BEAST!!

I want to write up a full recap of yesterday's "race"...but I don't have time right now so I'll give the short version (yes, that is possible for me to do!).

It was cold and windy.  I seriously almost backed out of doing this race a thousand times, right up to the time we took off.  I secretly told myself if I made it to the big hill and quit there I'd be okay (embarrassed but okay). 

Let me back up to Friday for a second...I drove the whole course once and the hard hill TWO MORE TIMES!!  I played a couple of songs and even took a video of the last few miles with those songs playing.  I watched it no less than five times.  Let me tell you...there's nothing like having theme music for a hill climb!! ((I added one of the songs to my playlist--"The Saints Are Coming".)) 

Back to the race...It's funny because all the hills that would normally completely FREAK ME OUT before really didn't yesterday because I had already been on the first part of the course on my bike.  That was my saving grace.  I kept thinking, and saying outloud, "I've done this before...I've been here...I've already survived this and it wasn't bad."   When I got to the section I had videoed I had the songs running through my head and in my mind I was just watching the screen.  I knew how long each climb would be even when I came to a spot where I couldn't see the top.  I had picked out some landmarks to mark easier sections and knew when the hard climb was coming so I could mentally prepare (or quit...just being honest).

In a nutshell...I did it!!  I didn't stop.  I didn't get out of the saddle (not sure if that's a good thing or not, but I think it's good).  And...I came in THIRD PLACE!!!  It sounds really good until you find out there were only three of us there!!!  The first place girl was a 15 year old who's 17 year old sister had just done the B race (2 loops) and then rode with her sister for a third loop...they are both AMAZING and were way in front of us after about 5 or so miles.  Second place was a Tribe-mate of mine who is an Ironman.  We rode together the whole time (with her leading...but I refused to draft off her after it became apparent I wasn't going to be able to pull her for more than a couple of minutes...it just wouldn't have been fair).  We finished pretty much side-by-side with her out in front about 10".

I promise I'm not trying to over-exaggerate here...but yesterday was truly life-changing for me.  I told my husband later, I remember the day I held a mouse and I remember the day I sat on my roof...and I will forever remember the day I rode up that monster-sized BEAST hill!!  (If that didn't make sense, read my previous post...)

More later...

Thanks for stopping in, come again soon!
:D