Because the women's team is gonna crush it.

Because #bellelap

Rounding out Women's History Month.  Women's kit to include bloomers?

-from your resident librarian

^old bike=rain bike!

@Kayt, I saw that Saturday morning would be cloudy but dry. The rain holding off until noon. (this is as of this morning on everyone's favourite weather website)

Fun race this morning; my first in Central Park. I got to the reg table with a few minutes to spare. Fortunately, Erika, ever-lovely, cheerful despite her broken rib, and brave enough to return to last week's scene of the crime, was there to help pin, instruct and encourage. 

The pace was pretty consistent throughout the race, with a few surges and strange, intentional (annoying) slow-downs by the front of the pack. A few half-hearted, lone breakaways, but nothing stuck. We were neutralized twice, the second time on the last lap, right before the downhill to the pool. This was unfortunate for me, as I somehow got nudged in the back of the pack before the climb, where I was almost dropped. I made up for lost time on the slight downhill post-Harlem Hill, and was towards the back during the final sprint. Underwhelming finish, but it was still somehow euphoric. 

I tried different lines throughout the race, trying my best to avoid getting sandwiched between people as much as possible. Marc was right when he told us a few weeks ago that the course is so curvy, you may be in a headwind one moment, and the next you'll be protected, which made me feel better about working harder when needed. I also realized that CP is so much more interesting to race than PP--not better, but it keeps you guessing (or at least it kept me guessing). I was somewhat disoriented during the entire race, which forced me to think about short-term moves rather than longer-term strategies. Hopefully that will change with experience.

Compared to what I understand about last week's race, this morning's was far more organized. I have high hopes for the next races in this series, and hoping to see more Kissena women in the field!

I also missed both of Marc's clinics and am planning on the CRCA race clinic. Considering it a learning investment that will help me gauge whether I'm ready for a real race. You should do it!

Kayt Mathers said:

Fun race this morning; my first in Central Park.... I also realized that CP is so much more interesting to race than PP--not better, but it keeps you guessing (or at least it kept me guessing). I was somewhat disoriented during the entire race, which forced me to think about short-term moves rather than longer-term strategies. Hopefully that will change with experience.

This!

I am indeed signed up for the clinic. Looking to ease myself into the race scene. Related note, though it's just a simulated race, I may want to beg/borrow a jersey since I don't know if I'll have my own kit by then. If anyone's willing, I could make due with anything but an extra small, probably.

@Emily I have a long sleeve jersey that I'm trying to offload, and lots of other kit you're perfectly welcome to borrow. Let's see how the weather shapes up. I'll be at the start and will bring a big bag of orange and blue.

Thanks @Erika!  The flying squirrel jersey??  Sounds like it's a piece of Battenkill history now, maybe you should frame it.

Will keep my eyes on the forecast, and thanks for the willingness to lend!

Decided the CRCA race clinic fits into this category for the most part. 

Pros: KCC support via @Gwynna, @Anna Maria, and @Erika (who provided escort to CP for Anna Maria and I, and regrouped with us afterward - thank you!)

Cons: too much downtime before the start (which was delayed), chilled to the bone.  And the part where I crashed out.

Overall: Lots of fun!  My main goal was to just hang with the group and not be the squirreliest wheel out there.  I was doing okay on both fronts, I think, but was right behind another girl who went down and I tumbled over the top of her.  It was a little weird, I think she hit a pothole and just tipped over basically.  Left shoulder, elbow, and ribs are sore, but it was on an incline so low-speed.  In a way I'm glad it happened, first crash out of the way.  Nothing major, just frustrating since I was getting good momentum and felt strong.  I got back on the bike and one of the clinic marshalls helped me get back up to speed.  Then I hauled ass.  Never quite caught the group, but also didn't finish last.  So, yay! 

Looking forward to the next one.

Emily, so sorry to hear and hope you are feeling OK — sore ribs are no fun. Let's hope this is your first and last crash!

With a lot of bike handling and positioning skills practice (on the grass) you'll greatly reduce your chances of it happening again. I'd be happy to run a workshop where we do some drills and learn "5 weird things that will keep you rubber side down" Perhaps Dale and I could run it.

