Race Report Track State Championships

[sadlebred]

The Georgia State Track Championships were (TSC) Friday & Saturday June 21-22 at the Dick Lane Velodrome in Atlanta. The TSC also host the Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee state championships as well. I have done very little track specific training this year after several years of focused training, working with a coach, and sacrificing riding off road to reach my track goals. This year is a little different as my main focus is to have fun, get back to riding off road, and not take track training too seriously. The TSC format is 3 sessions from Friday night to Saturday afternoon. Awards are based on a Sprint Omnium and an overall that includes every event. The Sprint tournament begins Friday night with the 200m TTs to see riders and the first few rounds of sprints. Sprinkled throughout are scratch races. Saturday morning the time trials and individual pursuits are run. Saturday afternoon includes the final sprint rounds for those still in the sprint tournament, keirin, and points races.

Friday Night Session
Sprints: I was up against pro rider Erica Carney. There was no way I could beat her. I started my sprint at the start of the 2nd lap, and she rode away from me without breathing hard.
Scratch Race: Scratch races are not my specialty. I tried to survive the 25 laps.
Sprint Repechage for places 5-7: I raced against Anneliese (17-18 year old sprinter) and Maria from Florida. Anneliese took off with 1 lap to go. I stayed glued to her wheel until the finish, and I was right with her. So, 6th in the sprints! I set a best power number for the year.

Saturday Morning Session
1.5 lap Time Trial – I trained for this event for the last 2 years but not this year. It’s showing in my times. My legs felt good, and I felt like I was turning the pedals over quickly. I was pleased with my effort, especially since I was a little tied from Friday night.
6 lap TT- This is survival mode only. I went out too fast and did a 500m start instead of a 2km start. I paid the price with slower laps 3-4. I came back in lap 5 and finished strong with a good push at the end. I felt fine with the effort as this is not my best event.

Saturday Afternoon Session
Keirin – The moto went out much faster than it normally does. We all had a problem staying on the wheel. I got stuck behind the moto, and I went HARD when it pulled off. It wasn’t enough. I was pleased with my effort but not with my placing.
Points Race: My least favorite race. I stayed with the pack the first couple of laps and then picked a comfortable pace to finish as my legs told me they were done for the weekend.

I finished third overall in the Master Women 40+ Sprint Omnium and 5th overall for the Women. This is the first state championship I’ve won at the track since around 2002 despite a dozen medals at the National Championships. For a year with no goals, I’ll take it!

[hurricanedrunk]

Congrats on a strong effort and your 3rd & 5th placements!! Great job!

[wawa]

I was going to ask you for a recap of this if you didn't write one.
I'm so fascinated by track racing, even though I have to google half the events every time you talk about it.
Congrats on a great weekend!!

[lilypad1126]

Congrats on your races. You put in a strong effort and it's always great when that pays off! I'm always in awe of folks who place in their races!

[sadlebred]

Jun 25, 2019 13:08:02 GMT -5 wawa said:

I was going to ask you for a recap of this if you didn't write one.
I'm so fascinated by track racing, even though I have to google half the events every time you talk about it.
Congrats on a great weekend!!

I'd be happy to answer any questions. This is the same race report I wrote for my team (plus some added stuff); none of them will understand it either. Ok, one will, but she races with me at the track. 

Suffice to say I did a whole lot of really hard stuff. You wouldn't believe how tired a 45 second and 3 minute all out effort can leave you. 

[Wines Not Whines]

Congratulations!

[wawa]

Jun 25, 2019 22:26:09 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

Jun 25, 2019 13:08:02 GMT -5 wawa said:

I was going to ask you for a recap of this if you didn't write one.
I'm so fascinated by track racing, even though I have to google half the events every time you talk about it.
Congrats on a great weekend!!

I'd be happy to answer any questions. This is the same race report I wrote for my team (plus some added stuff); none of them will understand it either. Ok, one will, but she races with me at the track. 

Suffice to say I did a whole lot of really hard stuff. You wouldn't believe how tired a 45 second and 3 minute all out effort can leave you. 

I wish there was a velodrome closer to me.  I feel like one of those "utter beginners come fall down on wood" days would be really fun.  
there's one not too far up in PA apparently. 

[sadlebred]

wawa Ummm...the one in PA is in Trexlertown. It's not just "a" velodrome. It's THE velodrome in the US. It hosts more days of internationally ranked racing than anywhere in the Americas. The Valley Preferred Cycling Center or "T-Town" as it's called, is an amazing place. They hosted the National Championships last year, and I had the pleasure of racing there for the first time. They offer a beginner certification class and have racing for all levels from "I just learned how to ride on the track" to Olympic medalists.

[wawa]

Jun 27, 2019 10:26:50 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

wawa Ummm...the one in PA is in Trexlertown. It's not just "a" velodrome. It's THE velodrome in the US. It hosts more days of internationally ranked racing than anywhere in the Americas. The Valley Preferred Cycling Center or "T-Town" as it's called, is an amazing place. They hosted the National Championships last year, and I had the pleasure of racing there for the first time. They offer a beginner certification class and have racing for all levels from "I just learned how to ride on the track" to Olympic medalists.

LOL I had no idea. I just googled "velodrome near me" and that's the nearest one. I wish it were closer!