Beat The Clock and Help Beat Cancer Time Trial #1

Beat the clock is a wonderful time trial series that raises money and awareness to benefit the LiveSTRONG foundation. I participated in this event twice last summer and noticed that the rider registration was much lower today. Yes, Lance admitted to Oprah and the world that he used performance-enhancing drugs during his 7 TDF victories.  I personally was not at all shocked by the “confession (aka-I got caught),” but if you were and you now hate Lance, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t people out there fighting the fight against cancer.   This series is not about Lance.  I am going to give people the benefit of the doubt and hope that they were not boycotting a wonderful series, but rather choosing to stay warm and dry in bed (weenies) on a dark/wet January morning. 

Individual Time Trial

Valley of the Sun is just around the corner and I needed to get some legit TT training in.  Sure I take my fancy bike out with my power tap/4 season tires for some efforts, but it’s just not the same.  There is something about slicking your hair back, putting on that stylish aero helmet and shhhhwoooooshing down Canada road with your fancy disc wheel. Ahhhhh something about it screams fast freedom!  The helmet keeps my ears plugged so I am unable to hear my obnoxious panting.  I know I look so cool on the bike so it doesn’t matter that a pint of snot covers my face, chest and sleeves come the finish.  We all know Lance IS a liar...... It IS ABOUT THE BIKE. Haha.  Ok, Ok- at least it is when it comes to me looking cool!


Thanks to my wonderful sponsors a new Argon E-118 showed up on my porch yesterday.  I can’t wait to get it fitted and start riding!  Who cares about being fast, How cool will I look on this?!?

http://www.argon18bike.com/bikes/triathlon-tt/e-118.html

Anyways, back to the ITT.  How do I always get so sidetracked? Regardless, the morning started with coffee, oatmeal and several trips to the bathroom...... darn race nerves!  I put on my sweet Jakroo Hellyer Velodrome skinsuit for the occasion and set out to Canada Rd with my man Keith.  I was the first to start at 7:31am.  I hate not having a carrot:/  I have done this event twice with finishing times of 24:47 (May 26 2012) and 25:02 (July 7^th 2012).  I figured somewhere around 25min was where I would be.  I rolled up to the TT start and took off looking cool of course. I felt good and just raced my race.  The best part was when my loving boyfriend that started 2 minutes behind me, passed me like a freight train.  He didn’t even say hi! Other then that I have no complaints.  Ok, maybe one.  I rolled in at 25:56...... my worst time EVER!  I was super bummed until results were posted and my strong ass super-star teammate Sara came in at 25:55, one second faster then me!  I always forget about wind/rain factors. Whew, what I relief, I don’t suck. 

Team Time Trial

I asked Keith if he would consider doing the Coed TTT with me.  I figured it would be difficult, but knew it would be excellent training.  He of course had to take it to the next level and set a top 3 leader board goal.  Ok, slot 3 sounded doable at 24 something.  I finished my ITT at 7:57am and the TTT start was at 8:12am.  We had 15 minutes to simultaneously recover, spin, and stay warm.  I was a little flustered at the start and didn’t get myself organized or my garmin reset.  Keith took off at the whistle pretty much leaving me alone in the morning mist.  That was start fail 2 of 2 this season.  Note to self- work on starts.  I quickly got onto Keith’s wheel and we took off.  I was on my best behavior on the way out and just allowed him to kill me, as I stayed glued to his wheel.  It started to rain and my eyes were wet.  The water from his disc was splashing me in the face. I was legally blind for about 3 miles.  The only thing I could make out was the lime green on his kit and a big black blob of a disc wheel.  As we hit the turn around the rain subsided a bit, but so did I.  I think I yelled DOWN DOWN 6 times on the way back and the response I got was, “come on.”  I think I almost starting crying, but I didn’t have enough energy to do so.  Keith and I finished the TTT at 23:21 which is 2:35 faster then my ITT today (no wonder why I wanted to cry) and :17 seconds shy of the Huang/Thornburn 2006 record!  I’d say with a little training we can get those 17 seconds! 

