From Carol...

So, my brakes were working fine :-) Crit: The race started with Cary going off the front as predicted (and promised); she set the pace, and I and another gal from another team were out in front. we traded off pulling for a little bit, and then things would bunch up around turn 2, which about half way through the race a rider went down right in front of me. I narrowly missed going right over her bike, and tried to settle back into the race. Anna was going for the time-bonus primes, and we would re-group on the next lap. We had a nice DBC train going for about a lap, and it was great! I was out in front alone for a couple laps, working too much, but feeling safe. I was still out in front on the 2nd to last lap, and held on for 1/2 the lap. I tried to time it to sprint out of the last turn, but missed it by THAT much. Ended up with 10 or so place. lesson: time the sprint better, and use other riders more efficiently. Get organized quicker and set the pace of the race. TT: I just went out and played it smart, but ended up missing the last turn..... arrgh!! I had a great ride, though. sprinted at the end, so I know to push the pace and HR harder next time! RR: At the very start of the race I was out in front with another gal from Dolce Vita (dbl pace line). I was not comfortable, but figured what the heck after awhile. The plan was to protect Anna and Ruth who were the highest placed after the Crit and TT. This was Anna's type of course (hills at the finish), so she was pretty amped and ready to go. I joined up with Trudi H. to protect those 2, and it was working perfectly. A couple of attacks were going off by Velo Bella, and Dolce Vita, but they all got diffused pretty quickly. Trudi and I were determined to stay up at the front top 8 at all cost. On lap 2 Anna pulled a "flyer" and solo-ed it off the front at the start of the rollers. It was awesome to hear the rest of the field yell "what the hell??!" We re-grouped at the start of lap 3, and that's when Trudi and I and Dolce Vita took control. we had plans to attack, but the field didn't want to do anything but sit back. I found myself out front again, and figured I may as well push the pace a little bit to avoid a bunch sprint at the end. I paid dearly in the legs; by the time the hills came and the sprint was on, so was the burn. Big burn! Anna did the exact same launch at the base of the rollers and rolled through with a 1st place finish!! I felt great about being a worker. It paid off big time, although I am paying today.... Lots of lessons learned this weekend, but the biggest one is learning when to push and when to rest. I need to use my teammates and other gals more, and work the pace more. Otherwise, a great experience, and an awesome weekend of racing!! DBC women made a showing, for sure.