CX Nats

Wow, double wow. What a week and there's 3 more days to go.

Monday was a whirlwind. Had bike checked up, needed new bearings in the BB and new rear brake cable (think that's right) and a new chain as the old one was stretched. Then grocery store, home to clean, cook, do laundry, pack bags, start to load the van. 

Tuesday I left the house about 6:20. Truly wanted to leave by 6, but that wasn't going to happen. It took me 7 hours when I expected 8.5 not shabby and traffic was light. Staying at hotel with the Red Zone Jr team. Great bunch of kids and super parents all. 


Wednesday, fellow Rogue Brian raced in the non-championship 40+ race. He's done great this year considering a very late start after repairing a miniscus tear in July/August. He got a great start, but in the first 1/4 of the first lap another rider put a pedal into his front wheel and broke a spoke. It took a bit for him to bend that spoke around another  so his wheel would spin freely. He picked off a few other cyclists and finished on the lead lap. 


Thursday was my race day. Crazy night of waking up too many times. But I felt pretty good, got hot oatmeal for breakfast and had plenty of time to prep for my race. We got to the warm-up area 2 hours before start time. Unloaded the van and started getting things ready to warm-up on the trainer. I decided I wanted about 40 minutes. I got on the trainer a bit early and B2 dialed in my A bike. He grabbed a seat and I started spinning, easy. A few people came in and out, but it was just 4 or 5 of us for the most part. All of a sudden a whoosh and a big ball of light and Brian was flying parallel to the floor across a row of chairs in front of me. I realized then that the propane heater had an explosion and I tried to move away from it. I couldn't unclip and just fell to my left away from the blast. I looked to see where Brian was and he was getting up. I finally got off the trainer and ran to the door. Then I came back to see how Brian was. His shirt sleeve melted against his left arm, eyebrows and eyelashes singed and lower back was very pink. Lucky he wasn't hurt worse. He insisted he was fine. Finally went to drugstore and got some stuff for his burns. 


I got back to my trainer and got in probably the best warmup I've done this year. Got on dry clothes to race. Brian got back. We headed to the course. I was in the back for callups. Felt pretty good in my start. Left the pavement and up the hump to the straightaway. Most of the field was pulling away, but I was staying with about 5 of them. Felt good and didn't overdue the start like I typically do. Came around to the first technical turn and we were bunched up. I backed off and slid out. My composure went out the window. I couldn't get back on the bike and "slid" down the small hill out of the turn. I worked and worked to calm down and just pedal. But I lost too much ground. I got to the big hill and women were still there as i reached it so I thought I would be fine. Just maintain composure and work really hard. But the hill took a lot out of me. Need more cardio fitness. LOTS more cardio fitness. I have a long way to go if I want to be competitive in this or any sport. Now, I am going to be realistic and say that I was racing against former Pro and current Cat 1 racers. I am not going to be competitive with them. But I need to work on getting my times closer to the 5 - 8 that finished just ahead of me. I was 13th, last and down one lap.


Ok, enough about that. Tomorrow the Jr Red Zone team race. I'm so excited to be out there helping where I can and cheering them on. Such great kids! Then there are friends that will be racing tomorrow and Saturday. And the best for last on Sunday, the pros!


Well, I'm beat. Hope to check on my friend one last time and then hit the pillow.


Enjoy your weekend!


peace