. The field was not pedaling too fast and I quickly moved to the left side of the group, swearing off the edges of the road for the rest of the race.

Midway through the second lap, I was pretty sure the race would come down to a sprint finish and given the bike handling I had seen, thought there might be a crash. As we passed the feed zone with about 3 miles to go, I was in the back of the pack. I needed to move up and followed Janelle’s wheel to the center, about second row. Riding by some was a bit chaotic and I wanted to stay on Janelle’s smooth wheel. She ended up trapped behind some riders who seemed to sit up as others started to sprint. Luckily, I moved to the dreaded right side as the finish came into view. I stood to sprint and was surprised to feel my quads spasm. I sat down for a second and stood again. Spasm. I crossed in the line in 8th place, somewhat happy. My first race in a national championship was over.

Lessons Learned: My failure in this race was primary hydration. It was warm, not hot and the cramping at the end of the race was avoidable. I did not sufficiently hydrate before the race. Although I was targeting the TT, I should have kept my head better in the game. The podium was possible for me and I wasted an opportunity.

Criterium
45 minutes
Women’s 50-54, 25 preregistered.

I wanted to skip the crit. I wanted my legs to be well-rested for the TT the next day. If Christine had not been in the race, I would have bailed. The course was short with 5 technical turns immediately after the start finish, then more open until the funnel to the finish. After the far from stellar bike handling skills demonstrated in the road race, I planned to jump at the whistle to get through those turns at the front of the group.

We line up. More heart palpitations. The whistle blows and the women to my right, Kimberly Pettit (2nd in the RR), jumps and I chase her wheel. I look back and no one in behind me through the turns. She yells at me to pull through and we start working together….we have a break. Her cornering was far more aggressive than my inner-chicken liked but I was determined to stay on her wheel. I thought my heart would explode. At that moment I thought about my legs and the TT the next day. The TT went out the window. I was in a break in the national championships. I followed her lines through the technical turns and prayed I stayed rubber side down.

Four riders bridged up to us. My heart and lungs were very thankful to have some help. We had about 14 seconds on the chasing group. As we approached the funnel into the start/finish line, I could see the chasing group enter the open section of the course. Each lap, my sighting was about the same place and our time gap stayed consistent.

As we rotated on the front, I realized that two of the women were pulling off immediately and no amount of yelling or cajoling would get them to work. Kimberly was super strong. She told me to watch her for a signal to attack, for she feared we would get caught. Our lead over the chasers grew to 30 seconds. We were safe.

With three to go, I heard Vic shout, “Think about the finish”. I knew I needed to jump early and planned to go as the course opens up and is more exposed to the wind. Bell lap. Kimberly jumped far earlier than anyone expected and we gave chase. I had one of the women who failed to do any work on my wheel and could not shake her. She nipped me at the line to put me in 5th place and on the podium. Christine’s work in the chasing group helped ensure an EVO podium! I was exhausted but very happy.

Lessons Learned: Think about more than the last lap and be more aware of the person who I think is the greatest threat. After chatting with Kimberly after the race, she told me she thought I was the one to beat and wanted to go early to get away from me. I should have been more aware of her position during that last lap.

Time Trial

33 km
Women’s 50-54, 19 preregistered.

After the crit, I was pooped. I spent the evening using my recovery legs, reading and hydrating. I would not make the same mistake as in the RR. As I warmed up for the TT, my power meter suggested great feats of glory were possible, with power readings in the 600+ range at an RPE of 4. Hmmm.

Power meter recalibrated and battery changed, Chuck guided me to the start of the TT. I was 5th from the end to start. Despite the hard effort during the crit, my legs felt ok. The course is rolling – very little flat and the hills not super long. Mimi was a welcome face in the starting house as she counted me down to what I hoped would be another Evo podium.

5-4-3-2-1 and I was off. Although I still had some spiky power readings, I settled into my race strategy to climb the hills as quickly as I could (my comparative advantage) and maintain as much power as I could during the downhills (my comparative disadvantage). After the turnaround, the woman 30 seconds behind me passed me. I caught her on the next hill. She passed my on the downhill, both of us trying to avoid any chance of illegal drafting. The woman who started last (2 minutes behind me) passed me and I noticed the same pattern. I would gain time on the uphill and lose time on the downhill.

I passed about 4 riders but never caught my 30 second person. I ended up 11th, about three minutes behind the women who won. When we looked at my power file, I hit my numbers. Perhaps I could have been a little faster. A minute max. Three minutes….no way. I fell short of my placement goal – on the podium, hopefully wearing gold.

Kudos:
To Chuck – for perfecting the fine art of being both the girlfriend and the boyfriend, for believing in my cycling and being by my side every km of this journey.
To Christine – for having my back during races and organizing Evo team headquarters, food and shelter.
To Cam, Dan, Vic and Dave – for cheering for our crit
To Wendy – for the Tuesday night pain and dinner sessions