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Gran Fondo National Championship

Morning Ride

🥇! 😊
This Gran Fondo National Championship was a very challenging race and a special win for me!  I went into it knowing the competition would be tough, and I was unsure if I could successfully defend my title from last year.

I was only focused on my age group competition (for the AG national championship) and knew that jenny thornton-brooks  would likely be one to watch.  Sure enough, on the first segment she was right with me, and I knew it was going to be a very close race from then on.  

She entered the first segment after me and finished about a second before me, so I knew she had “won” that one, and that I would have to get the seconds back on other segments.  I entered segment two after her and gained a second or two on her at the finish of that one, but I knew she was still likely ahead of me, and that I would need to gain back more time.

Segment three was the tricky one - as we were coming up to it I had decisions to make, and wasn’t sure what the right decision would be.  I could either try to enter it behind her and then try to move up and gain time, but I knew she would probably be thinking the same thing.  I also knew that the group I was entering segment three with was a big one with mixed abilities…and that some of the people towards the back would likely be gapped when the attacks on the rollers started to go and the speed picked up (segment 3 is a very “race-y” segment, fast and a bit more technical than others).  So, as much as I wanted to keep my competition in my sights, I also didn’t want to risk being gapped from the lead group.  At the last minute I decided to just go for it without keeping an eye on her, and I entered the segment a bit early to avoid the people who might gap me, and with the intention of “catching the lead train”…which I successfully did.  As soon as I entered the segment I looked behind and saw them speeding my way - I picked up my speed and was able to latch on and stay on the group until the last 2.5min climb at the end.  The group shattered on the climb and I was surprised at my legs…it’s like they were numb (in a good way) and super strong.  They carried me up the hill, I kept passing people, and felt incredibly strong.  I finished knowing I had crossed the line before Jenny, but not knowing how many seconds I had “bought myself”.

Then it was up to the last segment - the longest and in my opinion hardest one - to either gain more time or at least not lose time.

I left the rest stop right before segment 4 with the large group, a few got ahead, a few dropped off as we did the first climbs in the segment, and I pushed right up to my edge, giving it close to 100%…staying with a small group…hoping that perhaps Jenny would drop.  But every time I looked back she was right there and looking strong.  So I realized that my chances of getting away were extremely small and that I shouldn’t try because she would likely be right on my wheel and I would just burn myself out, and I would then risk getting dropped by her if she counterattacked.  So once we got to the ridgeline rollers I moved to the back of the group of about 8 people we were with, and focused on conserving energy and watching Jenny.  She made some fantastically strong attacks to try to shake me, and my legs were burning, but I chased after her and held her wheel.  I knew that I couldn’t spare any seconds because the race was so close.  It came down to the last kicker and I was able to power up it to cross the finish line first, but I knew that I hadn’t really gained time on her on that segment because she had entered a few seconds after me.  

I got back to the finish of the race not knowing the results, but knowing it was so close.  I was surprised and delighted when I found out I had won by 16 seconds.  Thank you, Jenny, for pushing me so hard and making me really “think through” this race! 

Congratulations to everyone who gave it their all out there!  Congratulations to everyone who podiumed!  Thank you to the staff and volunteers, year after year you make this a stellar event.  And thank you to everyone who said hello and gave me encouraging words throughout the day!!  

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Jill Patterson - cycling coach

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