Sterling CX Verge & UCI 11/26-27/11: Double # 10!!!!

Day 1:
My legs were feeling good today. I was one of the last people called up (again). I tried to pass people around the outside on the lap around the track, but it was difficult. I felt like I wasted time doing so. Once I got up the run up for the first time I got into a good rhythm and hammered down people in front of me. I was riding in a solid 9th place, but knew that I should be up with the 3 women ahead. I slid out HARD on the gravel near the end of the first lap and was bleeding from my knee and elbow badly. It really shook me up, but I mentally and physically got right back up and on the bike. After that point I got caught by the two riders behind me. I knew one of the riders I was much stronger than, and the other I had beaten several times also. I tried to break away, but was unsuccessful. The race was 10 min. longer than usual (finished in about 50 min). One rider took off the front and I did not jump on her wheel. The other rider fell off from me, so I was riding solo in between. I should have kicked it into gear and caught up with the rider in front of me, less than 5 seconds. But the gap opened up slowly over the next few laps and I finished about 15 seconds off of her. Despite that, I still had my best Verge finish ever placing 10th amongst a strong group of women. It was a fun course! I immediately had to get my arm and knee cleaned up. They were very bloody and very sore. Ice was my friend...

Day 2:
I was called up dead last (my luck with pulling these high numbers!), and got stuck being positioned on the inside. I am fed up with the call up system...girls get called up in front of me that I always beat! It should be based off of how you finish, not just if in the top ten for UCI points. Anyway, when I start at the front next season it will feel that much better :-p/ I was stuck going around the track and could not make the move that cost me from placing top 8. It was a clustered mess at the start going into the left hand turn up the steps. My bike got caught in someone elses and I lost a few more places. It was then a flat section for a hundred yards before becoming tight turns. Everyone was riding up on each other's wheels. It was so frustrating. I was trying to keep my cool with the adrenaline pumping. A girl wiped out in front of me and I had to dismount. I made back a few places on the next straight away, but still could not get the group of girls in 6,7,8 place. I was riding by myself for 3 1/2 laps, within 5 seconds of the group of 3, when BAM! I went down again hard on a corner that I least expected to go down on. My bike was all tangled up with me and it took me several seconds to get back up and remounted. My knee was screaming at me, but I just kept on pedaling. The 2 riders that were behind me had now caught me. Ugh. I let one of them take the front for a bit and pull through. I knew we had lost the chance to get the other grounp with a lap to go. It was basically going to be a fight for 9,10,11 place at this point. We all kept rotating around, but losing time since non of us wanted to really do all the work for the others. I made a move with 1/2 a lap to go and got on the front. I tried to pull away, but was unsuccessful in doing so. I knew one of the riders was strong, but the other I had beaten in every race so far this season...and when we got on the track one of the riders passed me by centimeters, while I beat the other by centimeters. We all got the same time, I placed 10th. I was proud of my race, but feel like I should have raced a bit smarter and harder at times. The beginning really screwed me over and then the crash of course did not help. Oh well. It is cross! I had great fun out there and I am learning a lot every race. I have been getting some shout outs for NorEast at every race, which is really cool hearing that over the mic B-) I had the wounds cleaned up again and got ice. The knee is very very swollen and bruised and uncomfortable to bend with the raw sore skin. Had to drive my car to work today, ahhhh! Only the 3rd time in over 3 months...the first was after breaking my bike at Night Weasels and my road bike has half its parts on my cross bike and mtn bike did not have a front tire, the second was when I was sick a few weeks ago and was just feeling lousy. Anyway, I had a good consistent weekend. I am looking forward to both days at Warwick next weekend, then Ice Weasels, and Regionals on the 18th to wrap up the season.

Northeast Velo Cross 11/19/11: 2nd Place!

What an awesome venue for a CX race. loved the velodrome and BMX track! There was a long run up, that cost me a lot of time during the race. I was on the front line and when the whistle blew I took off and got the hole shot. Sally Annis (Pro rider) got right on my wheel and we rode together for 3 laps. I was handling the barriers, BMX track, and muddy corners just fine, but I was fading fast up the 30 sec. run up and I think Sally caught onto this. She ran passed me on 3rd lap (starting the 4th) and I was unable to get on her wheel when I needed to! I mentally cracked a bit, because I was feeling so good riding with her, that when she passed I let it get to me. She only finished 20 sec ahead of me. I felt super strong, but my legs were super sore running up the hill. They could not fire, since they are so not use to it with the running motion. Non the less, I was proud of my result!

Plymouth Cross 11/12/11: WIN!!!!

FIRST CX WIN OVERALL!!!
I immediately loved the course. It had a lot of mountain biking "friendliness" to it. It was cold out. We ended up standing around shivering for 15 minutes, while they figured out their mishap in the staging order. I was called up first, but then we stood their waiting another 5 minutes (which seemed like another 15!). Finally the whistle blew and I gunned it for the hole shot. I took it and broke off from the pack. I never let up the entire race, despite having no one to chase, and not having anyone on my wheel to keep me moving forward. It was mentally hard at points because of this, but I kept it together. I felt very confident and good on the barriers. For the first time, I felt smooth! The woods sections were so much fun. I was so happy out there. It was motivating to have people cheering me on at least and knowing that I was increasing my lead every lap. We did 5 laps. I finished around 35 minutes. I got a side stitch on the left side with 2 laps to go. This was the same pain from Northampton. I have not had the side pain all season yet. Odd that it is happening the past two races.  I have been hydrating the same and eating the same as I normally do. The pain lessened once I finished, but it lingered around the rest of the day.

