I had finished giving one of my classes their final exam at the University of Windsor and the last students left at about 5:35. That left me about 55 minutes to get to the Ciociaro Club, register and pick up
my number, get dressed, get my bike ready and then warm up. On the way to the race, I realized that I would be lucky to get everything ready without getting a warm up--something I could overcome if the race held a steady pace. Everything was going well until I went to put on my shoes, and I realized that my orthotics were not in my bag....I left them in my mtb shoes which I was using while practicing for the P2A race this weekend.You might not think that it isn't a bid deal and that's what I thought. I figured seeing I was here I would do the race and hopefully let me feet recover after. I knew that my feet would get sore from racing without the orthotics, the reason why I got them in the first place. Worst thing is that I could have stopped at my house on the way to the race and it would have only added a couple of minutes.
Well, not to just quit without trying, I got my bike ready, inflated the tires, and got a whole lap around the track before the start. Very nice turn out for both groups of racers. I managed to have a good start and worked my way up to the middle early on. But, I couldn't get any draft because no one would give an inch. The wind was super nasty, with gusts up to 68kph!
So, I decided that if I had to sit on the outside without any protection, I might as well pull the group. And, I jumped onto the front and started to dictate the pace. Things were going well with me pulling then dropping back then pulling again for 2 straight laps.
I dropped back to the middle once again on the downhill section, right into the wind. My feet were starting to severely hurt but I still thought that things would be fine. We came around to the start and they signalled a Prime. Around the first turn I was holding in the middle but felt that I was falling off. We hit the uphill section and the pain shot through my feet to my knees...ouch. But I thought it would be okay. Riders were passing me now and I started to fall back towards the back. On the downhill I fell right off. I knew that I could catch the group but every revolution of the cranks shot nasty pains through my feet. I made the turn into the finishing straightaway, knowing full well that the group would slow after the Prime was decided and that I could catch up. But, it just hurt too much so I pulled out and that was it....
I lasted a whole 24 minutes without orthotics and easily the last 8 caused extreme pain. Boy! I could make a commercial for orthotics with that story. Needless to say, I was really upset because, even without a proper warm up, I knew I could ride into contention for the race. I suppose these things can happen....
more images by Sonya Vani
Full results at: Ciociaro Thursday Series