The race season is under way in the Rocky Mountains

Denver, Colorado
Saturday March 06, 2010
by: Missy Erickson

The first thing i noticed crossing into the front range from Durango….there is no snow.
Durango is infested with it, 3 feet in my front yard actually.

Yesterday our team, (Fort Lewis College) left Durango at noon driving over the three lovely mountain passes to the front range, and arriving at our hotel. The drive was about 7 hours…traveling with a van, truck, and trailer full of bikes, wheels, and tools.

This morning i woke up at 5:30am. I have this thing, i need to be at a race and watch at least 2 races before i can start warming up for mine. I like to be there, and see how things happen. I can take my time, and i can see how races turn out. So after watching the Men’s C’s, and Women’s B’s, i was ready to start warming up and getting to business.

Last year, at this race, i was lapped, not once, but twice. But today was a different story. Not only did i win one prime, but two. While also placing 2nd in two and third in another. The race felt awesome. It was great to be back on my bike riding fast. I have just come off of base and as last week was my first week of true training, I am incredibly excited to see what come next.

During the race i was focusing on staying in the pack and just experimenting with what i could do. I didn’t want to waste to much energy, but i also wanted to push myself, and that is what i did. My teammates Sarah Sturm and Magen Long were in the Women’s A race along with me, and we worked together great throughout the whole race. After coming off of a National Championship from the Collegiate Cyclocross National Championships, we were pushing for some great results.

This was only the start of the collegiate season, as we will be heading to Collegiate Road Nationals in Madison Wisconsin on May 7-9. There is no question that we will be shooting for another National Championship.

I’m off to bed. Heading to another race tomorrow, this time, a time trial. We’ll see how it goes! Hope you all have a swell night!

missy erickson