Thanks to all, Mini Race Report, and thoughts of why we do it!
Thanks to all for the advice. I think I knew the answers, and needed the confirmation. Now I need to let the ego get out of the way for the Eldo race, and concede the yellow jersey by a few points and race Sport. As for that, we will see what happens.
So that being said, yesterday I went for the "Learning experience" I raced my first Short Track race last night in Boulder. Very interesting learning experience. At most MSC races, I've come to recognize my competitors, size them up, and work out my plan. At this race, i was way green. I raced in the C Flight (kinda like Sport Class) I knew that it would be a 25 minute trial of suffering, but I didn't know how fast, fast is! Crits/Short Track turned out to be a blast. It's a shame that I didn't do my first until the 8th out of 9 races, but I had a blast, and would really like to do the last one next week. Kinda depends on my schedule and training before Nationals next weekend.
Things that I learned-
I--After watching the C Flight and A Flight, I'm much better off to lock out my suspension to get a boost on the short/fast climbs. II- I really can run my heart rate around 180 for over 20 minutes. III-Don't underestimate the guy on the fully rigid, 29 inch wheeled Surly who's not wearing Lycra, that stomped me! IV--- Travis Brown is super smooth and hecka fast. Awesome when the big pros come out to do the small local races.
www.boulderracing.com
Final Results for me- 20th out of 25. Not too bad for the first time. 6.23 miles in 25 minutes, Avg Speed 14.9, Avg Hr 179---Considering during a XC race I can pace it and avg around 155... that was a new experience. Hopefully that will help me push the envelope into a zone I didn't know I could sustain!
Fianlly, as Mark B and Glen pointed out, it should be and inevitably is more about personal achievement and fitness than hitting the podium. I remember talking with my wife on the way to the Butte and commenting on "...exactly why is it that we do the sports that involve mental and physical suffering..." rhetorical question that she answered with a grin and chuckle. I'm not buddhist, but there are tenants of Buddhism that have helped me in climbing and life that I need to bring to Biking. Chris Sharma put it like this..."I see how I can be obsessed with accomplishments, numbers, image, and the whole bag of worms. Attachement to these things can bring much greed, jealousy, anger and blindness to the needs and feelings of others..."
More that naything I enjoy this sport because it is a lot like chess, climbing and even life. There is strategy, there is suffering, there is enjoyment, and their is passion. I think as far as this place, time, and ego, accomplishments mean something to everyone, otherwise why would we all talk about how we place in X class in comparison to how we place in X class last year. But the fact of the matter is, we do it cuz it's fun. Too simplistic perhaps, but I can't eplain it any other way.
Thanks again for the adice. Feel free to keep it coming. Glen and Mark, I'll see you out there!
-Ocky
