Bike Racing

So season of Cyclocross has started.

much like it did last year first was Kalon Cross and second was Quad cross.

Difference? Instead of being a week apart they were back to back, saturday and sunday.

Kalon course was much better for me than last year. Hurt like hell and I wiped out hard pre-riding with a couple PSI too much in the front wheel. Left arm is still super sore and bruised. Foot is better though.

Shorter ups but maybe more ups, def lots of coasting downhill as fast as you can and turning and all that. Last year I struggled but didn't - well shit results aren't there right now - they got overwritten with this years results. Last year I got lapped IIRC, now I'm doubting it but who knows, last year was tough.

The tires, well still getting used to them but figured them out a bit more at Quad, need some more time to dial in pressures and comfort level with them. Some Wed night action might be required.

I stayed on the lead lap. Seems kind of lame to have that as a goal. but it is what it is and I was happy not to get lapped by a guy on #CXHairsHeat index of the week. He was riding the run-up, on his single speed. And he took a dirt nap.

Bonus for me is that I hopped the railroad ties every lap except the first, I kept Matt A in sight most of the race, didn't get lapped, passed a couple people after a VERY relaxed start at the back of the tiny field. Forgot the HRM so strava isn't telling me it was a much harder effort than normal. It was painful but good, could I have gone faster? I don't know, I don't think so yet. I was pretty close to the limit.

I left there and headed to the grocery store, then made dinner (burgers and fancy potatoes - simple) and tried to sleep, wanted to sleep in but E was supposed to get up really early and guide. She got up, i fell back asleep, she came back to bed, the guy has a migraine, no running, i'm back awake again, tired. Pushed the start of coffee back a bit but managed to eat and get out of the house and to the venue with time to hang out and catch up with everyone who wasnt there at Kalon the day before.

Was good. But man I was tired. Mentally and physically. Not sick but that fatigue level of just being tired.

Raced. Had a good start. Lined up behind big Keith B, who was behind Stupid fast Conner. A super fast old dude  behind a fearless crazy fast kid in the front row and then me. A good spot, I can start, even if it means I'm where I don't belong. My agro level is SUPER chill compared to everyone around me. I'm doing what I can to hang out up close to the front without burning matches I don't have. Works out pretty well actually. Wind up where I shouldn't be but not really that far out of place and not THAT uncomfortable. Maybe can stay there in a few more races. Maybe not but hey, who knows.

There was a log, hopped it every time, lots/most were dismounting. I did dismount for the barriers, they were high speed and i can float over them, not sure i can hop but it would be slower if i did. Was racing well, but Giles came by just before the long drag back to the parking lot and I mentally broke down a bit - can see it on the HRM data, it dips a bit, I lost focus, and then chip caught me, and passed me and fuck I gotta pay attention. I made a few mistakes that let him get there, and then drilled it to get him back. unfortunately Mike W was coming and I finished literally on Brad smith's wheel as they came into the finish 1 and 2 w/o a time separation. i was like a few seconds away from NOT GETTING LAPPED. Normally not a big deal right? But man it would have been nice to not have been lapped, however, it meant not having to do another lap and I was fucking cooked. I kept it upright, but was so tired.

And then slept like crap last night. combo legs feeling bad, the bruised shoulder and a tender spot in the ribs. And the weird temps.

Got a super painful hamstring cramp at work, end of day, going to put shoes on. It still hurts. Ouch.

But what doesn't hurt? My lower back. I could barely walk last year after racing. This year? Feels great. There were lower back connection issues, but more from soreness of the single speed full body torque application.

Thinking less and less about Freetown 50 and more about maybe just doing a MTB ride and relaxing.

In an effort to work on this fatigue I dialed back the coffee today. Cut in HALF what I have been drinking during the week. One quad this morning and One pot at work, normally two and two.

And guess what? I'm fucking EXHAUSTED right now and it is glorious.

going to put the leftovers away and go get in bed, yeah it is early. So what.

I'm tired.

Lets see how long I can keep up the low caffeine to help realize and deal with the lack of sleep fatigue and be more rested the next race.

Probably going to skip any hard pedalling tomorrow. Not gonna ride the e-bike like I did today but not going out to do dirty or regular smackdown. Need more recovery. I'm old I guess. Older than I used to be.

I can't live like an athlete but i can at least try to catch up on my sleep and not be in such a deep always tired hole. or at least maybe try and make the hole a little shallower.

And cutting back on the coffee is a good start. Kind out of hand how much I'm drinking. Def in the habit more than need, but loading up on coffee isn't the best approach for feeling well rested.

Putting my feet up, might try and read some more Snow Crash, book is good but fits and spurts, it is kind of one where I'm a fan but not a fan want to know what happens but not loving what's happening in the book. Weird in a way. I notice a few books are like that for me but others not. I'll get through it though... maybe. This at least is easier to read the Gibson's stuff but I can see why Neal is compared to him...  and maybe I should have taken that as a skip this book. But those 'must read' sci-fi lists... gotta read em all.

maybe i'll get through a chapter or two

heddwch
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