Reluctantly crouched on the starting line
Whether I like it or not the season is upon us. The kits are all ordered. The team has been assembled. Races have been registered for. Some early season team rides have already occurred. These should be good things.
Alas - I find myself looking at pictures from our team party last weekend and noticing only 1 thing - the thing I knew was there but was trying to sweet talk myself into thinking it would disappear....my fat.
Those of you who have been around a while know this is a perennial problem for perpetual Cat 4 racers. Turns out when the mercury - alright alcohol, I mean let's face it thermometers haven't had mercury in them for a long time - dips below freezing and the night rides are too dangerous and too much of a hassle we tend to find solace in holiday cheer (food and booze).
Then as we emerge from our winterly slumber to once again throw a leg over our carbon and aluminum contraptions we are faced with hauling an additional uninvited guest up each hill. We know how it happens. We know what it takes to stop it from happening and what ti takes to remove it and yet every season it seems to be the same.
So once again I find myself sweating for hours at a time on a torture device called a trainer. Swearing once again that I will never let myself get to this point again - and yet knowing deep inside it will most likely happen next winter. I am putting in more hours at this time of year than I ever have thanks to my coach. My legs are feeling like rocks - similar to how they feel mid-season and yet I am still down a bit on power. The thought of actually completing Hillsboro and Leland is amusing to say the least. At this point I can only hope for a few nice people to ride OTB with WHEN I get dropped.
Right now I find myself yearning for the short intensity of crit racing. I miss the chatter, and the yelling. I miss the lively nature of the scene as everyone runs around getting ready, warming up, or standing in line for the horrid porta-potty. I miss that uneasy tension you feel towards the end of the instructions where you start to realize that the race is on, about to start and you are questioning whether or not you are ready.
My wheel queue is stacked. Deep. There are 4 bikes on my list to build this week or next. Coach has me on the highest number of hours to date. To top it all off the weather looks like it will be good this weekend. Hello 2010.
March 4th, 2010 - 11:03
I will also look forward to the training ride leland will be after Popper and his other cyclocross studs, ramp up the pace and shoot me out the back like shit through a goose. I just wish the 5s race was later in the day so we could watch.
looking at both teams, there is going to be a slug fest on, in the 5s field. should be entertaining.
March 4th, 2010 - 14:58
Kelly, Lemond, Merckx … even the great ones get fat. :^]
March 6th, 2010 - 00:01
Kelly never got Fat! How dare you!