BC Marathon Series # 1

ORECRUSHER RACE - SQUAMISH

There are 2 series in BC this year, BC Cup Series and the Marathon Series. I will be doing most of the races from the Marathon Series, although you need to race the last race to be able to be eligible to win the series, and I will be away with Cyclebetes then - oh well, will do what I can.

So orecrusher was a pretty flat by rooty rough technical course. So with no significant climbs and a more challenging course - this was my kind of race.

After arriving earlier enough to prepare and get a good warm up in and ride the course, I stood in line at registration for 45mins .... my plan was out. I now just had time for a quick 10 min warm up!

It was a lemons start (eg run 300m to go and get your bike to start the race). Heart rate straight up to 180. So it was about a 40km race - we had 6 laps to complete, each lap about 6.5km's. First lap I moved into 2nd and stayed with Ann. My aim was to stick with her and see how I felt about half way through. I pushed to keep with you her on the slight climb of the course, then past her on the fast flowy section. Into 2nd lap, she past me on the climb again - I figured this was how it was going to be for the 6 laps! My heart rate was still through the roof, my stomach was in knots, I had to back off and let my heart rate settle as I knew I couldn't maintain this. I backed off a bit, it settled half way through the 2nd lap. Ann had a big fall at the end of the 2nd. We chatted for a bit into the 3rd, she was hurting. I moved into the single track and now just pushed to keep her behind me. I was feeling strong and was able to keep my pace on the slight climbs. I kept pushing hard thinking she was right behind me.

I pulled through first place! woot woot.

Was stoked with how I felt and how the Norco Faze 1 didn't skip a beat on the rough course!

Top 3 Elite Women Results:

Megan Rose - North Vancouver - John Henry Bikes - 02:16:17
Ann Yew - North Vancouver - Team Whistler - 02:20:13
Linda Robichaud - Victoria - Team Whistler - 02:24:41

I was waiting for some pics to put up, but haven't found any yet!
M

BC Cup # 1

3rd Race for the year. The BC Cup Series was about to start with the first race kicking off on the Sunshine Coast of BC. I headed over with Ann. After a short ferry ride, quick stop for food, we got to the start and geared up. I just came from 9 days off the bike on a holiday in Japan, so not sure how the legs were going to take this!



I remember this course from last year, a brutal long climb and a super fun downhill. We had 3 laps to complete. After a 2km hill climb to the start we were ready. A steep hill climb start to our first downhill, I had a little too much air in my tires and was just trying to adjust being thrown around a little more then usual. At the bottom of the downhill there was a creek crossing, last year I managed to ride straight through it, although not able to get around the person in front of me, I actually fail to unclip and find myself sitting in the cold cold creek!!

After a battle with another girl to take 4th place, I now got a lead on her by the 2nd lap, so was chasing 3rd. Back was feeling great compared to last year and legs were feeling stronger! Although each climb I was getting a little slower with fatigue, but each descent I was getting a little faster keeping my lap times very consistent. I was on the last 10+min downhill to the finish and was giving it all I had to try and catch that 3rd place, but had no-one in sight, I come across 4th place, to find I was only 37 sec off getting the 3rd place finish to the girl I had beat by only a few seconds in Cumberland.



Had a great race though, tough but fun course. Felt 100 times better after the race in Cumberland a few weeks ago, was a lot more coherent and not so destroyed, so that was a great thing!

Elite Women Results

1. McKirdy , Jean Ann 01:47:22
2. Yew, Ann 01:53:13
3. GUYRUP, Joele 01:54:40
4. Rose , Megan 01:55:17
5. Short , Katherine 01:57:37
6. COLLINS, Karen 02:08:46
7. Melanson , Julie 02:20:13
8. Lynch, Christine 02:22:56
9. Armstrong , Paula 02:27:05