Beat the Clock Records- http://blocg.wordpress.com/results/beat-the-clock-records/

 2M TTT Mixed

1. 23:04 Ted Huang/Christine Thorburn – 3/18/2006
2. 23:21 Jennifer Zierke/Keith Hillier – 1/26/2013
3. 23:36 Mary Ann Levenson/Dan Smith – 3/17/2007

Todays Results-http://blocg.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/btc-jan2013-results-by-overall21.pdf

I am excited for the season to come and so blessed for the support and encouragement from others.

Thank you for reading

JenniferMarie

San Bruno MTN Hill Climb

San Bruno Hill Climb was not exactly, well at all, ever thought about, talked about or put on my race calendar for the year.  Who gets up early on News Years Day to climb a mountain?!  Stupid people!  Yep, I was one of them this year.  Why did I do it? My oversized track quads don’t exactly scream CLIMBER.  A few reasons come to mind; “force myself to practice,” “its close,” “I had a climbing workout scheduled anyway,” “Everyone else was doing it” and “I wanted to race my NEW ARGON 18.” I scrambled to purchase my 2013-racing license and pre-registered to save a few bucks.  Bam.  I was set.  Time to practice.

RACE PREP

Keith took me out to SBM on two separate occasions; first to train hard and second to learn the course.  He showed me the proper lines, where attacks may happen and where to stay protected.  I felt ready.  

(Training Day. Burr it was cold at the top)

(Race Prep SBM STRAVA Segment 22:31)

PRE RACE

I took a couple Melatonin and went to bed around 10pm on New Years Eve.  I woke the next morning, had some coffee and headed to the race.  I went ahead and parked next to Beth and Michael.  Beth is always so diligent about her warm up, something I lack.  I figured she was a good example and I should set up my trainer next to her.  Race Goal- PR on SBM STRAVA segment.  

(Since Keith couldn't race and I don't have a kit yet, I rocked his! I LOVE MPS!)

RACE

The race, yes the race.  Ok the bottom line is, men’s races are completely different then women’s races!  Keith told me the attacks would happen in a few spots (which they did, in the men’s race)......... not the START like it did in the women’s!  Beth Newell was on a record-breaking mission and had made a left turn and was starting up the hill before I EVER clipped in to my pedals.  My first instinct was DAMN, now I have to go catch her.  I took off! Beth was solo off front and the group of 30ish (all women/all categories started together), hungry for a win, women were behind me.  I was so confused.  DO I chase? DO I wait?  I wasn’t sure, so I just kept riding at my pace.  I was all-alone forever. I wasn’t protected in ANY of those spots Keith told me to be.  I just kept riding.  I turned into San Bruno Park and the road got steeper.   The field was shattered.  Someone would pass me, I would pass them and I started to lose track of where I was.  I came to the top of the MTN and put in one final dig to cross the finish line.  

(Oh dear, coach always tells me to work on form.  Sit up and open my chest.  This is my signature, slouch and bobble my head.  NOT good form!)

 RESULTS:  I finished 2nd AND KILLED my previous STRAVA segment time 19:51!

POST RACE

The best part about women’s racing is the camaraderie.   After the podium I went on a nice 2-hour ride with Beth, Bev, Lucia and Mike.  All on different teams, but all have something in common.  We race and ride our bikes because we love it.  I am so grateful to have met so many wonderful women (and men) in the sport.

(Podium Shot.  Yes I have belly and pit sweat.... I warmed up in that shirt!  Classy I know:). Inside my Rubios bag is my winnings, clif bars and some performance enhancing tablets of some sort. haha.)

PRESS

A professional version of the race: http://norcalcyclingnews.com/2013/01/02/nccn-disptches-san-bruno-hillclimb-jan-1st-2013/

Team: http://norcalcyclingnews.com/2012/12/20/roster-pinnacle-training-systems-pb-argon-18/

Thank You 2013 Team Sponsors 

Pinnacle Training http://pinnacletrainingsystems.com/

Osmo Nutrition http://osmonutrition.com/

Argon 18 Bikes http://www.argon18bike.com/velo.html

Pactimo Clothing http://pactimo.com/cycling/cycling-styles/summit/

Felicia Gomez- Director Sportif and Coach

Bill Nicely- Team Manager

Super excited for the New Year!

Thanks for reading,

JenniferMarie

PS... Who knew I would write so much for a 3.7mile race?!  I cut a lot out believe it or not!