Nicole Drier competes in Quasi Half Ironman

Don't let Nicole's quiet demeanor fool you - this woman is an animal! Congratulations Nicole!




By Nicole Drier: On Sunday, I completed my first half Ironman! The event consists of a 1.2mile swim, 56mile bike and 13.1mile run (in that order). The Rev3 took place at Quassy amusement park in Middlebury, CT. It was extremely well organized with tons of support! The weather was perfect with a low of 59, a high of 72 and a water temp of 69. My goals were to complete the swim in 40mins, bike in 3hrs 45mins and then run the entire half marathon. Two things I am glad I purchased for this race are my new blueseventy tinted goggles for sunny mornings and 2XU compression tri shorts. On a recommendation from Daria, I had the Cycling Concepts folks order me a longer pair of tri shorts and they were excellent!!

My morning started pretty early; the transition area where you rack your bike and set up all your gear for the race (cycling shoes, running sneakers, etc) was open from 5:15am – 6:40am. Everyone had their own spot in transition with their name on it and there was plenty of room. At one point I took a look around and it was interesting to see what everyone else was doing to warm up, how they set up their gear, what kind of bike they had etc. I tried to make some friends, but everyone seemed really nervous and quiet. I ended up giving a lesson on pumping tires. Doing a good deed pre-race always helps ease my nerves and makes me feel good!

Once transition closed I had a snack and headed down to the water in my wetsuit. The swim was broken up into waves each with its own start time. While I waited for my wave to start I tried to make conversation with no luck yet again. Oh well! The swim was a little crazy. There seemed to be an excess of arms and legs flying everywhere. I had to make my way around quit a few panicked swimmers and ended up catching a slower group of more arms and legs everywhere. I got hit a few times, but managed a decent time of 38 mins.

In transition I had a quick snack (I love my snacks!) then swapped my wetsuit and goggles out for my Cervelo S1. Time for my favorite leg of the race! It was a little chilly at the start heading downhill and my knees were achy, but I warmed up quick. It was a lovely ride with a good mix of steep short climbs, long steady climbs and short down hills which usually turned into up hills. I believe it was 3, 850ft of climbing over 56 miles Once again, tons of support with 3 water/food/rest stops. At mile 20 I noted how great I was feeling and then at mile 23 I felt sick. I eased up a little, unzipped my jersey, ate more food and drank some water. We had a steady climb that started at mile 23, leveled out for a moment, and then continued climbing to mile 31. I was feeling better after the climb when I got a good breeze cruising downhill. I finished in 3hrs 30 mins with an average speed of 16mph. When I returned to transition someone had racked their bike in my spot. A volunteer immediately recognized my confusion, and came over to shuffle the bikes for me.

I was feeling pretty good so I pulled on my running shoes and took off. A man caught up to me in the 1st mile and informed me that I was insane for riding my bike down hill so fast. I reassured him that I knew the course and it was ok, but he threw his hands in the air and yelled something as he ran off. My max speed was 40mph and I think that was pretty reasonable for the course. So anyway, the run started off easy, but as expected, the hills started at mile 4 and just kept on coming! Luckily there were food/water stops every mile with lots of awesome volunteers. Most of the run was shaded which helped. At mile 6 I had to pull over for an ambulance and it was hard to get going again. I was dragging my feet through mud at mile 11 and reminded myself I had a massage booked for the next morning! I managed to run the entire thing although mile 11-12.5 was more of a shuffle run. I finally crossed the finish line at 6hrs and 18mins! I met my fan club and then headed to the water to cool my legs. I was lucky to have so many people cheering me on; my father, brother, future sister-in-law, and Dave. My mom and grandma were at home, but they watched live online as I made it across the finish.

Would I do it again you ask?? Absolutely! Is there a full Ironman in my future? You only live once so why not!?

Donna Davis races Coyote Hill Classic

Not just a MTB race - three races in two days! The following is Donna's recap of last weekends two-day event - Nice job Donna!

From Donna Davis:
This MTB camp is situated in a Vermont setting surrounded by a trail network which includes miles of single track, mowed fields of double track and dirt roads. It is run by Tom Materson who also comes up with these challenging courses. Short track and XC: For these courses he took his lawn tracker out and started mowing, when he came across water, he built homemade bridges using planks or trees cut in half lengthwise with chicken wire over them for traction or on most occasions you peddled through the mud. When he lead you into the woods, be assured it was technical. Saw Jon Tarbox there, he said this entire place is really tough. All courses were changed from previous years.



Race 1 Short Track: Got there plenty early so I was the 1st to pre-ride it and my front tire was slipping out on the grass, which made me really nervous and cautious. (I need to figure out if there is a way to avoid that). The woods part was short but nuts, rocks strategically placed so if you managed to avoid one, there was another and don't forget the slippery big root and the tree. There were 14 of us including me and 2 cat 1 women. He said 20 mins + 3 laps, if you get lapped, don't worry, your last lap will be the winners last lap. This race was a mass start. You start out climbing around his yard, get on the dirt road, onto the grass that seemed drier by then, and try to go like heck. I saw the 2 laps to go sign and said, "omg, not sure I can do this" then when I came around again he said that's it, I said "thank you". I came in 1st (because I was the only cat 3 women there). Once it was over it didn't seem that tough, but doing it seemed like torture. Looking back on it now, this one was cake!

