Raindrops keep falling on my headBut that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red Crying's not for me Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin' Because I'm free Nothing's worrying me.

No crying for me. I'd like to say that every blog I write about is one where I won, I was the champion, and the sky was blue and full of sunshine. But such is life that we need rain too.

Sunday Aaron and I drove up to Charlestown, RI for a local crit. I had just gotten back from a seminar from work late the night before and saw that only 4 women were registered for the women's race, so I opted to sleep in and do the men's race with Aaron. Now, being that I was a little tired from traveling, and woke up to a cloudy day (the best day to sleep in!), my ambition for this race just wasn't quite there.

"You can stay home if you like," Aaron said.

"No, I'll ride, I'll be fine."

When we left Norwood, the rain hadn't yet started, but by the time we arrived in Charlestown, it was full on raining. We had yet to register, so we ran under the tent to fill out our forms. As I was about to sign my John Hancock, the sky cracked and it immediately started to downpour. Aaron and I looked at each other, "Do you want to go to a movie?" I laughed! That would be great, but what the heck. We signed the forms. The guy at the registration asked for Aaron's license. He couldn't find it in his wallet so that nagging shrill (that only a wife can make) came out of my mouth,

"AARON! You forgot your license?! You asked me if I had mine!!"

The guy looked at Aaron,

"Are you married?"

Aaron smiled,

"Yes."

"I thought so. One license will do today!"

We got our numbers, and kitted up in the car. Aaron asked me if he should be reminded on applying embrocation and I laughed! Great balls of fire!

The race started in the pouring rain. I didn't really warm up as I opted to keep dry for as long as possible in the car. But the race started off with a bang as the guys were drilling it on the front and the field became strung out. Each corner we'd take, water would spray into my face and I'd struggle to get the power to stay on the wheel in front of me. It was as if there was a disconnect from my brain, through my thigh pushing on the crank and pulling the chain to turn the wheel and move it forward. Maybe it was in my brain...in the 'ambition' department or maybe it was just that the race was 'cutthroat' as Aaron had called it. Whatever the reason, I was off the back within just a few short laps.

I continued to ride. My pride was deep in the trenches. Every time I rode past the start/finish line, I pleaded with the universe to have the officials pull me and relieve me from my embarrassment. I didn't want to be 'that girl' that couldn't keep up with the guys!

"Shall I keep riding?" I asked. "Hun, if you want to, you can," the kind official replied. I kept riding as I realized I needed some time in the saddle. The field came by again and I jumped in for a short bout. Still, I struggled to grab a wheel and within a lap and a half, I was again off the back.

After 45 minutes of riding. I decided that I was through with 'skipping through the puddles'. I rode past the officials and signaled that I was through.

"All done hun?"

I shook my head and rode to the car as the raindrops kept falling on my head.