Since my last post a lot has happened as the collegiate road season had begun. I am still training hard, but mixing it with a lot of racing.
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| Result of the LWC attack |
The first weekend was in Kentucky at Lindsey Wilson College. This was, for all purposes, my first road race ever. I raced the Men’s B race and was happy to be finally riding in shorts after the long Wisconsin Winter. It was very clearly my first race as I was surprised by so much. I found myself sort of riding off the front a lot, as I seemed to out of touch with the ebb and flow of the rest of the packs changing pace. I ended up getting used to it soon enough. There was this awesome hill right before the finish. I am not a particularly good climber, but I love climbing. I decided that if the pack came home in one piece that I would attack on the climb, about half way up the ¼ mile lump. As we came into the final few rollers before the finish climb and caught the break away, I was antsy to say the least. An attack went off a half mile before the climb and the pace quickened, but only matched the attackers speed. I was getting antsier. I attached right at the bottom of the climb and seriously gave it everything I had. I opened up an impressive gap on the field and thought I was home free until like a Looney Toon walking off a cliff, my legs were no longer underneath me. I looked back and saw a charging attack coming toward me as I passed the earlier attack. I ended up getting beat by 3 guys on my way into the finish line, placing 4th in my first ever race. I’ll take it. The crit was pretty sweet the next day. I felt good, and was chasing breaks and holding my own in the pack. A Lindenwood guy attacked and almost lapped the field, incredible. I was able to organize the pack enough to keep that from happening. The group stayed together, and the sprint was for 2nd. I opened up a long spring at the final corner up the little kicker. Got a sizable gap and gave everything I had to the finish leaving a huge wake of destruction in the process.
Ohio was shitty. The temp was cold and got colder. It was raining. It was shitty. Attacks on the first climb made the pace fast the entire time as the group broke up right away and a break formed. They ended up splitting and we caught all but 5 of the break and sprinted for 4th. I got beat on the line by a guy from some school that I don’t care about. 5th on the day and I am satisfied with that. The crit was canceled so that sucked balls.
SPRING BREAK! NO PARENTS NO PANTS! Spring break was awesome. Better than last year. I had some issues with my body holding up, but still got in some killer rides that really pushed me to another level. I don’t feel like I made any physical gain but defiantly showed the club that I am strong making it 3rd to the top on Cheroholidy. Combine that with a few other rides and I had a total of 450 miles give or take. I was very tired after that.
So tired in fact that I still felt tired the next weekend in Norte Dame; I can’t really explain it. I couldn’t get the engine going with any real intensity. I was able to push it hard, but couldn’t get out of the saddle with and ferocity. I was dropped on the second lap of 4 and sat in the pain cave the rest of the 2.5 laps home. Same thing at the crit except I did win one prime and held with the pack just until the end for 21st, out on like 25. FML on that one.
As for now, I have been down this week. I just cannot get any fire in my belly for anything. I am trying but I keep letting things, mostly formula slip. I’m hoping that a few good nights sleep and a good performance on my exam tomorrow will bring me out of the slump. To be honest, I am not too sure if the problems on and off the bike are not unrelated. Maybe I just need to find my spirit animal. My mom keeps asking me if I have a girlfriend yet, which really doesn’t do my ego anything good either. Mom, I love you to death.
Here’s the plan for shit to improve.
Follow my training plan better, closer, and talk to my coach about nutrition.
Keep things clean
Get good sleep
Prepare for races better with food and supplies ready
Make bitches hurt
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| This will teach me to go see my family and leave my bikes home |
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| Angry margarita face |
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| Call me the Cobra Killer |
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| Words to live by |
Be more aggressive, on and off the bike
At least your Mom hasn't asked whether or not you're gay. My mom did after my sophomore year and having not had a boyfriend yet. Just sayin it could be worse :)
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