No rest for the wicked............

Race 2 (one hour later) 1.5 mile Hill Climb (think he meant to say "side of a mountain climb"): The start was in someone's dirt driveway across the dirt road, 1 minute between each rider. Single track, with switch backs, roots, rocks, sharp turns and thundering in the background, I tried to hurry up. I thought this wasn't that technical, others thought it was too technical. Made it to the top in 9+ mins, winner came in 4+. (1st again, because I was the only one).

Rest up for tomorrow's XC (6 miles......."oh come on, how bad can 6 miles be")

Race 3 XC: I started pre-riding what I thought was the course and got freaked out. Had to walk down part of it and then turned around. Then I was told it started in the opposite direction from yesterday's race, did part of that and felt better, but was told that other section is part of the race. Cat 3 race 9:30, there were alot of racers with 6 women. I was really nervous on the line, even thought of chickening out on this one. At that point I decided to stay in the back and play it safe, well, 2 others thought the same and I wasn't in the back. The 1st part was doable, then came that nasty section and I flew down it (2nd time's a charm) so I started to feel better and started ramping it up, but it was kinda late since there was only 1 person behind me. I managed to get up all the hills, walked a couple scary downhills, didn't want to get the shoes dirty so made it through all the mud pits, fell a few times and was grateful it was only 6 miles. Some cat 2 guys passed me that were pre-riding it and I heard them say "what is Tom doing to us"!! I Came in 5th, 5 mins behind 3rd or 4th.


When I was done with my race, it seemed like there were a couple/few hundred people there for the next races. Great turnout.

Looking back/Lessons learned: Never count on any mtb'ers option as to how technical a course is, you'll need to form your own opinion. Depending on your ability, likes and dislikes, it's all........well you know. So in my opinion, I think the 1st 2 races where not technical at all, just different. The last one was fun, very technical, grueling and never judge a book by it's cover, 6 miles was plenty for me!! Need to stay clipped in more, wasting too much time unclipped worried about not unclipping in time. Overall great races. A special thanks to Frank my weekend domestique/photographer, you are the best babe!!

On the road, on a track, or a TT course - you’ll find CCRT members in action

It seems like wherever you go this season you’re bound to run into one of CCRT’s 24 members. Below are some recent highlights:

May 7 & 8: Kissena Velodrome/Track

Donna Davis attended opening weekend at the Kissena Velodrome and placed 5^th overall in the Womens 4. Nice job Donna!

May 22: Ninigret Criterium
We knew it was coming – it was simply a matter of time. Congratulations to Karen Williams on her very first win! Karen noted after the race “It felt fantastic to be the first over that white line. It’s all mental.” Veteran racer, Daria Vander Veer, made a great day better with yet another first-place win of the day in her field. Nice job ladies!!!

May 22: Shamrock Duathlon (2^nd photo)
The lucky Leprechauns were with us this day also as several CCRT members took home medals including Nicole Drier, 1st and Diana Cohen 2nd in their respective categories. Jeff Scala placed an amazing 30th overall out of 342 finishers and Fritz Pameijer 35th overall - both placing 5th in their categories. Nice job guys! Cycling Concepts was the sponsor partner for the event.

Back row, left to right; Andy Wayner, Jeff Scala, Fritz Pameijer, Keith Sherman (Owner, Cycling Concepts, Team Sponsor). Front row: L-R Julia Wayner, Nicole Dreier, MaryLynn Hadix, Diana Cohen, Carmen Carlton.

May 25/Expowheelmen Time Trial (first photo)
Although the weekend was over, the action didn't stop. This past Wednesday’s ExpoWheelMen TT was well attended by CCRT members. Pictured below are: Andrew Wayner, Donna Davis, Amanda Bedard, Lynn Cochrane, Julia Wayner, Frank Davis (Karen Franzen not). Special thanks to Steve Yau for the photo!

The next Expo Wheelmen TT is set for June 8th/Gay City State Park/Bolton. Bring your lungs and come out and join the fun.

"Race with your head, not your legs."

