Who isn't pumped for their first race of the season? I know I was. I have put a few road races under my belt so far... but there is nothing like your crusty legs on the start line of your first XC Mountain bike race of the season!I kept it simple this weekend. I am a big fan of going out to the Mountain States cups and racing every possible race from XC... Super-D... to Downhill, and even short-track. I am not sure it is the smartest option... but hey I LOVE to ride and race my bike. I think I am an addict. Like I said ... this weekend was simple. I would have loved to race 4X or Dual... but out of my current 6 bikes I own, I don't have the right one. So I decided to just stick with XC.
Everyone has got their routine on race day ... to some extent. But I have to say it is always developing for me. In the 8 years I have been racing mtn bikes... my race routine has come a long way... and it still isn't the answer to a good race.... but really what is?
With all the snow and rain in CO this past winter, I have become accustomed to wearing several layers on the bike. But the beautiful weather in Nathrop had brought the heat. Its the first warm days of the season when and all you can think about is how naked you feel in your tight spandex... and this was the case.
I am at the venue about to roll out for a warm up and all I could think was "What am I forgetting?". So you do the check... starting from your feet to you hands... shoes, socks, shorts, jersey, gloves, helmet, glasses, tools, water, gels... check. I was set.
Was I set? Well with gear I was... mentally was another story. I am standing on the start line with a little bit of confidence as I have been working on my speed on the bike and this course was set for a flatish, fast pace. But its here... you can't get cocky... it makes for a bad race. So I caught myself and decided that my number one goal was to have fun... not to win. So many people get caught up in racing these days and forget that the love of the bike is what brought them to the life of a cyclist... riding, having fun, throwing back a few beers with friends... this is key!
I was hungry on the start line... that could be bad. After many many Super-D races I have mastered the wholeshot... the first one on the trail. After quickly taking the lead... I thought what am I doing?? ... use your road skills girl and DRAFT! So I let a girl by and rode her wheel. Things were looking good my speed work had paid off.
But then came the hill. The HILL is how it felt to me. What would normally be a power climb felt like a mountain! I had raced a road training race Thursday night prior... and I think I went a little too hard in order to be recovered by Saturday. We headed up the hill and I went backwards in the pack one by one. I got to the top recovered a bit in the flats and made a little time. At the end of the lap I could still see the girls in the lead. I was in hopes of doing well. But on lap two I got to the hill and the cramping in my inner thighs started. With the heat, me not riding my mtn bike much prior, and not eating enough race morning... led to fours sets of cramps that continually happened throughout my remaining 3 laps. BUMMER! Is all I could think.
Well my thoughts and advice are this... think of the bad races as a learning experince... take the positive from even the negative moments. And this was my case. You can't be hard on yourself everytime you don't do well and if ya are you will continually not do well. Remain focused and remain positive. I did learn that the Thursday night training race doesn't allow enough recovery time before a Saturday race and I learned about not eating a snack between breakfast and our lunch time start... it's not smart. Now I take this, move on, and pick up the pace for the next race.
Here I come Angel Fire!
Tough Girl Lynn
