January 17, 2009

Time to test the legs? You betcha.

Today was the first race of the Bring It On series in Alachua, Florida. It's a small corporate park circuit about one mile long and two corners with nearly no elevation gain at all.

The B race had a field of about 50.

I lined up well and didn't miss my clip-in for a change. I rode the first few laps like an idiot, as usual (gotta settle the nerves, you know...). Launched a few attacks, pulled the field around for a bit, etc. Good times, good times.

About half an hour into the race, they called a preme (prime?). I don't know what it was for, but I have a nasty habit of staying up with the folks going for them. When we crossed the line, I looked back and saw a gap-filled strung out field. I went for it. Long story short, no one else came, and I got caught 20 minutes later -- with three laps to go. There was a good five minutes in there where I thought I might have actually been able to do it.

But everything is coming along nicely, and despite my end-of-pack (not dropped) finish, I racked up some sweet premes during my flyer, including $5 cash, a six pack of Heinekin (later swapped with an out-of-towner for a $25 gift certificate to the Sports Orthopaedic Institute at Shands) and a delightfully huge, delightfully delicious batch of homemade cookies baked by Mrs. Ken's wife (sorry!). They're really good though. And almost gone a mere three hours later, I might add.

Either way, great workout. I really pushed myself all week and was way less than rested for this. We'll see how the season turns out...