Pentiction schmenticiton

Now these pictures don't really do the hill climb we were rolling out on any justice or respect really. I love the idea that this shot makes me look like I was in the game, like as if I was all rolling the group out....
Now the truth is this was the ONLY moment I was with the group as we hit the climb the pack broke up hard and fast. This was the Pentiction Masters Race hill climb. It was Epic. Well it was Epic for me anyways. Steeper than Cypress, which is really the only climb I could hold it up to. It came to me I would say 4 times during the race the thought of, "i think I want to die, no not die, but give up, really you could just stop Liisa, you could stop and head to the cold beer and wine, grab some beer, and just wait for the rest of the gang to return, you could watch "So You Think You Can Dance" and just relax in Sandman Inn luxury, and just wait for the boys. But somehow every time that thought crossed my mind, it was overrode by the thought of , not yet, just keep climbing, i'm sure this pain will end soon.

There is nothing like seeing the race support at some corner cheering you on, and you see them and you smile and you ask as you pass......"am I close to the top?" and they say "yes only 4 km's to go!" and you think, "what the...how the hell is 4 km's equal the answer yes?????!!!" Yes means, like as in right around that corner and you are there, yes means, 8 more pedal strokes and you are there, yes means the pain will stop in 5, 4, 3, 2, ......" Yes does not mean 4 more KM's of pain to go!
Well to make a long story longer, I did it. I grinded it out, I made it to the top. I grabbed my gold metal for first in my category, or age range, as it's Masters racing, (this is where I am torn to reveal or not that I was the only woman in my category...)

After the Ceremony's, the fig newtons, coke cola, and watermelon provided, myself and my Mighty Riders, descended the beautiful winding mountain we had just conquered and headed to the liquor store to settle all our wine bets and order take out.

The rest of the eve was kinda sacred and more like "what happens in Pentiction stays in Pentiction" kinda thing. But I have two words for you.....Slack Alice. You will have to figure out (aka google) that one on your own to put 2 and 2 together.

All I can say is another weekend of bike racing as come and gone, and i'm kinda smitten.

Liisa