The alarm...didn't even go off this morning. Why, because I didn't even set it. Sure feels nice being awakened from a deep, rejuvenating slumber by the sun shining through the windows ;) . Just messin' and givin' a shout out to you 1,2,3 guys...late races yesterday and early races today? Here's to you! Driving to the race I notice that I'm moody, my stomachs in knots and I've got to find a way to relax. I guess I just didn't want to have a repeat of my performance at Snelling. Just then I look over and see a Yolo Co. Department of Corrections bus, they've got a crew out working the south bound I-5 shoulder and it helps me gain a bit of perspective. "We are the decisions we make" says the internal monologue. I know I've made my fair share of wrong ones, but somewhere along the line, I must have made a few right ones because after all, there I was, on my way to my second bike race in as many days on a gorgeous spring day, life is pretty good.
Sitting at the start line, the officiate begins to explain the rules. The wind is howling so bad that the only thing I could hear her say was, "Stay on Jim's wheel...STAY, ON JIM'S WHEEL!" A fellow racer from another team looks at me and asks me, "What did she say?" "Stay on Jim's wheel!" I reply.
We start and every things nice and easy. Just cruisin' no big deal I'm keeping to my game plan. I look over to my left at the guy next to me, give him a nod of recognition, look back to the front, SHIT, Jim's wheel's gone, I panic, stand on my pedals to take a look see and there he is, skirting the field on the shoulder. I grab a few gears, hit the drops and set the radar back on Jim's wheel. We hit the first right and into the wind we go. The pack slows to an almost unbearable speed. I look up and see Rod, then Darin, we form a perfect diamond with Jim on the front. I call out to tell them to stay on Jims wheel, and just then, there he goes again. I latch back on. Nelson launches, we go with him. We hit the first climb. Flyers launch one after the other, we chase them down. Then comes a strong launch from the same guy who won yesterdays crit, Jim puts the hammer down, I follow. We've got a group of 10 in the break and they're all strong. We rotate through, I'm in a trance, fixated on Jim's wheel.
There came a time, not sure when, but I found myself thinking about a conversation I had with AJ yesterday. He was telling me about some new "lingo" that he learned from the Jr.'s squad. One in particular stuck in my mind like a Benny Hill smack to the forehead, something about venturing into the "Pain Cave" and dropping the flash light. We hit the first KOM and three guys surge. I'm behind a guy who allows them to get a gap I pound to go around him as he offers an apology, but it's too late, they're gone, and I just dropped my flashlight.
Spent the rest of the race working with 5 others then 3. Ended up coming in 8th overall. Jim came in 2nd. All in all, I think for the most part, my plan worked...now I just have to work on being able to keep up with Jim...how old is that guy anyway!?! :0) ~ J
Oh yeah, AJ came in 9th in the Elite 5 race! That's my boy!
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