Newtons Revenge Report: Franzen Conquers the Big "Rock Pile"

Once in a while we coin a term that sticks. Mt. Washington, has been nick-named the "rock pile". I kinda like that...it makes it less scary in your mind. So keep that in mind if you attempt the most challenging climbs anywhere in the U.S. - "It's just a big rock pile".

By Karen Franzen:

Bob-you were 100% right, great weather for the pre ride, expect "challenging" weather on race day. Truer words have never been spoken. Nice at the base but the top had been covered in mist all morning and wasn't about to change anytime soon. What looks like mist from below was actually cold WINDY mist.... my lens of my glasses on my right eye not only misted up but FROZE so I was not able to see out of that eye. I actually did better just closing that eye while I rode. Wind gusts averaging around 20-30 with gusts over 50 made it a bit tricky. Nice when it was a tail wind but HELL as a headwind. After the dirt section we hit the "mist" and visibility went from bad to worse. The final mile I tried to stay with a guy from Stage 5 team just so I could figure out where to go. Sometimes it was sooo thick I could barley make out the lines on the road! While I was coming to the final right with a sharp left to the "wall" at the end, I took my left hand off the handlebars to wipe some water that dripped down my left lens (the only one I could almost see out of) and promptly start to fall over, slow motion of course.... had to get around the corner, hop back on and ride over the line.

Then to try to find Dan. I couldn't even see 10 feet in front of me but was able to locate him and that was a very good thing. Lots of others weren't so lucky to find their rides that quick. MANY were wondering around shivering in their bike clothes wrapped in the PolarTec blankets we all got.

I learned a few things: keep pedaling even if you can't see... NEVER take your hands off the bars! I know now to take my glasses off as soon as I hit the mist on that mountain. Couldn't see anyway so wasn't much different than being blind like I am with out the glasses.

Proper warm up was key, even though we all stood on the line for quite a while before the cannon blew (yes- no starting gun or bell or whistle... a CANNON).

I saw a couple women I wanted to try to stay with, did pretty good until hitting the dirt section, keeping them in sight and sometimes getting right on their wheels. I was starting to cramp though so cut back and decided to stay with in some saner ranges on the PowerTap. At that point, we had a great tailwind but I knew it was going to be awful as soon as we hit the hairpin to the right and sure enough, smack dab into the headwind with gusts that were whipping me around pretty good. Started cramping in the quads so tried to adjust my pedal stroke, the cramping in the quads eased but then started in the hamstrings.... and that's pretty much how the rest of it went to the finish. Thank GOD my legs didn't cramp up completely. I know the cold damp conditions were the major problem there as that's been what has happened to me over the last few years. My legs don't like the cold damp & working hard all at the same time.

Not sure how I place over all but came pretty close to my goal time of 1:30 with finishing time of 1:37:54. Happy with that. Had a great turkey dinner post race (yes, I said TURKEY DINNER), Dan loved that! Then hung out for awards and low and behold, I ended up with 3rd for my division. Pretty cool as I thought I was about 5th or so but with them lumping a bunch of the master fields together, it was tough to
tell who was in my age group.

More CCRT podium finishes

Daria Vander Veer placed 2nd in her division (and 7th overall) at the 4th Annual Stamford KIC IT Triathlon last weekend and Jason Renaud gets the CT silver at Keith Berger Crit in the Juniors division. Below are their stories:

KIC IT Tri: (by Daria Vander Veer)
I have to compliment race director Beth Shluger on pulling off a logistically challenging event smack in the heart of downtown Stamford. Huge post-race party and lots of happy participants. The main things I enjoyed were the absolutely flawless swim conditions; dead flat calm, waters a lovely cool (not cold) temp, no jellyfish. Heck, there wasn’t even any seaweed! Ended up 2nd in my age group, about 1:00 behind the winner, thanks to the woman I told you about who gave me a “lift” through miles 3-5 with her beautiful tempo that happened to match mine (and her slightly greater speed). How often do you get such a perfect draft on the run? Although getting up at 3:30am hurt, I am glad I went.

Keith Berger Crit (by Jason Renaud)

This was the first time I ever did this race, so I wasn’t sure what to expect having never even ridden this course before. The junior field was 14 riders, which was not that bad of a junior turn out compared to other races I have done with just one or 2 juniors. I thought that this criterium would follow the same rhythm of criteriums I had participated in at Rentschler Field, but I was most wrong! As soon the whistle blew the field was blow apart as attacks came from the left and the right of the field. The Bay Hill Capital/ CLNoonan team was the most represented team in the race, having 3 (or 4?) riders from that team out there, and they were certainly the causes of the early chaos as they were the primary attackers, leaving the rest of the field scrambling for positions against the onslaught. After lap 2 the chaotic mess had let a breakaway of 2 riders to slip away, and the main field began a pace line in an attempt to pull them back. The main field also split as the younger and/ or more tired riders fell off the back, leaving a 6-man pace line. The paceline happened for the rest of the race until the final lap, with sporadic attacks and accelerations from the 2 Bay Hill Capital. CLNoonan riders that remained with the field. And the breakaway of 2 guys actually lapped the entire field!!! Which was the most impressive junior racing I have seen to date. They ended up taking the 1st and 2nd spots for the race, leaving the field to duke it out for 3rd place in a field sprint. At the beginning of this race I was completely caught off guard at the intensity and speed, and I paid for that dearly. It was very challenging until I just found my rhythm and stuck with that the rest of the race. The accelerations throughout the race with also very taxing, and I think that if I had warmed up better before the race I would have been able to respond to those attacks better. I have never been all that great at sprinting, so that showed near the end when I lost some ground during the field sprint and ended up taking 6th (or 7th?, I am not quite sure). So all in all, it was a great race, and other than my sprinting during the field sprint at the end of the race I am pleased with my performance and look forward to doing it again next year!