Northampton MA UCI Cyclocross Race 11/5/11

Woke up rested and ready to race. I was ending 3 weeks of build, so my body was ready to shut down, but I did not let it until the race was over. It was cold when we got there, but once in the sun and doing an easy lap on the course, I was sweating! I was called up on the 6th row (I pulled the 3rd from last highest number...I don't agree with the point system at all!). At the start I sprinted past 30 riders to get into 9th position. I held on strong for 2 1/2 laps. I thought we only had one more to go starting the 3rd lap, but it tured out we had two! They said at the start only 4 laps, but then changed it to 5. My legs had been really sore since the end of the week and they did not feel any better in the race. I was amazed I was holding onto my position for so long. However, on the last lap I pretty much bonked. My left hip flexor/upper quad muscle had been hurting really bad since the 3rd lap. All across my diaphragm for some reason was also aching. I think I was forgetting to breathe, the race was so intense! I strained my legs a lot running up the run ups and trying to churn over my 40 tooth on the climb. I was pretty mentally distraught and physically in pain, so I did not make the move to stay on the wheels when I should have. I had been out in the wind a lot during the race, stuck in between 8th and then the riders behind me...I ended up 13th, which is still my best place finish in a UCI race and a considerable feat in my condition, where I had to line up, and against the talented competition. I was immediately pulled over at the end to do dope testing. I was one of the randome 2 (the winer obviously has to do it) that had to do the testing. It was sooooo annoying! It took up an extra hour of time. I could not obviously go to the bathroom enough right after my race, so I got to get on the trainer, drink more fluid, and eat while I waited for it to pass through me. The second time I was able to go enough and we got on our way! I was really happy to have my parents and dog come watch me race :)

Canton Cup 10/29/11 MA State Champ!

Woke up excited to race, but not sure as to how my body would feel after a rough week of being sick and having to miss work and training. Never-the-less I stayed positive, even when the freezing rain started pouring down as soon as we got to the race! I got a lap on the course before it turned into a slip and slide. I rode a smart race. After lap 1 I was in second place and never let anyone else pass me. I held my ground and kept charing on confidently through the mud. It was really tough in places and the barriers were really high for me and my short legs. My quads were very sore and cold by the 3rd lap. I took off my glasses, which was not the best idea, but neither was keeping them on due to fogging. I was very happy with my effort and result. I paced 2nd overall and 1st in my age group, 23-29, for the MA state Championship! I changed asap (no cool down obviously!) and got some food in me before standing out in the cold and rain(almost snow at this point) again to cheer on Ryan and other brave souls. Someone had to make them smile out there!

My photo in Velo News Online!!!!

Running It Up! <---click it

"Jena Greaser of NorEast Cycling maintains her focus and drive in the Women’s Elite race." Photo: Matt Gendron

Providence RI UCI Cyclocross Races 10/8-9/11

Day 1: Well, I was fortunate enough to even race this weekend, due to breaking my rear derailleur and hanger Wednesday night at Night Weasels Commeth race. I was one of many needing to repair their bike before the weekend of racing. The course was a disaster. Mud and grass covered every drive train. Luckily, I had a derailleur on my road bike and picked up a hanger. The weekend was far from Wednesday night's conditions. Not your typical weather for Cross season. 80 degrees was pretty warm to be racing in, but better than 20 degrees and snowing. Ryan and I arrived early both days to do some marshaling and helped re-route the course for Sunday and take down the course. At the start of the race I was on the last row again. I got in a bottle neck at the start and had to un-clip and run my bike. I had to fight my way back up. The beginning cost me, and I stayed pretty consistent in my placement for the remainder of the race. I did not feel like I was at 100% a few times, and I tried to make some moves to get into the top 15, but my timing was off and I did not execute them properly. This is something to work on for the remainder of the season. I got a sharp side stitch before lap 4, but then I was able to take a feed and for the last lap I was fine. I did not know there was a feed until call up, so we were unprepared for that. I ended up taking a random feed from some nice lady! I was riding with 15th-16th place on the last lap, but did not move ahead of them before the final winding section and small stair run ups. I ended up 17th. My hands were blistered from wearing full finger gloves and sweating. I had a fun time and raced the best I could on that given day!
Day 2: My body felt good in the morning. The course was super fast today. I got to line up on the 4th row instead of the 5th row. Yipee! I had a much better start and was able to get clear of any mishaps and avoided as much bottle necking as possible. I was between 15th and 13th place for the entire race. I was on the 12th place riders wheel, but she opened up a small gap from three of us with one lap to go. It was a battle for 13th-15th place, and I lost 13th by 3 seconds, due to the fast barrier section that I slowed down way to much for and I did not carry my speed through efficiently. I at least sprinted it out at the finish and I did not give up my 14th place to the other rider. Only my hands were a bit sore where the blisters had formed from yesterday, but the short finger gloves made them sweat less and there was not as much bunching.
Overall, it was a great weekend! I look forward to this coming weekend racing my mountain bike before Canton Cup and Orchard Cross.