Day one of Tulsa Tough was a very stressful day to say the least. I had been waiting for this day all year long. I had 2 teammates in my race, Karen Brocket and Katie Clouse. Being a CAT3 women I never really know what to expect, we have some super strong ladies and we have others who have just upgraded. With about 1 hour until the start I started to get ready, I made my bottles and hopped on the trainer. As I started pedaling and shifting through my gears I noticed my chain wasn't going into my big ring so by this time I was totally freaking out, luckily I had my pretty awesome boyfriend there to calm me down and start fixing my bike. Within 5 minutes I was back on the trainer warming up. 5 minutes before the start we were in staging getting ready for the race to the line, we had perfect positing. We listened to the final announcements and before I knew it we were racing. The race started off quick, it was a 6 corner, fast course with a small incline on the back it was amazing for me. About half way through the race I was starting to feel tired, but I kept telling myself to trust in my training and that I'm stronger than I think! With 3 to go I thought to myself I wasn't going to make it, there's no way I was going to be on the podium if I don't give it everything I have. By this time we had dropped quite a few women, but the ones left were very very strong. The lap counter kept going down and I was getting more and more nervous about the finish, I only had one teammate left in the race so I rode up next to her. Next thing I hear is "1 to go 1 to go 1 to go" and my heart rate shot up!! I knew exactly where I had to be by the 6th turn, 3rd wheel and surprisingly that's exactly where I was. My teammate Katie was on the front followed by Kim Pettit who is extremely strong. We took the last turn and saw the 200 meter mark and it was on. I was sprinting I saw 3rd place starting to pass me and that's when I used my last match, I crossed the line in 3rd.... I couldn't be anymore happier with how I placed!! My teammate, Katie, won (who is like a little sister to me), Kim Pettit from Soundpony (who is one of my biggest role models and a 2nd mom to me) in 2nd place, and I was in 3rd rounding off the podium!! I finally knew I could race again! That was one of the hardest races I have ever competed in and I was estactic to me on the podium with 2 awesome ladies!! Right after the podium picture it was time to recover.
Day 2:
The legendary Cry Baby Hill.. when we woke up that morning it was pouring rain outside. The forecast didn't see it stopping anytime soon either. We got to the race while it was still pouring rain so I finally accepted the fact that Cry Baby Hill this year would be more like "Wet" Baby Hill. There's not much I have to say about this race other than pain. We dropped about half the group by 10 minutes into the race. I was so happy when I saw 5 to go, I just had to finish with the pack. With 3 to go my teammate Katie went on the break with 2 other girls, I was so relieved to have an excuse to go to the front and slow down! As we made the last climb up Cry Baby Hill I knew I had made it, just a little but longer. My teammate Katie won, and Kim got second! I came in 3rd in the group sprint putting me in 6th overall. I was so happy to just finish the race in the lead group!!
Tulsa Tough this year couldn't have gone any better. I want to thank my coach Mark TeRuki for getting me where I am today!! I also want to thank Shawn Brett for everything he does that weekend the race wouldn't be possible without him!! And last but not least my parents and the SFTT DIVAS for the everlasting support! I can't wait until next year!!
