Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Fathers Day Neshaminy MTB Race - Retiring?

Guys Neshamniny MTB race was going to be my 1st attempt at racing again this year....to see if my back could handle racing again. I headed out to Christiana Spine Center 2 weeks ago and had a steriod injection (not as good as EPO) - everything was feeling fine, but racing would be the ultimate test. I have been questioning my fitness as my riding time is very limited and contains pretty much zero, nada, zilch, zippo efforts - I try and climb a few hills here and there, but intervals have been non existant this year.


So I head out on Fathers Day to North of Philadelphia - photographed the Beginners and Sport races....was a hot day. I tried drinking to stay hydrated as well.
Experts were starting soon so I geared up and preroad a small section of the start and finish areas. Lined up in the first row (I have no idea why) and realized I was starting this race different than any other racie in the past - I had NO plan! Usually when I race I have a plan of action. I know my physical abilities, I usually know the abilities of most of the other racers - their strengths and weaknesses, ect. But I went into this race so causal, with no fitness....I just had no plan of action. How I was going to ride - pace and attach at the end, fide a wheel and stay with it, ect.












It was a short field start and I went into the woods in a suprising 6th place - no "real" effert to get there, just a quick start and sat in place - kind of suprised where I was given the effert to get there. So into the woods was pretty quick but managable I held onto my placement and found myslef moving up nicely passing a lot of Vet I riders and vener getting passed myself - tried to keep my efforst sensible with no super hard and long sprints, just a nice fast sustained effort.

Now I'm 3/4 into the first lap I found myself suprisingly riding behind Greg Ferguson (Meredeth GPOA) who is a extremely fast rider....knew I had to be moving up in my group and figured at this point I was around 4th. Fergy bobbled on a skinny bridge and I moved around. End of the 1st lap I was in 3rd - Go Figure. At this point my back was holding out - a bit sore, but nothing severe.
Here is where I started getting grand delusions of the Photographer that never rides...1st race of the year and end up on the podium....kind of like the Lottery Fantacies everyone has. Quickly into the 2nd lap I pass the 2nd place Guys rider which now puts me in 2nd. WHAT?........and this is where my down fall begins......almost 1/2 way thru the 2nd lap I start getting severe leg cramps....which a few days later I figure might have been the cause of the additional back strain I was now having. I've been drinking a bottle a lap so it wasn't hydration. I think the lack of any intensity up to this race has caught up with my legs - not able to handle race stress. So I start spinning a bit to try and releive the cramps - no such luck - legs cramps are now borderline of locking up.
Passed by Robert Dudas (who eventually takes 3rd place for the day) and an two other VII racers.












I was able to maintine my distance between the two VII's infront of me but then I get the two pop-up voices on each shoulder - the competive one yelling at me to suck it up and don't be a pansie - finish the race. Last is still better than a DNF!

The other voice which is the voice of reason and reality is telling me I still have two+ laps to go and there is NO WAY I can finish two more laps with severe cramps.

What to do...What to do??
The voice of reason won out and as I was pulling out of the woods to start a 3rd lap I pulled out. Sat down by the water station, had a few drinks in dissapointment, slowly gathered up my water bottles and headed back to the car hanging my head in defeat!

So now what? Quite/Retirement from racing - Feeling my racing days are now officially over I head home - call my wife who gives me a hard time - reminding me that racing is what I've done...what I do. you can't quit. But physically my back was not able to handle the stress. I suck, I suck, I suck!
Sunday night feeling so frustrated I deleate all my ebay favorites related to cycling and auctions I was watching - possible new cyclocross frame and carbon tubular wheels - done, gone, finished. Marysville - NOPE not racing!

Now a few days later and after calming down a bit I am rethinking racing. Was racing with no plan my demise? Did I start too hard based on my lack of riding? Could I sit back and pace myself better? The comptive side in me makes it difficult to just sit back - could I do it.

So now I'm back and forth about if I want to give it one last attempt and race or not race the Marysville race in a week and a half. Just not sure. Still thinking thos one out.

Pictures above are a few from the race.
Later
Michael
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