After Tour of Galena, I realized that I needed to back off and heal my shoulder. In my opinion, I felt like I had hit the wall pre-say. Racing Toad was not going happen. So, I decided to race Superweek. Honestly, I love Superweek. It has a place in my heart for many reasons and it always will. With all the stuff going around about Superweek, I wanted to " Just Go Race My Bike".
Wood Dale: At first, my heart sunk, when I got to the 1st race of Supwerweek " Wood Dale and finding only a few women racing. I was just about to jump in the men's cat3 race when I saw the Columbia and Costa Rica Team. I got my wish for a good competitive race even though the field was small, who cares, its a RACE, close to HOME and it was FUN! I loved the Wood Dale course. I was excited when I got to the start line and was ready to go. I shot out and took pulls, staying with the top group. I even tried to go for sprint points! That's right, something I never do. I went for it but the Colombians really had some great sprinters. I didn't care, I was having fun and ended up taking 9th place.
Then, there was Geneva. I felt pretty good but was not mentally in it when I took corner 2 and 3. I lost my confidence and fear set in, which I am working on this. I lost the field pretty early and rode with a few other riders and then decided to chase one of the Costa Rica women whom had got dropped and we rode for a while and I finished.
Moving on to Richton Park. This was my 1st Superweek race I won last yr as a cat3. It's a great course, not to technical, flat. Race started, and someone yells out "WATCH IT" pace car!!! It wasn't moving and I almost rode into it!! We started our race w/out the pace car. So,we had a neutral lap around the course and started. Attacks went off and I took 1 or 2 attacks that didn't really stick to well. Then Stacey had a nice attack. Then one of the Colombians countered (I think) and then a break formed. Stacy and I where chasing HARD. I just remember feeling the lactic acid starting to build as I push so hard to get into the break. I blew up and stayed in the field. At 5 laps to go a Firetruck came on the course. They stopped our race and then restarted it. I finish in the field sprint 8th.
WillowSprings Short course RR.
Again I love racing close to home esp when its right in my backyard. I was feeling kind of tired. I wasn't sleeping through the night for some reason. Race started and just about every time we hit the climb the Colombians/Costa Rica Team attacked. I was right on it though. One attack was made right after the climb as you enter the corner which was a smart move too.Long story short, came down to a field sprint. Came in 10th. I was still sitting 9th overall.
Willow Spring Long Course RR:
I had made a HUGE mistake and taught 5:30 a.m. spin class the same morning I was doing this race. On top of losing sleep, my energy level was low. I really didn't know how long I was going to last. Race started. I basically sat in most of it, only taking a few pulls. I started to feel sick and wanted ......well.... A fig newton. Out of all things, I wanted a fig newton. Last lap, my legs finally started to feel somewhat better. Kristen was leading the pack up the climb, this was my opportunity. I waited patiently. I decided not to attack first. I had a clue on who might attack first and I was right! She went off, I gunned it HARD as I could up the climb and pulled in a solid 6th place. I was happy with that. Moved me to 8th place overall.
Beloit Race: Knowing that Kristen wasn't planning on racing I was a bit bummed. So, it was just me against the Columbian/Costa Rica Team and the 4 Canadain women joined in too this time. This course was VERY fun. Flat, 4 corners with long straight aways. Race started, attacks went off right away. I chase down 3 of them from the gun. More attacks came one after the other. This race was non-stop attacks. One would attack then a counter attack. One got away half way through the race. I jumped into a 2 person break half way in and the 2 riders I was with decided to sit up not work and so I tried to ride away and 2 few others had caught us and then the field wasn't to far behind. Then I got in another 2nd person break and same thing happened. A bit frustrated I was and I had burned alot of matches By 4 laps to go. the leader picked up the pace and it was down to a field sprint again. Came in 10th. Although I didn't podium I felt much more aggressive and confident in this race and had a great time.
When I got home, I had gotten a phone call from my mother in law that she was going for a blood transfusion in the hospital. I wasn't about to leave my son with my in laws. So I decided not to race and spend time with family. As much as my heart wanted to race the entire series I knew deep down that the right thing to do is family first and nothing is more important than that. None of this would be possible if it wasn't for my in laws and there love for my son Shane. As I was told by one of my team mates " Kim, racing will always be there for you" and that is true.
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