From Inside Hell's Kitchen

Well, the race started under cloudy skys with about 40 guys in the field. A few teams were well represented but mostly 2-3 guys from a team was the standard. The first of three laps were where all the fireworks went off. The Hell's Kitchen climb, which is a 1.25 mile climb that pitches to 15% the last 200m is where the explosion occured. Normally, the race doesn't split apart until the 2nd lap, but the guys had another plan in mind. I did my normal thing which includes bleeding from the eyeballs and still going backwards. The break includes four guys which two were OKC Velo, represented by Paul and Brady. The rest of the race got confusing because we chased the orginal four but eventually got mixed in with the 1/2's. Then the whole neutralizing thing (they neutralized the 1/2's, not us) came into play. Then the 1/2' s got mad and passed us on the hill,and a couple of 3's slipped away and got a free ride. So, they finished 5th and 6th, even after the protest by the group of chasing 3's. I got outsprinted by the same guy as last week(which will be the last time I let him beat me,Lord willing) and finished 9th but then they bumped me to 8th. Who knows how I will show up on the results, which is the only thing that will matter anyway.

Morals from this race:
1) Just because the rules say you can't work with another cat, doesn't mean the refs will absolutly enforce this;(thanks Joey,cat 2, for helping me get back on after getting dropped the second time up the hill.
2)Pay attention to the guy that beat you the week before in a sprint and sling shot off his wheel instead of trying to drag race him on his home turf.
3)Most importantly, sometimes the trip to the race and home from the race talking to a friend about life is unmeasurably more important than the race or the results or any thing else inbetween. A special thanks to Cory.

Until next race report by yours truely Erin,
May we all be Blessed with fast legs but more importantly a knowledge that when we depart this earth it won't matter how fast you are or were. But it will matter what is inside your heart.