A Couple Off Days

Last week I got a nice bit of riding in. Discovered some new trails less than 5 minutes from my house and pumped out more sweat than a circus Fat Lady during a July heat wave. Then I ended the week with 4+ hours of riding in the mountains. Now I need a recharge both mentally and physically to ensure that I ride up to my mid pack best at the Mohican 100(k) this coming Saturday.

To pros and racers who aim higher than a mid pack finish, an off day means light spinning, short rides, etc., To me it's time off the bike, completely off the bike. Some may see this as a FAIL. Not me. I see it as the way I've been able to race for the past 6 years and ride for the past God knows how many without getting burned out on the sport. A couple off days has my buttocks aching to be back in the saddle and my mind refreshed.

And beyond a couple days...

I have Mohican coming up, and yes after 3 Mohican hundies, I am doing the 100K version. Again- mixing it up a little to try to keep my mind fresh. After Mohican I have no real race plans. I have no plans to do the Wilderness 101 this year and there isn't much else out there that I believe suits me this year. Maybe the Fools Gold 50 if anyone else is heading down, but other than that I think I might just concentrate on covering some races for the mag, maybe shoot some video, possibly volunteer at a race or two, and generally re-charging my race mind and focusing on getting my bod, mind and business in shape if I plan to keep this all going (by "all this" I mean riding, racing, marriage, dad stuff, magazine, and general mid packness).

But saying all that doesn't mean I don't have any ride plans. There are some places I want to go ride, some places I ride that I want to ride longer at, and some things I want to do to make the mag better.

I know I how I feel after a couple days off from riding. The anxious feeling I get to hit dirt (or even the road!), taking some time to see racing from a different perspective might be just what the mind needs to recharge for more.

Then again, often times all it takes is for me to think out loud and write all this down for me to change my plans. We'll see.

Enjoy your Memorial day. Thank a Vet for their service, or at least think to yourself how damn lucky we are to be free and able to worry about things like where or when to ride or race.

Later.

PS. Remember to eat your hot dogs AFTER you ride, or face the wrath of chunks o'dog on the top tube.