The Race: Dawg Days of Summer Circuit Race
The Course: 1.2 mile loop on smooth, wide roads
The Field: Open women, Men 1/2/3
The Finish: 1st, 29th
Open Women
My coach instructed me to sit it during the race and sprint for the finish; she wanted me to practice setting up and executing a successful finish in a bunch sprint. Then Joe Jefferson (announcer) called a $50 cash prime a few laps in and, well, CA$H MONEY. So I got that prime and then went for the next one as well, but didn’t go for the gambler prime because no amount of money could make up for having to call my coach and tell her I blew the finish because I was trying to increase my Starbucks budget. When the pace picked up at the final corner, I got on a solid wheel, waited until the point I’d chosen, and then sprinted for the line. Success! My first win of the season. I savored the moment for the five minutes it took to get back around the course to line up for the men’s race.
Men 1/2/3
It rained from the start until just before the finish. Being on anyone’s wheel meant taking a geyser of water in the face, but being out of the draft meant taking a strong gust of wind in the face. I settled for drafting with my head stuck out to the side. Otherwise, the race was uneventful. I stayed in the field, finished in the field, and got in a soggy, hard workout for an hour. More success! It was good to be back home racing for the weekend.