Race Anecdotes: Littleton Twilight Criterium

Besides being my team’s race, The Littleton Twilight Criterium is my favorite race because it’s a 2-minute bike ride from my house. Now I get the “Boulder Bubble.” This is the only time during the season that I don’t have to pack everything in my car and drive to a race. Too bad there aren’t more Littleton races that I can bike to.

The SW 3, 4, and 5 were all grouped together with the Cat 5’s start 30 seconds behind the Cat 3’s and 4’s. 10 Cat 3s and 24 Cat 4’s lined up together — one of the biggest women’s fields I’ve seen all season. Behind us were 7 Cat 5’s. Looking at the pictures, it was awesome to see multiple rows of women lined up to race. It’s a rare sight.

It was hot. Like 94 F* hot.

I warmed up at my house and soaked my hair in cold water in lieu of ice socks.

I didn’t really want to race. There’s been a lot of bullshit with women’s road racing, my personal life, and my career that my heart just wasn’t in it. I looked forward to our race being over and volunteering with my teammates at the Littleton Twilight Criterium.

Our women’s team was 11-people strong. The first time all season the 3’s and 4’s lined up together. A couple of them wanted to strategize. With little practice as a team, I thought it was a neat idea, but didn’t know if it’d actually…