Mediocrity

For seem reason this season has started off at an uncanny level of mediocrity. From January Nats., through performance testing to last weekend’s races in Greenville, NC. Nothing has gone badly but nothing has been outstanding either. I always do well enough to come away with my chin up but not satisfied and thus motivated to improve.

Fresh off two crits in Greenville it is all the more apparent. Training is going well and my form is solid. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been even though I lack the top end that comes from a solid block of racing. So if I can improve like I did last year from this point I’m definitely on track for a solid year. However, with the legs I have I still feel like I could be getting better results. The fields in Greenville are usually small but strong and this year was no different. I expected moves to go both days, which happened, except I wasn’t in them. Saturday I just missed it, I waited too long to play my cards and that was it. Sunday I was more upset. It was really windy but I still didn’t expect the race to be hard enough to shatter. So I sat back and waited for everyone to get tired, sit up to take a breath and then I was going to punch it. Too bad the race completely split apart. I was only two or three people too far back but the gap opened quickly. I chased for about two laps by myself but couldn’t bring it back. The good news was I had enough energy left to fight in the sprints, but what good is it when you’re sprinting for 7th? Last in the break is always better than first in the bunch. However, if there was a prize for top finisher on a cross bike I would be straight kickin’ ass.

The positive that comes out of this is that I know results are close and within my reach. It’s actually way more motivating than getting my ass handed to me since I know every little thing could make the difference. It could be that last pound I lose, the extra nap I take or the extra interval I do. The four or five pounds I’m about to shave with my new team bike certainly won’t hurt either. I’ve grown fond of my cross bike over the last several months but the road is calling and she just can’t answer. And yes, the only reason I haven’t won every race I’ve done this year has been because I was on the cross bike. Oh, and my cleat was 2mm off, and my chain is kind of heavy, and I only had one carbon bottle cage on. Sorry, I hate excuses, even more so when it’s me making them.

Moving on, another busy week lies ahead with dollars to be made, bikes to be obtained, built and raced, training to be done, etc. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. With Boone-Roubaix this weekend and me and Trav’s joint birthday party afterwords, it’s going to be amazing. One last blowout before racing really gets for serious. Wait, crap, that also means I’m turning 24, when do I officially have to become an adult again?

Quote of the Week: (Done in an exaggerated southern accent) “All the money’s up the road. I’m blown.” -Eoin McDonnell’s impersonation of Curtis Staples