Elings Park - Take Two

So much to say. Where to start? I remember watching UCLA get beat by BYU earlier this year and thinking, "Wow. 52-0. How do you even deal with that if you play for UCLA?" Well I suppose I have an idea now.

The day started out bad when I got my number plate for the race.

From Elings Park

Yeah. The number of the beast. Great.

I did not enjoy the course the last time I raced in Santa Barbara and I was disappointed to learn that the race from Sunday was going to be exactly the same. It took me two hours to drive up and I just wanted the day to be over. I had been dreading the race for the entire month of September.

I lined up to start and felt not so bad. I only did one hill climb to warm up, which was a huge mistake. I feel my best after riding for maybe 45 minutes and one climb up one hill is simply not enough.

The race started really well for me. The pack slipped out of my reach a little bit on the first climb but I managed to catch up on the first downhill. Just like the last race there was a traffic jam on the way down. Unlike the last race people started crashing left and right. The course was definitely not in the best shape this time around.

Three guys went down on the first singletrack alone and every time someone crashed it would take out the guys that were right on his wheel.

I rode around everyone and managed to float to the front of the pack. Now I would like to think that I could have maintained that position, but I don't think I could have. My heart rate was through the roof, I had that metal taste in my mouth and I was drooling nonstop. I was breathing as if someone had just tried to drown me. My high end fitness is really not so good.

But despite all that I was in a great position! I felt pressure to keep pushing because I knew other guys were right behind me. I got to a singletrack section where I decided to stand and push and unfortunately my front tire slid down the side of the trail and I crashed. The result of the crash was to go straight to last place.

After I got the bike back up on the trail and checked myself out I took stock of the situation. Last place. Not feeling good. All I have to do is not DNF. Ok! Time for a social pace! Hahaha.

I basically made up my mind to mail in the race after the first mile. I got passed so many times it was stupid. People were constantly passing me and I ended up with an absolutely terrible time. I was 12 minutes slower than the last time I raced this course. Oh and I also crashed one more time at the end of the first lap. There was a pretty technical section and two guys went down right in front of me so I couldn't see what the good line was. I cleared it no problem the last two laps.

My only comfort is knowing I didn't give it 100%. I realized also that if you suck in a race you get to wear the face of shame.

Face of shame:

From Elings Park

Here is a pic of me starting another lap:

From Elings Park

Some lady ran up to me with water and yelled "Want water poured on you?!?!" to which I replied, "No." *SPLASH* Guess she didn't hear me. Haha.

Even though I did poorly, I didn't think I would be as bad as I was. So without further delay, I bring you the long list of excuses:

1. I was sick two weeks ago. Maybe that is still a problem? Not likely.
2. I haven't been riding as much/as hard lately. More likely.
3. I had 0 motivation.
4. It was Sunday, I skipped church and got 666 as my number plate.
5. I haven't been eating as well as normal.
6. I lost my appetite a few days prior to race and didn't eat much. (Skipped lunch Friday for example)

What would be ideal for me is for me to go to the doctor. I go in and have a conversation along these lines:

Ryan: So doc I did bad in a race and want to know why.
Doc: Let me run some tests.
*Tests ...*
Doc: Well Ryan I have some bad news. You have a tumor.
Ryan: A tumor?!?! Where?
Doc: I'll just say it's an "Armstrong" ...
Ryan: So I won't be able to have kids?!
Doc: We might be able to save one. Who knows.
Doc: So wait. You have been riding a bike?
Ryan: Yes.
Doc: ... and racing on the bike?
Ryan: Yes.
Doc: That is ... that is ... I'm amazed. Given the stage of your tumor you shouldn't even be able to stand here. You are one incredible human being. In fact I want to study you and write a book about how strong you are.
Ryan: So if I didn't have a tumor, what place would I have finished in?
Doc: If you didn't have a tumor I would say you would be one of the best riders in the WORLD!

That's a situation I could deal with. Wait a second. Did I just say I'd take a tumor if it meant I could win a race? Hmmmmmmmmmm. Priorities ...

Troy Restores Order

Best thing about riding with Troy? PICTURES!

From Blog Pictures

I had a great weekend of riding. Saturday morning a few of us went out to Aliso, LCWP and El Moro. We hit quite a few illegal trails and got stopped by a ranger that didn't seem too upset that we were riding trails for hikers. I used to feel really bad about riding illegal trails here and there, but I've started to cross over to the dark side as of late. I just don't see what the big deal is.

I cleared all of Deer Canyon, 99% of Laguna Ridge (I hiked back up to start over after a bad first attempt) and ... and ... and ... I have to admit I've stopped being excited about clearing some climbs and descents. Lots of stuff is just becoming common place now.

I went really hard on a few climbs and that took a lot of energy out of me. It always feels great to hammer for the first third of a climb and the end is always pure pain.

===========================================

Monday

Monday was fantastic. Just about everyone I know that rides a bike showed up at San Juan to do a Labor Day ride. I was a little nervous because a lot of good riders were out and I didn't want to be "that guy" on the ride. The guy that can't make some switchbacks and walks technical sections in front of 10 other guys that can clear them.

I hung in the middle and fortunately I don't think I prevented anyone from riding in areas that I had to walk.

The ride in general was more of the same ... technical, singletrack, rode some stuff I've never ridden, walked some stuff I've made in the past. I felt really strong all day and I think it helped that I prepared myself mentally for technical riding. I tried to attack as much as I could on various sections and enjoyed moderate success.

From Blog Pictures

On the way down we lost Andrew because he went ahead of the group and assumed we were going to Blue Jay. Hahaha. So awesome. I had a crash on a switchback and then got a flat right before the last series of switchbacks. I ended up running with my bike down the rest of the trail which has left me with sore legs this morning.

Group rides can be really fun and we were lucky we had no major mechanicals and no super serious crashes.

I drank a Redbull from Wayne at the end of the ride and it kept me up all night. Hahaha. I drink caffiene maybe 4-5 times a year and I was amazed at how one Redbull at noon could keep me up until 2AM. Amazing.

Oh. I got a blister on my finger from writing on Andrew's car. Who knew that could happen?!?!

From Blog Pictures

(One final note: I showed the two "blood" pictures to my friend CJ and his quote was, "How come you look like a special ed kid in every bike picture you send me?")