2014 Canadian Nationals at Hardwood

Wow.  What an exciting, tough, challenging, fun, exhausting weekend!

For 2014 I arrived ready & super excited. I was able to spend lots of time practicing the course (living nearby sure helps!) and I was feeling happy and good to go!

And off we went...up the new loose gravel start hill which is steep and nasty...and I wasn't as fast up it as I would have liked but my wheels were spinning out so to keep traction down I pedalled smooth & as hard as I could & kept with the pack getting to the woods.  Then about 5 mins into the singletrack...boom!   I slipped out and was down!  Up again as fast as I could to catch up...and then another 5 mins or so...boom!  Again!  and then again a couple more times - I think 3 or 4??  Crazy!  What the heck!  It wasn't really muddy but the roots were pretty slick and many were down to the white..but this hasn't really bothered me before. I just couldn't keep on my wheels!  It was like I was riding on ice!  And it didn't help I was upset about losing everyone & being so far behind & super spent from picking myself up so many times and it was only part way through the first lap!  Ugh!

So it wasn't a good race for me.  But maybe it was...I sure learned lots...and

Smiling for my family who came to cheer & take blurry pictures

was super thankful for my family and so many friends who were all over the course shouting to me!  I was struggling & hearing everyone cheering & hollering encouragement was so amazing & really helped!

This sure wasn't the race I was expecting when I lined up!  But I am sure happy I was able to finish it with just a few dozen new bruises and some new things to practice & prepare better for next time!