This past weekend was an Easter Madness ride for Aaron and I. Sunday we awoke to a beautiful Easter Sunday. Yes, the easter bunny did come (for Aaron) and yes, I made him a special treat of Dutch Apple Pancakes. And ohhh were they delightful! Then, wouldn't you know - we began watching the Paris Roubaix live with Boonen attacking and making his daring move at 50K to go. I watched astounded, just knowing that this was the move that won races. The move that people doubt and the pack doubts will workout, the one they think is crazy so in no time, you've created a gap and the pack chasing is stunned and unorganized. That's precisely what happened as he rode into his 'pain cave'. Gradually, his gap kept growing. Key riders were wiping out on the slippery cobbles while Boonen continued on his mission. Aaron and I were clinging to the edge of our seats as we cheered the Belgian rider on, and with just 20K to go....we had to kit up and get riding to our Well's Ave Crit. The suspense!! Aaron and kitted up and made our way over to Wells Ave. It was cloudy, windy and the temperature had dropped. But, a good crowd had come to celebrate Easter in the ol' crit fashion.

The race started fast. I was the only female in this massive group of cat 1-3 men. I hung on to wheels and kept moving to the front. A break would form and I'd attempt to chase it down, into the wind. One, two, three. I'd get halfway out to the break, but then the peleton would come and sweep me up. By the third attempt, and 22 minutes into the race, I had nothing in me to latch back onto the group. They flew by and right as we turned the corner and I thought I might have a chance, we were in a massive head wind. Being that it was just a 'training race', (you can wait and jump back into the peleton), I just pedaled around and once I saw them coming, I picked up speed and latched back on. This time however, I was refreshed and tucked into the middle of the group. The race continued and finally I was successful at one attempt to latch onto a break. It was short lived, but I was happy to have finally gotten it. "If at first you don't succeed...try, try, try again!"

The last few laps were fast, but I was able to move up towards the front. I wasn't a contender for the sprint, however I think I finished top 20. I was pleased! Afterwards, Aaron and I rode for another hour and a half. Our legs were pretty fried from the race and we were hungry for Easter Dinner. We got home, showered and drove to our friend's Eric & Christine Kraus. If you remember, last year we had arrived at their house on our bikes; sweat dripping down our faces, and just pretty gross from our long ride. So this year when we arrived showered, and more dressed up - they were shocked and almost disapointed! The guests and family even asked, "No biking clothes?" We laughed and sat at the table for delicious ham, lamb, Eric's famous carrots, and yes a huge piece of chocolate cake! Once our tummies were full, we said our goodbyes and headed home for some well deserved couch time.

Now that Easter is over, the season is here! Raindrops are falling overhead as my pre-race jitters cause my stomache to quake and my hands to sweat. My friend Kate even texted me last night proclaiming that she couldn't believe how her nerves were getting the best of her. "Me too," I wrote back. Saturday is the big day at Battenkill! Let the games begin!