Last weekend was the MABRA District/Maryland/Delaware Cyclocross State Championships.
Cyclocross State/District Championships are one of the things I love about Cyclocross. The season moves on, series play out, and the entire season comes to a crescendo. In the past, nationals were normally a couple weeks after states, which really tied up the season on a high note. And who am I kidding, coming from a wrestling family, to have states at the end of the season- it just feels natural.
Coming into the week, I was just getting back on the bike, and I felt good. Actually I felt much better than I expected after 10 days off to get my knee back under control. According to our friends at www.Crossresults.com, I wasn't favored to win the cat 3/4 45+ championship this weekend. Despite this, I won't lie, I wanted to win a Maryland Cyclocross State Championship.
I'll admit to you dear readers, I got a little stressed out this week. Even as the underdog, I thought I could make this a fight. I started having trouble sleeping getting myself so jacked up for the race.
I had a bad work out. Doubt started to creep in. Fun was going away...
Finally, I kinda realized that I was being silly. While winning a championship would be mean a lot to me, I actually feel pretty blessed to be able to line up for the race at all. All of a sudden I turned the pressure that I was feeling around to a positive. This was an opportunity. Racing is fun, and I'm lucky to be back at it at all. I'm playing with house money. I couldn't walk up stairs two weeks ago, this was a chance to do something great. This an opportunity to do something that I haven't been able to do previously, finally check a Maryland State Championship off my list. And if I failed, at least it was going to be with my best effort.
I sleep like a baby the Friday and Saturday night.
I went into the race relatively calm. Perhaps calmer than normal.
I suffered the entire race, I rode the best I could. I did not win a State Championship. While I'll admit that I am a little disappointed, I also am really proud of my ride. I suffered as well as I have in any race this year. I'm proud that I picked up a few spots in the final quarter of the final lap. I'm proud of the ugliest sprint finish of my life.
But yeah that state championship still eludes me.
I look forward to future opportunities.
thanks for reading.
respect
fatmarc
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