National Championships

Oh what a day.  It started off how most days start off but excitement was in the air.  Getting to Palmer Park a little later than I would really have liked, there seemed to be so much to do and I didn't want to be frazzled and using more more gram of energy than needed to set up my pit area.  Luckily I had to amazing guys helping me.  Thanks Koz and Brian Maslach.  As they set up the AO tent I double checked my bike, picked up my number plate and tried to get my food and other much needed items for a 24 hour race set up. 

Once again, it always comes to quick.  The race and the start. Le-Mans style of course.  At least it gets out some of the gitters before you have to get on your bike.  Not many but a few.  I wish I could say that when you ride your bike for 24 hours (in actuality I only road for 22 hr and 9 min) that you have tons of stories but mostly you are just thinking about the course.  Palmer Park is a might bit technical so its a constant trying to remember what is coming up, which side of the trail is the best line and so on. 

My only notable story is about 3 am I was getting tired and thinking how good my bed sounded and I heard a noise.  And not being about to pin point what noise it was I started to fantasize.  One thought leading to another I concluded that maybe it was a mt lion and that they would have to call the race off to keep us racers safe.  I know, I know totally preposterous.  I was in a park in the middle of Colorado Springs, there certainly was not going to be a mt lion but still... Wouldn't it be nice!?!?!?

Then the sun came up and knew that the end was near.  Only a few more laps.  This always puts me in a good mood.  Me thinking, I only have to pass by here 3 more times, now only 2 more times, then finally, this is the last time I have to ride over this stupid rock, root, sandy section.  You get the point.
It was ever so wonderful to be able to cross the finish line a few hours early and earn my Stars and Stripes jersey.

And that's about it.  Besides being on the podium and physically getting my National Champion jersey.  Oh and after we were all packed up, I still had my jersey on but I needed to get out of my bike shorts (no disrespect Pearl Izumi my chamois was fantastic but after 24 hours its time for it to come off) I put on a sundress.  This was over top my jersey still with my compression socks on and I made Brian, one of my crew, take me to get something else to eat.  I am pretty sure that I looked like his mentally challenged sister/friend but I didn't care.  It wasn't time to take of my jersey just yet.