A-okay, thanks!

And good idea, I'd definitely be open to a workshop like that, anything that will help me better avoid dicey situations when possible.

that workshop sounds awesome!!! I want to go! 

Sounds like a fun day at the races for everyone.  @Emily very glad to hear it was a minor dustup.

So, the rib thing.  It's a bit ouchy.  I can blow my nose at half power, but a sneeze is death.  Any health professionals want to offer some advice?  Specifically on continued exercise.  I went for a run yesterday and it was uncomfortable, but bearable.  Bad idea?  I don't want to make it worse if there's a crack in there, but if there's not much risk of doing further damage, I'd like to keep at it.  Thoughts?

EmilyAtwater said:

So, the rib thing.  It's a bit ouchy.  I can blow my nose at half power, but a sneeze is death.  Any health professionals want to offer some advice?  Specifically on continued exercise.  I went for a run yesterday and it was uncomfortable, but bearable.  Bad idea?  I don't want to make it worse if there's a crack in there, but if there's not much risk of doing further damage, I'd like to keep at it.  Thoughts?

See a doctor? (Lisa Roazen should weigh in, but I figure she'll say the same)

Bruce van-Schalkwyk said:

It's been my experience that any time I feel the need to ask, should I? then yes, I need to go to the hospital for an xray.

This! I almost went for a Piermont ride after my bad CP crash. I was debating... maybe I should go get xrays, maybe I need the base miles. Dumb. And I would have made the wrong decision had not been for a couple folks (Garrigan, Gwynna and Jen Nordham... yes, I needed to be triple teamed) who strongly suggested I go to the hospital. Ultimately my xrays revealed a fracture that wouldn't significantly impact my breathing and probably wouldn't put me in danger of a punctured lung should I crash again. So I felt safe returning to training/riding/racing after my concussion's healing period. But it did take a good 2 weeks before my rib stopped hurting every single second on/off the bike.

Good advice from all, thank you.  The frugal/stubborn part of me is like, "Well I could go to my doc or, since the treatment is the same either way (passage of time), I could put that copay toward my next race registration...".

My immediate concern is that I have a sprint triathlon in two weeks.  Whatever is going on in there isn't a brutal, constant kind of pain, just requires more gingerly movements to avoid a pang here and there.  Overall I still feel good, but will consider seeing a doc to be safe.

Emily...I'm an ER RN at Mount Sinai. If Lisa weighs in, she is an ER/urgent care doc, she should be the final word. You're worried about saving money from a co-pay? Dude, I'd get thee to a facility that does xrays for peace of mind and a prescription for pain meds.

There are two primary dangers associated with broken ribs. 1)re-injury/lung puncture. 2) pneumonia

Since broken ribs are not casted/set in the way other broken bones are, generally the treatment will be pain medication and rest until they heal on their own. And so the reason to get an xray would be to confirm the extent of the injury. And also get a prescription for pain medication so you can continue to breath normally (instead of little shallow breaths which can lead to a pneumonia) and take large lung filling deep breaths throughout the day as part of your exercise/recovery routine.

In the meantime, you can do yourself favor and snuggle up to your favorite pillow or stuffed animal, give it a big hug and try to take a deep breath. Same thing if you feel a sneeze coming on. It's called a pillow splint and works surprisingly well.

I'm not a MD so I can't legally recommend you take any meds including OTC pain killers like Tylenol/Advil etc., but you know...read the labels, follow their instructions, read the warnings, and don't take Advil on an empty stomach; and they could help.

But seriously, think about finding a local urgent care facility for a quick xray. Much quicker than either an ER or making an appointment for your primary medical doctor.

Emily - not sure where you live but when I crashed my bike in July and the bruises went away but my sore wrist didn't, I went (a week later) to the urgent care on 5th in Park Slope (around 9th I think). Within a day I knew my wrist was broken and that I should stop playing ultimate frisbee (biking was out of the question since I couldn't really put weight on it). All of this to say, x-rays are great and so is that Urgent Care place on 5th.