you know, i was totally set to write a completely negative blog, but then i talked to my good buddy the dagz-inator.  he's been racing bikes since like the '80s, so he can kick some good knowledge on the subject.  he said to just let it go.  focus on what was done right, and prepare for the next race.  the fitness is there - don't doubt it.  with this base, and with this speed, the results will come.  the difference between 1st and pack fodder can be determined by just 1 or 2 split second decisions.  over-analyzing things will get you straight to nowhere-ville.  and being the brainiac that i am, i just need to relax sometimes.  don't get downtrodden - we're on the up and up and the future is looking pretty trick.

 

so just how did the race shake out today?

 

El Cajon GP - 100 km

Flat, but very technical 8 corner course over 0.9 miles with bots-dots almost everywhere, especially the corners.

 

A breakaway went at the end of the 1st lap.  Didn't look threatening, but I wasn't in position to get into it anyway.  And then Kyle Gritters (pro for HealthNet) blazed up to it and they were never seen again - until they lapped the field, of course.  And we were chasing hard too, but not hard enough, I guess.  At this point people were getting tired, and the field was stretched pretty thin, but another breakaway managed to sneak away.  [ FYI, those were the 2 split seconds that determined the entire race.  For both I was out of position - no time to cry about that - just need to secure a better start line spot for the first - the second was a more of a conundrum. ]  With all of the money up the road (or lapped already...), we were just riding laps.  That's okay - it was still good training and we got some good mileage in.

 

On a different note, I skidded my back wheel twice on the course today - both from coming down on my pedal in a corner.  we were really railing the corners at times, and i was pedaling through - what can i say?  skidding is not as cool as it might sound, but i stayed upright so that's cool.  it's definitely a nice skill to have in the toolbox.  the first time it happened, i was afraid i might blow my back tire off the rim (it's a glue-on tubular), but nothing happened, so all was good.  second time and i totally made the guy behind me soil himself.  he was impressed with the recovery, though.  happy, happy tire glue job!

 

onward and upward.