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August 24, 2008
I am burned out, racing is over and I am going to sit on my a$$ for a while
I attempted to race the State RR yesterday in Avon. The day was gorgeous with temps in the low 70's, but there was strong wind out of the west. I was very unmotivated for this race and quiet nervous for how it was going to go. I struggled to maintain my fitness from the Capital Crit and I got my butt handed to me yesterday. We started off an hour late yesterday, but at least the tempo the first time up the finishing hill was moderate. As we came around the back side of the course GP moved Charlie up to the front and hopped on their wheels. There was large hill and Charlie was going to make a move, I covered his wheel and we had a huge gap on the field, but I had no legs to contribute to the effort. A Brome's guy who I have raced with a few times this year came blowing by yelling for us to get on his wheel. We did, but I was popped out quickly and I drifted back to the pack. I sucked wind for the rest of the lap and hoped I would not get popped out the back the next time up the finishing hill.
I made it onto the second lap and there was a small break out front with no Loon representation. I chased hard for a few miles with an unattached rider and soon recruited Tim Lewis and Erik to help out. Next thing I knew Erik was off the front with the unattached guy trying to bridge (he did make it up there), but I spent more matches than I had in the bank. The next time up the back side hill, the pace was manageable but my back was starting to cramp big time. I kept slipping towards the back.
As we went up the finishing hill for the 3rd time I slipped to the back and was giving it my all on the pedals and the group just kept slipping away from me. I tried to chase on the descent which does a quick turn into the head winds. I was about 50 meters off the back when we hit the head winds and the Commisaire's car came blowing by me. At that point I was totally demotivated and simply slipped further back. I had 50 miles in the legs with my warm-up ride and opted to pack it in vs. suffering on my own for a last place finish. I headed home early and packed in my season.
As I already knew fitness is everything. I did not maintain mine at the end of the season and I paid for it. However, I had one hell of a season. In fact the best one I have ever had. 2 wins, 1 almost win (I crashed out with 20 meters to go), several seconds, and the remainder top 5's or 10's. I raced aggressively and found my strengths to be long sprints and short hills. I have a good idea what I have to do for next year and I will come out swinging!
Now I am going to drink beer, sit on the couch and watch the rest of the Olympics.
Posted by kermisch at August 24, 2008 8:41 AM