Fire, The Crystal Method & 24 Hour Chills

Finally got my easy spin in tonight. Glad I went outside yesterday 'cause the rains and wind were pounding WPA pretty good come 5.

Had a nice hour spin on the trainer. High cadence, smooth, steady circles. Tried keeping the thoughts of something I heard once about imagining the your feet are hitting flames at the bottom of your pedal stroke, and you stay light and quick on the pedals. Kinda works.

I also had iPodious hooked up to some The Crystal Method. For a work out like tonight sometimes I just like to zone out to some fast paced electronic stuff. Bass, samples, beeps, buzzes, etc. Some people might not even considering it music, but damn it helps me stay in the zone. Get some focus and do some meditation.

Oddly The Crystal Method ALWAYS makes me think of the 1999 24 Hours of Canaan (the last one at Canaan) and in turn it makes me think of 24 hour racing.

I wasn't racing back then. Just hanging out watching with Wifey, my buddy Tom and his family. I remember getting chills when "Busy Child"* started playing as we watched racers descending through the woods with their lights blazing. I remember thinking how much I wanted to be out there riding. Not just standing there like a doofuss.

I can also remember what song was playing when I pulled into the check-in tent to complete my first lap, of my first 24 Hour race back in 2001 when I was on a 5 person team for Snowshoe. It was "Orange Crush" by R.E.M. Good song so that made me damn happy and again I remember getting chills as I pulled into the tent.

Those songs still give me some good mojo and some fire. Good mojo from the memories and fire because it drives home the memories that I failed to complete either of my 24 solos in 2006.

One (The Hardcore 24) was a DNF (heat/chills) the other (Seven Springs) I "officially" completed, but pretty pulled the plug Sat. night and only did 4 laps total. Conditions sucked ass and sucked the will to compete right out of me.

I hung around till noon. Finished, and was totally embarrassed. I just wanted to slink home and forget the experience. The only thing that made me stay was the thought of seeing DNF beside my name again and the thoughts of that solo entry fee.

This year I may only have one 24 on the schedule (Big Bear) but damn I'm motivated for it (and all my races). I just want to know I did my best, ride hard and strong. I want to drive home from the race with that excited, proud feeling in my stomach of knowing I did my best.

I felt like that after all the M.A.S.S. races last year and hell I only got on the box once! But the consistent efforts paid off with a 2nd place overall in the enduro series. I'll take 2nd, but that "feeling" is better.

So bring on the electronica, the driving bass lines, the buzzes and beeps. Bring on focus, meditation, and chills from a job well done. Bring on the fire and bring on the freaking season!!!

Later.

*If you go to the Crystal Method home pages linked in this post, you can see/hear "Busy Child" on their video link.