When In Doubt- Do Something Fun! Then Doubt
When you are down and you feel like an open can of suck. When you look back at a race and see that your suck ass, cramp filled 5 lap performance earned you a stellar 17th place out of 30 or so. When you see that had you equaled or bettered last years laps you would have won or been in the top 3, what do you do?? Well you COULD sit around feeling like the above mentioned stale can of suck, but that isn't the best plan of attack. The best plan is to hook up with your favorite riding buddy and lay down some serious mileage (or mile) to blow the mental ass stank out.
So today I called B-Man into action!
That was just the sort of racing I needed today. Better than racing B-Man was witnessing his confidence in attempting "sixty-hundred nine thousand miles" in 100 minutes.
That was just the sort of racing I needed today. Better than racing B-Man was witnessing his confidence in attempting "sixty-hundred nine thousand miles" in 100 minutes.
In the end we settled for a 1 mile round trip, with some stops for hydrating and looking at bugs. Then we went to W.O. park for some peanut butter sandwiches and time on the swing set. That was just the ticket I needed to take my mind of my current lack of racing mojo/ability.
Now that the fun of the day is over, I of course have crawled into the now twice mentioned open, stale, can of suck for the duration of the night. I felt like I gave it my all on Saturday. The heat and the cramps were just too much for me. I can't help that. Shit happens.I just need time to stop dwelling/whining and clear that shit out of my head. It will happen, I know that. I'd like to go ahead and sign up for the 101 tonight so as to save myself some casheesh before the entry fee goes up tomorrow. But I just can't guarantee that my "jo" will have it's "mo" by then. So I think I might just wait.
I've also thought about doing some W.V.M.B.A. races. BUT that leads me to my class entry dilemma. Expert Vet or Sport Vet? As I've said before, the last time I raced XC, I raced Sport. Since then I've competed in 4 hundies, seven Solo 24s, and several marathon, 6, 12 and 13 hour solo races. I feel like I would be sucking hard at the teet of Mama Sandbagger if I raced Sport, but I have to say my ballz out XC skills are indeed Sport Level at best. I have no problem not coming close to the podium with the Expert Vets, that I'm used to. But a DFL finish might be the nail in my mojos coffin (or I guess I should say EGO's coffin!). It may be wise just to get some long ass rides in up on the mountain (if if EVER stops raining here) and then see if the 101 is calling my name.
Time to make some dinner and gear up for a 3 day work week.
Later.
Now that the fun of the day is over, I of course have crawled into the now twice mentioned open, stale, can of suck for the duration of the night. I felt like I gave it my all on Saturday. The heat and the cramps were just too much for me. I can't help that. Shit happens.I just need time to stop dwelling/whining and clear that shit out of my head. It will happen, I know that. I'd like to go ahead and sign up for the 101 tonight so as to save myself some casheesh before the entry fee goes up tomorrow. But I just can't guarantee that my "jo" will have it's "mo" by then. So I think I might just wait.
I've also thought about doing some W.V.M.B.A. races. BUT that leads me to my class entry dilemma. Expert Vet or Sport Vet? As I've said before, the last time I raced XC, I raced Sport. Since then I've competed in 4 hundies, seven Solo 24s, and several marathon, 6, 12 and 13 hour solo races. I feel like I would be sucking hard at the teet of Mama Sandbagger if I raced Sport, but I have to say my ballz out XC skills are indeed Sport Level at best. I have no problem not coming close to the podium with the Expert Vets, that I'm used to. But a DFL finish might be the nail in my mojos coffin (or I guess I should say EGO's coffin!). It may be wise just to get some long ass rides in up on the mountain (if if EVER stops raining here) and then see if the 101 is calling my name.
Time to make some dinner and gear up for a 3 day work week.
Later.
posted by Jason @ 6:05 PM
11 comments
11 Comments:
Glad to see you are relaxing and fine tuning your attitude after Cranky Monkey. Sometimes it isn't the "mojo" but the motivation. I love to ride and all things cycling. I am not a racer -- by any means -- but need motivation to ride/train. That is why I started my foundation. One thing to consider is a cause to ride and train for, if you decide not to compete. Just don't stop writing, your words are a great way to start the day!
Spin On
awesome vids of B-man. He's getting fast!
I was thinking about it yesterday and something is up this year. Last year you did the W101 in similar heat (maybe not quite as hot) and finished fine.
I say go for sport, if you end up whopping up on everyone than upgrade. Pounding on some people would probably be just what you need.
Thanks for the encouragement P.C.
Rick- yeah the heat was similar. I don't know what the issue is. I've never been one to cramp like this before. Here and there I'd get a leg cramp but not this full leg shit.
Heat has always been good to me. This sucks. Oh well, it's something to bitch about I guess.
And yes, B. is getting fast! ;)
j
Love the videos!
Hey man, it sounds like you def need to chill and hit up some things "just for fun". Some decompression time. Also, from your blog it seems like you don't ride with too many other folks, which has got to get to you a bit.
It seems like you've been doing a lot of big races, and after getting knocked down twice it definitely sounds like you need something different and refreshing to throw in the mix.
W101 is pretty soon. I'd say bag it, and focus on a race later in the season. If anything, do another distance race or two, but with more of a "training race" focus. That's how I look at the road races I do, and often times that makes them more fun than the mountain bike races, since I don't "care" if I win.
That said, if you want to do some of the WVMBA races, I'd say def enter as a sport class rider. I wouldn't mind racing you! And the competition is pretty stiff. George Herriot is pretty fast.
Also someone whose blog you linked to in last post races sport vet in the MASS series, which is pretty comparable in the level of competition to the WVMBA series.
Shoot, if you feel like car pooling, I might be able to introduce you to folks who live out in your area. Interested in racing the "race to lil moes" on Saturday?
Da kid's got an engine!! Great vids, Jason; the B-man had me cracking up!
I'm with Rick on the Sport/Expert question.
Endo's and XC's are a didderent game, and since you've been hitting the Endo game here hard you may find it a little tough going back to that 110% for 90-120 minutes it takes to win/place in a XC.
Worse case do one, do well then move up. Can't wait to move up myself.
Come on out to a WVMBA race we'd love to see you there. I race sport vet and there's a lot of competition in that category. You may be feeling more sand bagged, than sand bagger, the competition is fierce. Hell look me up for ride sometime in the area. I wouldn't mind get drug around in the dirt for a couple hours.
Aaron and Shred- thanks for the offers. I just may hit up one of the races. Believe me I'm sure the Sport Class is super strong. I doubt I could keep up. I just don't know how easy it will be for me to switch gears to XC after doing my "steady pace and see what happens" style of racing at enduros for so long. I looked at the race this weekend and saw that it's 13 miles long. Part of me just can't fathom that. Not that it's not ballz out hard, puke up breakfast all over yourself racing, it's I think I might be an XC retard.
Aaron you are right, I don't ride with too many other folks, and that hurts my skills and speed. Most of that is due to routine/schedules/family stuff. I would like to hook up with some you guys sometime. There's few other locals. Next year I really need to reduce my enduros and mix in XC to get better. Who know's I might hit some this year or at least hit some of the Month of Mud in the fall.
Thanks for the comments and the support. Hope to meet/see you guys at a race or ride soon.
j
It's great to spent time with our kids.
B-Men, has great atitude and confident,of course, it's a Kid one think is certain he knows how to pedal.
Check my mechanic:
http://asminhaspedaladas.blogspot.com/search?q=mec%C3%A2nica
That's great! Can she bleed brakes too?
Post a Comment
<< Home