I love state college, pa. This past weekend some of my best friends in the world, and I traveled out to state college for the stoopid 50 bike race, and to hang out with Wes T. Conqueror and family.
Wes's parents were kind enough to put up a motley crew of folks including : Buddy T. Leg Breaker, Matt (I hate my nickname), Fitzy, Ted Logic, Diane (chunky monkey), and myself.
Saturday we arrived, did some great riding, had some great food, and wonderful hospitality from Wes's parents. The night was topped off with a tour of down town, and some excellent ice cream from the creamery. It was pretty damn awesome.
Sunday came and with it the race which was the meat of our meal. For me this race has been a top priority since I saw it on the calendar. I have trained vigorously for it, and high expectations for my ride, I planned on a sub 6 hour ride, and a top 10ish finish.
I should have known I was in for trouble when I went to shower at the homestead and couldn't figure out how to get the shower on, and ended up taking a whore's bath in the tub using spigot.
It was funny me crouched down lathering up, and rinsing off. Truth is I've done worse, and was stoked to at least have hot water to clean with.
On the way home Diane kept the window open as she bundled up in sweatshirts, because I smelled so bad she could be in a closed car with me. That about sums up my day, I stink.
But I digress, The race started pretty well. Then I shit the bed. Rode very well technically, stuck to my feeding plan, bike was perfect, I just had the suck number turned up to 12. It was really bad. The first hour I was so nervous, like my first race ever or something, I just couldn't get settled. As I plodded along, I felt like I couldn't turn the pedals to save my life. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement.
It's not about the result (or lack there of) I finished 21st in ss/63 overall, at 5:54 if you take out the neutral start, 5:59 added in. Very frankly the guys that finished in front of my are great riders, riders who have beaten me before, and riders I respect a ton, but it's about how I felt on the bike, about how I ride, and that was poor in my opinion.
I gave up beer for this?
I've been training my ass off for this?
I've been doing hill repeats at 5:30 in the morning for this?
I did that damn fasting diet in January for this?
Why? Jesus, I could have not ridden for a month and did what I did today.
It was very disheartening to say the least. It'll be back to the lab for me this week. I think once again I have found a masterful way to squander my fitness, and potential for good a result. It's a damn good thing I love to ride my bikes, no matter how awful I am at it at times.
That's all I have to say about that.All in all, save for racing like ass, it was a wonderful weekend, and reminded me why I love state college, the course was great, the riding was phenomenal, it was just good all the way around. You know except for not being able to turn the pedals very well.
Jamie and Amy, those beers you left in the fridge, thanks guys, they were great, now I'm looking forward to hitting the private stock that Buddy had Diane holding for her. I am lucky to get by with a little help from my friends.
stay in school, remeber to turn the suck knob down.
respect.
fm
7 comments:
Keep your head up, if we measured our lives by our race results we would be pretty miserable people. You still cracked your goal of sub-6hrs.
Enjoy the beer, and remember there is plenty more where that came from.
You had a good ride, despite how you felt, so like a wise man always tells me, Let it go. you know how strong you are and we all know how strong you are.
B
Glad you enjoyed the beer marc. That's what friends are for. I know how you feel about the race, but take it as it comes. Think about your next goal and focus on that. People were saying yesterday ANYONE who finished that race yesterday is a WINNER! Cheesy, but true. I can't wait for cross season!!!
Yeah that's pretty much how I felt after Granogue. I think I sent you the link of my writeup about it. I asked myself wtf the point of all this stuff is, and I get up even earlier than you! I would say to keep your head up but screw it, live in the doldrums for a day or 2 and you'll come out of it sooner than you think. Ironically, the weekend after Granogue I had probably the best ride of the year when I went out and did 3/4 of the All-A-Moochy course up in North Jersey. Sadly for guys like us, when you only pick a few times a year to hope to be on, you don't have enough prep for how to work out your day-before and day-of rituals. I'm trying to work out those details as best I can on a weekly basis but you know it's never the same. The good thing is that these "bottom out" events tend to help your fitness more than you suspect.
you are a strong motherfucker and i won't buy anything else that comes out of your mouth. everyone has off days.
i think it's time you came clean and admitted that the Stoopid was just training for the real queen of your season: Cranky Monkey.
either way, feel better. you'll probably be killing it by Wednesday.
marc--
i struggled with nerves this weekend too--perhaps we should each shotgun a beer on the starting line.
do remember that you hit your goal time while feeling like shit--how impressive is that?
also impressive is that open jersey shot--i spy with my little eye a nipple--so, thanks for that!
big new england love to ya,
xo
mega
Its strange for me to read this just now...when I'm feeling like I need to turn my suck knob down a touch...a big touch.
i usually think of something you said about me when i'm feeling like I'm just not at my peak. you asked wes not long after meeting me if I competed. not because I was super duper awesome or good or anything (I wasn't)...
but because I trained hard and was motivated.
listen here, killer...dragging your ass out of bed at 5:30 in the morning to hit the saddle...
is what keeps you my continued inspiration.
screw one bad race. keep your head up...
and I'll promise to try to lift mine again, as well.
Post a Comment