This was the gist of the message expressed by elite racers Stephanie Chase and MaryAnn Martinez during the women’s racing clinic which took place at Rentchaler field/East Hartford this past Saturday. Beginner and intermediate racers had the opportunity to race and practice tactics the same one-mile course where many criterium enthusiasts meet to test the limits of their fitness. This event – as well as a junior’s racing clinic - was organized by Karen Franzen, team captain for CCRT, and other members of CVC racing team. The event was made possible by a grant from NEBRA (New England Bike Racing Assoc.) hoping to attract more women to racing events. Stephanie and MaryAnn shared a wealth of racing knowledge with a group of 20 women, and educated riders on various tactics such as cornering, bridging, sprinting, and blocking. There was a big emphasis on team strategy and awareness of what’s going on around you the course. And also lots of advice you typically don’t get reading books on racing such as “check your ego at the door” and “respect the officials”. It would be impossible to share all the knowledge these two masters riders know in one session, but they gave it their best shot – and all of us who attended appreciate the effort! Both coaches also attended the Woman’s 3/4 race at Ninigrit Park in RI on Sunday. The officials allowed Stephanie to ride in with the field to observe and provide “in race” coaching which proved to be very beneficial to the racers as well as allow Steph to assess the womens' skills first hand. The day concluded with a post race recap (pictured above).

Winsted woods mtb race repot.

Not so quick - that isn't one of our crew. This is Mo Bruno, cyclocross champion & MTB elite who finished first in the womens pro field at Winsted Woods today. Too bad I missed Donna's race! but I can attest to the conditions...they were deplorable - and yes, many DNFs - but our Donna hung in there! Way to go Donna!

Below is Donna's write up of the race today -

Well, that was 'knarly dude'. I pre-rode 1 lap yesterday and I was whiped out the rest of the day, so I new it was going to be interesting doing 2 laps today in wet conditions. That course is pretty technical......or shall I say, "the hardest thing I've ridden so far".

We are at the start line and the official groups all the women together (7 of us) and then it started raining, but she said "it's suppose to be heavy rain at 11", she asked us if we wanted to do 1 lap, of course no one admitted it, so 2 it was! We didn't even make it up the 1st climb, people were falling, walking and it was pretty much a downpour, then torrential rain, then the glasses wouldn't stop fogging up so I couldn't see going down hill so I had to walk alot of it. I was wondering how I'd finish in one piece. I came up on one section where there were cow bells and a guy in a grass skirt with a camp fire going :) That made me laugh.

So some of the crazy sections from yesterday were under water by then, so I didn't remember where they were, so I guess I just rolled over them, hence the saying "what you can't see, won't hurt ya", something like that. Imagine the big puddles at Winding Trails x 5, they were everywhere and I couldn't avoid stepping in them, some where 6 inches deep. And Imagine that steep climb at Winding Trails, but with logs, big rocks mud and roots and down hills designed to endo if you didn't do them correctly. The open grassy single track section was a muddy mess where dirt was coming off your tires....which was great, but going into your eyes....not so great..and if you went too fast you couldn't stop at the end, woe betsy, alot of slipping and sliding. Before the end of the lap there was a steep muddy slippery downhill that was forcing your front tire to go where you didn't want it to go, therefore 2 endos and 1 face plant, I decided to walk some of that downhill.



The 2nd lap seemed to be easier for some reason, seemed as though I was able to roll over more stuff or shall I say slide over it, maybe that was the section I couldn't see in. Some of the hills you couldn't make up because there was NO traction. There were some guys on the course with us checking out the conditions, I was told the later races would be shortened from 4 miles to 3.2 miles and maybe reduce the laps also. There is a first for everything and today I had alot of 1st's. It was crazy, trecherous, dangerous, insane, but it was still fun. I was doing the math in my head about what place I was in, and I was convinced I was in 5th place.........so another 1st is "never give up", because your math may be off. I came in 3rd for my age group. Some cat 3's were getting pulled for taking too long in the 1st lap and quite a few DNF'd. Crazy race. Go legs go :)

Karen W gets top ten at Sterling

Karen Williams rocked the course Saturday at the 17th annual Sterling RR placing 7th out of 37 finishers in Womens Cat 4. The race was a brisk 24 mi, rolling terrain with a finish climb. It was great seeing CCRT women in action! On the first lap Daria passed the entire field and moved up front (I would presume to get Karen in good position before the hill). At the start of the 2nd lap there was a two rider break and Karen and I found ourselves in the chase group where we stayed for the remainder of the race. At several times the pace got "pokey" and Karen was there to liven things up - sprinting ahead while everyone chased. 1 mile from the finish I passed the field and got in front thinking I might be able to give Karen more protection before the rocket boosters launched. At that time some CycleLoft gal screamed up the right side and the small group of 12 chasers split apart. Karen got out of the saddle on the finish climb and flew by a few women. Yeah Karen!

http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2011/05/07-Sterling-Road-Race.asp

Race Schedule

Hey CCRT members - here is a list some upcoming races in March. I am going to the Coxsakie race this Saturday...check it out:

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=12268

• March 26-Mar Sat Plainville Spring Series Plainville, CT Criterium
• March 26-Mar Sat Trooper Brinkerhoff Memorial Spring Series Race #2, Coxsakie, NY Circuit Race
• March 27-Mar Sun Wells Ave Training Crit Series Wells Ave. Newton, MA Training Race
• March 27-Mar Sun Michael Schott Memorial Circuit Race Marblehead, MA Circuit
• March 27-Mar Sun 2011 Outdoor Sport Center Bethel Spring Series -CDR Gold Race Bethel, CT Criterium