After racing duathlons, triathlons, time trials, road and track races for the past 16 years, I was feeling a sense of relief and calm that this would be my final “pursuit”… July 27th, at the 2011 USA Cycling Masters Track National Championships in Trexlertown, PA. With a seemingly endless array of life activities, training time has been quite difficult to fit in, especially when you’re training to win – not happy to settle for anything less.
Kate made the trek up north with some winner’s bouquets in tow, as did Kristina and her entire family. My children really enjoyed “banging on the boards” with little Annabelle and I was truly touched by Kate and Kristina’s presence and their positive support – they all drove an hour to watch a sub-three minute race! Teammates… awesome!
T-town had become my training location since 2002 when I won the Air Products winner’s jersey under the Friday Night lights. By the time 2007 rolled around, two more children were welcomed to our brood (bringing our tally to three), as were some coveted time trial wins and a Masters National Pursuit Championship.
In early 2011, I was passionately drawn to the rigidity (and craziness) of training for the 2-kilometer pursuit, as T-town was again chosen to host Masters Track Nationals. I secured the best coach, current World Record holder in the Women’s Team Pursuit, Dotsie Bausch. I got an oximeter to measure my morning oxygen levels and resting heart rate. I paid up for a Y membership so I could lift ridiculous amounts of weight for ridiculous amounts of reps on the angled leg press. I got a PowerTap and uploaded all of my workout data to Training Peaks for my coach to monitor my progress. And then, I rode. On my road bike, my time trial bike, my track bike, in my basement, on long stretches of pavement and around an oval track. Yes, there were some bumps in the road, literally, when a concussion derailed my efforts for three weeks. And there will always be time constraints with three active, athletic children, numerous house chores and volunteer responsibilities. Irish dance recitals, indoor soccer games, local team baseball games, travel team baseball games, PA District 22 baseball tournament games, lacrosse play days, and swim meets were never been missed for a workout. The workouts sometimes had to wait until midnight, sometimes had to be completed by 5 a.m., some were done while watching Dr. Seuss, some while watching The Passion – but they were always done.
The plans were laid – the work was complete. It was my year to once again claim that coveted stars and stripes jersey and to happily earn those lovely flowers that Kate brought. All I had to do was go around the 333-meter track 6 times, as fast as humanly possible. I had just won a bronze medal in the 500-meter time trial a day before. My legs were definitely feeling primed now and ready for gold.
2.42.955 was my time, my fastest ever! I thought that that time was solid and it would stick. No one would better that, not in my age group. When I won the Masters National Pursuit Championship four years ago, I won it in a time of 2.45.285. I’m four years older, trained differently and solely concentrated on the 2,000-meter effort this year. After all of my efforts, I thought that the win was already mine; the gold medal was already around my neck. Blink. That’s two tenths of a second. A sprinter in the final heat posted a 2.42.741. Blink. Silver. Tears. Disappointment.
Despite the near miss of gold by fractions of a second, I won a silver and a bronze medal in the 2011 Track National Championship and set a personal record. Thanks to family, teammates, and friends for all their support!
I finished with the main group, first for the cat 4’s! Goal met!
