Building Time

I just returned from a trip back home to do race support for Mary's dad, and still managed to get in all of my riding for the weekend. It was a great time and her dad had a really good time, and it was fun to turn the tables and put the attention on him.

I was scheduled to get 3 hours in each day, and had a great ride sat afternoon from my home to Mary's, which is about a 45 minute drive away, and I made great time and made it in 1:40. Sunday I was just doing a greenway ride, over to the race course and around town before the start of the race, and boy was I in for a surprise. About a mile and a half of the greenway was completely torn up and destroyed. Gravel, loose dirt, and hardpack were the flavours of the afternoon. It was the first real rough road test for my new road bike, and it was a champ. Nice and smooth over the nasty stuff and fast over the loose dirt. All that did was make me even more excited for cross season.

I just got my Cat 2 upgrade last night, and it comes with equal parts nervousness and excitement. I feel like I can be a strong regional competitor, but I am pretty nervous to see what happens on a national level. Last year, I fared really well at the USGP's here in Louisville, but it was the Cat 4 race, and there was a lot of regional competition. I've also secured sponsors for this year, and I am getting a lot of help and support. That makes me feel like I have some weight on my shoulders, but a manageable weight.

Though, last week I found the place I need to be in for races. Its a place where I am mentally, and when I am there, I race well. Its not an anger, though I may look angry, its more of a raging hunger to just bury myself and just throw down. I found it during an interval session last week, out on a new road, and it just took over. I spun back to the apartment, feeling really, really good, and knew that I need to be in that place. So, I put out this warning now, when I get a little growlly, and get a lot more focused, I'm not trying to be rude, I am just in my Race Place.

This week is the second week of really building for cross, I have two hard days back to back during the week, and then the accompanying rest days. That way I will be ready for those back to back UCI Weekends. I am hoping for a really good cross practice this Wed, so I can see how I compare to everyone right now.

Alas, time to go to work.