With the turnout for today’s 540Cycling sponsored Vint Hill Classic, one could most certainly say the season is on and in full swing. How come my legs aren’t???
I too suffered the long hours of indoor trainer hell. Well, maybe not so much for me. But I did give up drinking (for Lent) and thought it would help. It has not . . .
Evolution Cycling/Long & Foster training camp(went down over two weeks ago) had all the warning sings that predicted my performance today. A 12lb over ideal weight TURTLE not only suffered up each climb but strained to hold a wheel. Training Camp is another story (that I owe the team) and I will get to it later . . . PROMISE.
Going back to today . . .
Our CAT 5 team contains Brothers that can bring the heat . . . in buckets!!! From the start whistle, My Brothers set a tempo that few could contend with. They shred the field. Body parts were thrown in multiple locations. Repo men and women began searching through the carnage looking for parts. I should have joined them. A missed opportunity that I would soon regret . . .
While the damage was shoveled out in high speed turns, I sat on my trainer running through my warm up routine. I was finding my zone. It had been a long time. However the familiar play list of Alice in Chains, Disturbed, BuckCherry, Rammstein, Godsmack, and Seether was a welcomed sound. I was bake to being an bike(ROCK)star . . .
I ended my warmup at what I thought was the near end of the CAT 5 race. WRONG!!! Time was Rolex’d 0+30. I cheered a bit for the brothers, counted some body parts lying on the ground (should have gotten some spare legs) and told myself today was going to be a good (fast) day.
As the CAT 4/5 field formed up, I lined up near the back of the pack. Something I never do. This was my first race of the season and I did not know what to expect. So perhaps this was just cautionary. With that perfect hindsight that comes with bad choices, it was dumb. You will not see reruns of such an episode.
From the start, my heart rate went through the roof! I could feel a lung sitting about halfway up my throat pushing to get out. After about 3 laps it happened and I began to fall apart. Now my body parts began to litter the ground at every turn . . .
The slowing to turn and surges out of the turns was something I never had to deal w/ as a CAT 5. In almost every race last year I stayed near the top third of the field. Today I had the hardest time moving up and was beginning to pay the price . . .
One of my EVO brothers rolled by saying, “TURTLE you are not that slow” . . . SynFit’s Jamey Lees pinched my ass (there is a long story there that must wait until after Lent) as he came by yelling, “Move up TURTLE” . . .
I heard the words, I processed the commands, but the mental path from brain to legs failed to initiate. I began rolling backwards in the field. An image I have not seen since my first CAT 5 race last season.
My Brothers and Sisters yelled for me to hang in. These shouts of support were rejected by my legs as well. Had I upgraded to CAT 4 too soon? I began to loose focus and my spirit began to take a blow to the tender parts I hide and protect from most people . . .
After a few solo unglorious laps and the main field catching me at the start finish, I pulled off and started the search and rescue mission for my broken body parts. I found half of my lung and decided to leave it. Will grow another one this week . . .
After the Masters race Bill Gros mentioned that he was ready to saw his legs off and throw them away. I was hopping he would follow through. His recycled legs, though needing a bit move tan to better fit on my body, would most certainly be better than mine at this point . . .
Regardless, it is a long season and I will not retreat, I will not surrender. My next CAT 4 race is the Tour of Walkersville on 10 Apr. I will miss Jeff Cup with travel to Europe to spend Easter with My Monsters. They are going to have to train with their Daddy. I need it . . .
