Brian Park Criterium

I was not planning to race this weekend but my teammates Louis and William said they were going to the Brian Park race in Virginia. It is a great course that I did last year and it is very close to my grandparents so I decided to go up again this year. This course is either up or down hill. There is a long steady climb and a short steep climb on a course that is about a mile and a half long. There were about 12-15 riders in the junior 10-14 race, but William and Louis did not come. The race started very fast with a break going immediately. I was good and made the break with 3 other riders. When we hit the steep climb I did not have the power to stay with the lead two riders so I dropped back with another rider. On the second lap the rider I was with dropped me again on the steep climb, but on the long climb I bridged back up to him. This went on for a couple of laps when I couldn’t keep pace anymore. I ended up in 4th place coming in ahead of the pack by over a minute!! I had ridden very hard and was more pleased to see that each rider who had beaten me was 14 years old. It was also nice that my Pappa got to see me race.

This week I will do my training race on Tuesday and some hill intervals later in the week. I really hope to do the team ride on Sunday. I am getting excited for the state road race championships. I am getting stronger and more confident and I just want to rider faster.