I LOVE A GOOD BATTLE
YESTERDAY'S 40-MILE MTB RACE was epic as ever. When it's one giant loop, 97% singletrack, each age group starts in it's own wave...
... you know there are going to be some good battles.
Cranks and legs trading blows,
like swords and shields.
In my race, the winner hit out super hard.
I looked down and saw 450 watts,
long enough to realize...
... I had to back down, and hope he'd blow.
He didn't.
Then, third and fourth place rode right by me on the next punchy little climb.
I'd roll up on the downhill,
they'd pull away on the climbs.
This went on for 20ish minutes.
Starting the steady 7-mile climb,
I want to keep the pace up because, you know, first place was out there, and maybe he'd start to falter.
So, I'm back in second position,
and fifth place pulls through.
He's on it.
I'm hanging on.
Third and fourth,
are now fourth and fifth.
On the following 10-minute downhill,
I slowly ease away from third.
But, he's there.
Red helmet,
blue jersey.
Haunting,
hunting.
My hope of catching spurs me forward.
I no longer see my pursuer,
still don't see the target.
These are always challenging spots in a race.
It's easy to slow down,
lose focus.
That's why I kept pushing,
wanting to catch,
not caught.
All the way to the finish line.
===
Update on my back.
Yesterday's race was day 3, after Dr. Su's magic.
As she predicted, the back felt even better.
Although the last 10 miles are quite rocky and rough,
my back felt great.
Even better, when I woke up in my own bed this morning I didn't need to slowly roll over, drop to my knees, and slowly stand.
I just,
got up.
===
163.8 lbs - no scale
7 hrs sleep
No Strength
0 minutes stretching
82(fitness per training peaks)
40 min vision therapy
