kdebello
Well-Known Member
I was going to post in the Weekend in Pics thread, then I realized I had more words than pics.
My weekend started with heading to Chester Saturday morning for infield setup. I've felt this was going to be a big deal, but as we started hammering stakes, putting up the orange barriers with sponsors logos, it really hit that this was pretty damn cool.
My daughter Katie raced in the 6th grade girls class. She's been looking forward to this for a long time. I thought that I was even more excited than her, but when we pulled up to the field, and she saw all the team tents, the finish line arch, her eyes lit up. She pointed out the CMS Trailblazers tent and said "there's my team!". (Thanks @MadisonDan !!) It brought me back to 1980 and hitting my first BMX national and feeling what's it's like to be a part of a big deal.
We did a pre-ride and cut it off before the climb on the second half of the course. We rode it the week before and knew what was in store on that part of the course. After the Middle School boys races were winding down, Katie and her teammate Emily, who is in the Sophmore class, did a little warmup to get ready to go.
The JV girls went off, then the Sophmores, then it was time for the 6, 7 and 8 grades to go together. Katie was starting in the back, I couldn't really see her at first. The go off and she blasts through and by the time they were going up the hill, she was in second place. She gets her climbing legs from her Dad, so I knew that wouldn't last up the hill, but I was more worried that she wouldn't pace herself and burn out before half way.
Dan and I headed down the hill to watch them after they came out of the single track. We got there in time to cheer on Emily and then we started seeing the Middle School class. I'm not sure how many girls passed us, but Katie kept it up and was still near the front! She goes by at a pretty good clip, we're all cheer and I head back up the hill to see the finish.
The High School girls start filing through for their second lap and a few minutes later, here comes Katie. I didn't expect her so soon and couldn't get my phone open in time to take video. Managed to get 2 pics of her in the finish shute, cheered, then ran to go get her.
As she rounds the corner to the exit chute, she's off the bike, bawling. I had no idea what happened. Thought she had wiped out. We get her to the grass and she's in tears, and can't catch her breath. She kept saying 3 times, 3 times. She has minor asthma, and was carrying her inhaler. I thought that she had taken it 3 times. Ended up she had 3 attacks on the climb but wouldn't stop to take the inhaler. We got her to take a couple puffs on the inhaler, 2 of the moms on the team helped her out as well (THANK YOU!) and she was smiling and back to normal in no time. I think she was more scared than anything, but this kid is super competitive will never give up and pushes until she can't go anymore with everything she does.
1st place, 6th grade girls. 4 best time of all Middle School girls. She had an awesome time and is super proud of herself. She can't wait for the rest of the season. My pics didn't come out as nice as the photogs that were there. She wants us to buy some of these and frame them. This one is from http://www.jamesvanzetta.com/Cycling-Races/2017-NICA-Race-1-Wild-West-Chester/
My weekend started with heading to Chester Saturday morning for infield setup. I've felt this was going to be a big deal, but as we started hammering stakes, putting up the orange barriers with sponsors logos, it really hit that this was pretty damn cool.
My daughter Katie raced in the 6th grade girls class. She's been looking forward to this for a long time. I thought that I was even more excited than her, but when we pulled up to the field, and she saw all the team tents, the finish line arch, her eyes lit up. She pointed out the CMS Trailblazers tent and said "there's my team!". (Thanks @MadisonDan !!) It brought me back to 1980 and hitting my first BMX national and feeling what's it's like to be a part of a big deal.
We did a pre-ride and cut it off before the climb on the second half of the course. We rode it the week before and knew what was in store on that part of the course. After the Middle School boys races were winding down, Katie and her teammate Emily, who is in the Sophmore class, did a little warmup to get ready to go.
The JV girls went off, then the Sophmores, then it was time for the 6, 7 and 8 grades to go together. Katie was starting in the back, I couldn't really see her at first. The go off and she blasts through and by the time they were going up the hill, she was in second place. She gets her climbing legs from her Dad, so I knew that wouldn't last up the hill, but I was more worried that she wouldn't pace herself and burn out before half way.
Dan and I headed down the hill to watch them after they came out of the single track. We got there in time to cheer on Emily and then we started seeing the Middle School class. I'm not sure how many girls passed us, but Katie kept it up and was still near the front! She goes by at a pretty good clip, we're all cheer and I head back up the hill to see the finish.
The High School girls start filing through for their second lap and a few minutes later, here comes Katie. I didn't expect her so soon and couldn't get my phone open in time to take video. Managed to get 2 pics of her in the finish shute, cheered, then ran to go get her.
As she rounds the corner to the exit chute, she's off the bike, bawling. I had no idea what happened. Thought she had wiped out. We get her to the grass and she's in tears, and can't catch her breath. She kept saying 3 times, 3 times. She has minor asthma, and was carrying her inhaler. I thought that she had taken it 3 times. Ended up she had 3 attacks on the climb but wouldn't stop to take the inhaler. We got her to take a couple puffs on the inhaler, 2 of the moms on the team helped her out as well (THANK YOU!) and she was smiling and back to normal in no time. I think she was more scared than anything, but this kid is super competitive will never give up and pushes until she can't go anymore with everything she does.
1st place, 6th grade girls. 4 best time of all Middle School girls. She had an awesome time and is super proud of herself. She can't wait for the rest of the season. My pics didn't come out as nice as the photogs that were there. She wants us to buy some of these and frame them. This one is from http://www.jamesvanzetta.com/Cycling-Races/2017-NICA-Race-1-Wild-West-Chester/