Okay, I figure I had best get a post up for the weekend races before what foggy memory I have of them gets completely washed away. For Saturday, that meant racing in New Britain on the ever enjoyable course in Walnut Hill Park. This course is one that I have been dying to finish top 3 on since it’s a fast course than suits my strengths. I was hoping today would be that day and planned accordingly, figuring I was coming in on a training peak.  I had preregisterred for the 35+ and 30+ masters races only since I also planned to race in New London on Sunday.

Masters 35+: 6 of us took the line for Horst-Benidorm-Property Research Corp. in this race (Paul, Thom, Zane, Wade, Brian, and myself). One way or another, I wanted to be in the sprint, but I was sure a break was going to happen. Scott G, a familiar face that’s been tearing up the Ninigret Wednesday night series was making an appearance. A big man with plenty of power on tap, I was watching for a move to get off with him in it. I also made some overtures prior to the race to let others know to watch and help ensure a well represented break might form.

Sure enough, midway through, Scott gets off with 2 others. A chase effort forms and a few more get across. Zane was up ahead, so I surfed wheels to get in the chase. With about six up the road, the gap grew and I knew it was the time to jump across. Zane saw me go and forced anyone who wanted in to come around him. Only a few more made it across to get the group to ca. 12.

For a good part of the race we dangled no more than 10-15 sec in front of the pack. I was ever concerned since we lacked representatives from Target Training and the ‘Nauts. Maybe that prompted me to be a bit overzealous in my efforts. the break worked passably well together, but there were definitely those of us working hard and few absolute shirkers. Several times we felt like we were at serious risk of getting caught, but at the same time I knew I had some good experienced teammates in the bunch to help keep our gap open.

In the end we stayed away, but in the end I also did too much work. Halfway through the last lap I found myself on the front of the break; the last place I wanted to be. I did manage to force riders around me, but when the sprint opened up, my legs did not and I rolled in a somewhat disappointing 9th. I did have $15 to show for a prime, but, while top ten was a goal, my stretch goal was 5th or better.

Masters 30+:
Our numbers were reduced in this race with only Zane, Brian and yours truly representing.  the field was smaller, so the risk of a split seemed bigger.  My goal was to get some redemption for the 35+ finish and I was going to force myself to stay attentive and in front of the pack all race long while conserving enough to be in better position to sprint.  The legs felt dramatically better and I was feeling good most of the way through.  I only let myself slip back a couple of times, but otherwise was aggressively holding position towards the front.

Eventually a split happened with (I think) less than 10 to go.   It was one of those funny things where I was making sure I was staying up front but not looking back.  Then we go through the S/F stretch and someone yells “10 seconds” !  What?  I look back sure enough, there’s daylight between the rear wheel of our group and the rest of the bunch, with 2 orange jerseys patrolling the front.

A quick count told me there were nine of us with CCB, Stage one, Target Training and Exodus represented.  The break seemed set.  I did work, but didn’t go overboard.  This time I conserved a bit more and when we found ourselves assured of finishing ahead of the main pack, I was jockeying for a good position coming into the finish stretch.  The only problem was, I felt too good.  There was a moment of hesitation at the top of the downhill turn on the last lap and I thought, this is it!  I can attack and hold it to the line.  Well, that plan worked great up until about 75-100m out, then pop, pop…pop..pop,pop…The legs started to fill and one by one 5 guys go past.  Too impatient, too soon. I should have held up my sprint.  This was another time when I kicked myself because I had been aiming to line up on Paul R’s wheel kn0wing how well he’s been sprinting.  Sometime I’ll need to actually listen to that inner voice…

Ah well, 6th was still good enough to be in the money.  No podium, but still two top tens.  I am racing stronger, but as always I need to do some work on the racing smarter part!