Written by Mara S. Miller
TIME TRIAL – July 6, 2007
Route 219, Somerset, PA
Two weeks before the National Championships were to begin, the organizers of the event sent an e-mail to all the racers informing them that the Time Trial (TT) course would change. This change was due to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation limiting the amount of roadway to be used for the TT. As a result of this change, the 30 kilometer (km) course was reduced to 24km and numerous turn-a-rounds were added changing the difficulty level of the course. The TT was held on Highway 219 and it was a pretty amazing site entering the parking area, which was on the ramp to the highway, and seeing the metal barriers and bright orange cones lining the eastbound side of the highway. The course was an interesting snaking configuration which sent the racers up the highway 6km, then back 6km, then back out 6km then another turn around to the final 6km stretch to the finish line. The turns were tight and well marshaled so getting lost was pretty much out of the question.
My start time was 2:08 p.m. so I had plenty of time in the morning to rest, eat and hydrate in preparation for the grueling effort of a time trial. My coach, Jeb Stewart of Endurofit and I felt that we tapered my training just right to have me ready for the events of Nationals. I got in a good warm-up and headed to the start house.
Because I had finished 3rd last year, I was second to last with only one racer behind me. The countdown began and I was rolling down the ramp and onto the course. The first section of the course was slightly downhill so it felt nice and smooth pedaling. I could see my one minute girl in the distance so I was determined to catch her or at least reduce the distance between us. The wind felt like it was always in your face and I kept thinking to myself, “how is that possible since we are turning around every 6km”. By the third turn around my legs were starting to get heavy and I could feel my cadence beginning to slow. With the final 3km to go, Catherine Dickson who came in 2nd last year on the TT, pasted me and I knew then that my gold medal was out of my reach.
I rode as hard as possible to the finish and to my dismay finished in 9th place. It wasn’t the result I was hoping for but since it was only the second TT I had done all year I was not surprised. I had two more races to go so I was confident that at least one of them would get me a podium spot.
CRITERIUM – July 8, 2007
Somerset Industrial Park, Somerset, PA
It was an early morning with the start of our race at 8:45 a.m. The criterium (crit) course had been changed from the previous year and the new course was a true crit course, running counter-clockwise, 1.61km in length with four corners and only one little rise between turns one and two. The rest of the course was wide, flat and the road surface was just great.
I arrived to the course early so that I could talk with the chief referee because on my way home from the TT my frame number (a number which is mounted on the frame to identify the racer) tore off of my bike. Normally a racer is charged for losing a number and issued a new number but Joan Durdaller, the Chief Referee, informed me that if I could make a new one no penalty would incur. 
So I frantically got to work putting my artist talents into play. I cut a piece of cardboard into the same shape as the original number, wrapped the cardboard with a piece of white paper and then drew in number 144 with a black sharpie marker. Wow, I surprised myself it actually looked pretty much like the original number. So I attached it to my seat post and rolled over to find Joan. When I finally found her she put her hand on my shoulder and said, “That looks just beautiful”. Whew, since that took more time then I had expected I was now running around like crazy trying to get dressed, warmed up and ready to race. My warm-up ended up being shorter than I wanted and before I knew it I was lining up to race.
I had done my research on the girls in this race so I knew who to watch. The gun sounded and we were off. It wasn’t a blistering pace from the start but soon enough some attacks started and it gave me a good chance to see who had sprinting legs and who didn’t. With each attack I just made sure I was in a good position to stay with the attack in the event that it turned into a break. Nothing was sticking and with each attack I was in a good position.
We were doing 21 laps and before I knew it we were down to 1 lap to go and the field was still together. I knew it was time for me to make my move that my coach, Jeb and I had discussed prior to the race. After we rounded turn one and were headed up the slight incline I attacked from about 10 racers back rode up the left-hand side of the course and hoped that this move would be the move to win. After taking turn two nice and tight and rolling for about 20 meters I looked through my legs to see the field chasing. I sat down for a few pedal strokes to get a slight rest then stood again hammering as hard as my legs would allow. I rounded turn three looked back again and saw the field getting closer. “Come on legs, don’t fail me now”, I said to myself as I could feel my cadence slowing and my legs getting heavier and heavier.
I entered the last and final turn tight and as fast as I could. I could see the bright yellow banner and I was hoping that my super fast Time bike with the shiny red Mavic wheels would get me to the finish line first. I could hear the announcer Dave Toule yelling my name and I could feel the field barring down on me. I was going to hold them off and win this thing. My heart was pounding out of my chest and I could see the finish line drawing nearer.
I WON, I WON!! OH WHAT A FEELING!! Stars and stripes baby, and in the crit, just as we had planned! And boy was it close, 10 meters further and the result may not have been the same.
ROAD RACE – July 10, 2007
Seven Springs Resort, Champion, PA
I grew up in Western Pennsylvania and in high school we use to come to Seven Springs in the winter to go skiing so I was very familiar with this area and the challenging terrain that surrounds the beautiful Laurel Highlands area. The road race course changed this year to include a 17.3km section called the Lollipop that climbs 1,133 vertical feet with each loop. Our race was designated to do three of the Lollipop loops and return to Seven Springs on a 10.7km section that adds another 1,402 vertical feet of climbing to the finishing section of the race; making the total mileage for our race 73km. I was really looking forward to this race because I knew it was going to be extremely challenging with all of the climbing and for sure it was going to turn into a race of whoever had climbing legs that day wins.
Our race started at 11:30 a.m. and the day was getting hotter and hotter by the minute. We rolled out of Seven Springs onto the main road that climbs and eventually rolls downhill before entering into the Lollipop. Again, my light Time bike with the shiny red Mavic wheels kept me near the front of the field hitting 45 miles per hour. We turned right into the Lollipop section of the course and in the first lap not much happened as I think everyone was trying to get a sense of the course. In the middle of the Lollipop there is an extremely steep section which climbs for at least 1.5km and is probably a grade of 12%.
The first time up this section the field stayed together but by the third and last time up this climb proved to be the start of the race. Six of us broke away from the rest of the group and with a little encouragement we were able to get the group to begin to work together until we started up the climb into the final 10km of the race. This was where you needed to snap on your climbing legs if you were going to win this race. The group of six was now down to three, me, Maria Monica from California, who I knew was a good climber and Terri Clouse. I didn’t know Terri but I could tell that she had some climbing legs, I could see it from the beginning of the race.
With about 2km left to the top of the climb, Terri surged and got a small gap. Maria and I battled to stay on her wheel but the gap began to grow and grow. Maria and I worked hard together trying to catch her but it was her day. Maria and I turned into Swiss Mountain which begins the last 3km of the race and we could not see Terri any longer so it was 
now a battle for 2nd place. My legs were feeling the effects of the thousands of feet of climbing and a small cramp was developing in my right quad. Maria got a small gap on me and I could not reel her back in so I finished 3rd taking the bronze medal. I discovered after the race that Terri lives in Colorado and trains at altitude. Guess I have to do some training at altitude in the future.
I had a fantastic time at Nationals this year and I want to thank my mother, Marlene Scatena and her friend Nancy Nemeth for being my cheering section, my feeders on the road race day, my moral support, my soigneurs and my podium girls.
Left to right – Marlene (Mother), Mara and Nancy
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