Race report #2 the rookie

Okay first. Thanks for being here on my page and spend a few minutes reading my little stories. And thanks a lot for the sweet messages last time, it made me want to continue and write another report from this weekend. 

Sunday means race day, and this Sunday was no exception. This time 10 minutes from my home, so cool. It was the first out of a series of 5 races. The track was awesome and it's one of my favorite riding spots ever. (mtbliga.dk)
The week leading up to the weekend was good, but a little hectic, coming home from Nice on Monday, Team Danmark test on Tuesday, a school presentation on Thursday, and so on, so a lot of things for the head. But everything turned out just fine and when Sunday arrived I was super excited and pumped for this race. 
On the start line, I felt like everything was prepared and I knew every meter on this track by heart. We started and I took the front already from the first climb. I pushed hard and after the first lap, only my teammate Alexandra was with me. 
I pushed with everything I had up every climb and down the hills. And it felt really good. The track contained 5 climbs and 3 straight sections. On the climbs and in the downhills I won a few seconds, but Alexandra was strong especially in the flat parts, and she managed almost every time to close the gap. I was so contracted and fighting my lungs out, that the gels in my pocket.. stayed there.. Through the finish area, on my way out for the last lap, I felt a bit dizzy. Shiit. I hurried up and took the gel from my pocket. But I knew inside that it was too late. Up the first climb I felt the power missing a bit, and in the downhill, I had a hard time keeping the eyes contracted. Alex came fast from behind and sprinted me out in one of the flat sections.. Noo. Malene.. I managed to keep Alex in sight and finish in 2nd spot. But damn.. If I had fueled properly I think that win could have been mine. Not that often I feel so good. This feeling where you can push through the pain on the climbs and just continue doing it. This year I have felt it 3 times, cx worlds, a day on Cyprus, and yesterday. It's on of the best feelings I know. 
I just can't believe I did such a rookie mistake.

Positive; I'm on the right way, and I'm excited to battle with the big guns next weekend it Heubach. 

Learnt; even though things seems to be perfect, you need to remember that you're racing for 1,5 hour... 

Numbers was good too - attached are some power and heart rate profiles if anyone are interested :) 

Best 
​Malene