Settle Down

Solstice Cross. Wunderground almanac claims it was about 32 degF at start time. That wondrous temperature where things that were previously frozen become less so when just a little heat is added. That wondrous temperature where the cold hard ground below is still frozen. As the sun began to heat the ground after our 11:00 start, the portions of the course in full sun became a slippery mess.

I got a decent start, and was second behind perennial great starter, Kelly C. We navigated our way through the slippery, windy course. It was a fun course, with a section of rollers, several challenging off-camber sections, and LOTS of twisting and turning. At some point during that first lap, I took the lead from Kelly and led much of that lap. Bob R. passed just as we completed the first lap, but the three of us stayed together. I felt great, we'd just finished the first lap and I was feeling strong. As we started the longest descent of the course and just after the roughest part of the course through some sort of dumping grounds, I noticed my rear tire was seriously soft. I fell off the pace a bit as I nursed the bike to the pits. Getting back on course, I didn't know how many spots I'd lost and I got a little panicky. Mike Y and Gunnar S. were here. I could possibly get some good USAC points with a strong finish. And that's, again, where things started to fall apart.

I became far too intimate with terra (far too) firma, and have a few raspberries and bruises to show for it. I went down 4 times trying to make up for the time I'd lost with my flat. I would pass guys and then as I was working to catch the next guy, I'd go down again and lose a spot or two. Two steps forward, one step back. I eventually finished 6th.

After the race, a friend came up to me and said, "The only person you beat today was yourself." I think he meant it in the kindest possible way, especially since he went on to say very flattering things about my fitness. He advised me to "settle down" (sound familiar?) and be more judicious about where to put down that power that I've got. To ride smarter and more in control. Twice in two weeks, I have somebody tell me this. And, if I'm really honest, Mark G. from Massachusetts, gave me similar advice three years ago after we battled in Northampton. Maybe three times is a charm. Maybe now, the advice will start to sink into my thick skull.

[update: Riding home from this morning's workout, the events of the last few days and this post kept swirling through my head. I was reminded how my coach recently told me that I was likely stronger on a watts/kg basis than one of the guys that I really look up to in my age group, but that, given his years and years of competing at a very high level, he is simply more efficient than me. I didn't get this at the time, and maybe I'm still barking up the wrong tree, but in what seems a not so subtle way the universe has perhaps given me a part of the explanation.]

Oh, yeah, and Kelly C. was giving free hugs. So, there's that. And I actually got two!

My family and I are doing a reading and lighting the Advent Candle at church today, so I'll miss the State Championships. Good Luck to all!

Everything Counts

[editor's note: I thought I'd already published this, but when I when to write about yesterday's race, there it sat as a draftI.]

"everything counts in large amounts..."

"the grabbing hands grab all they can" -- except, of course, when they can't

I did it, again.
I took the fight to the home team. Still looking to improve my call-up for Nationals, I drove up to RI for the second day of Warwick. As with Suffern, I hoped for a good result against some of the boys I'll be racing at Nationals and who are currently staged ahead of me. As with Suffern, things didn't pan out at all the way i thought they would.

I felt good. No, I felt great. I had new confidence. I'd recently hired a coach*. He's awesome; smart, funny, gets me and my idiosyncrasies -- which are many. I was crushing my workouts. I'd just won a race.

but...

I'd forgotten about New England's damp cold. I'd forgotten how, when I lived in New England, I liked to tell anyone who'd listen that New England is probably the strongest area for cyclocross in the country.

Hitting the fence. Rebecca Lewandowski captures
moment just before fence and I go down.
Photo: Rebecca Joy Lewandowski

I usually start well, but against this field, I quickly found myself outside the top 10. I worked my way up and thought I was about 6th or so and then the wheels started to fall. Not literally, but I'm not sure it would have been much worse if they had actually fallen off. Wearing my favorite race gloves that look oh-so-much-cooler than my heavier winter gloves in 39 degF weather, it wasn't long before I couldn't feel my fingers. this started to impact my shifting, braking, and even steering. Because i couldn't -- and didn't -- shift as naturally as I normally do, basically without thinking, I often found myself in the wrong gear and struggling to push too big gear. First or second lap, I ran into one of the metal fencing units that defined a sharp 180 degree turn after a fast downhill where you gained a fair amount of speed just before a quick up to this turn. I knocked the fence over and lost spots.

Later, I went down on turn before that same road downhill and lost spots. At one point during the race, Sam M., my old friend from Cohasset, tried to help calm me, saying, "Settle down, Kevin" as I weaved wildly all over the course. But, most infuriatingly, on the last lap, I tripped on the planks. I had clipped them several times during the race, which is a total first. But, on the last lap, as I battled with Eric S. for spots and points, my shoe caught the first barrier and I went down hard. My bike landed on top of me and I lost still more spots.

Talking with my new coach after the race, we didn't even talk about the frozen fingers. He pointed out that the openers I'd done the day before were far too taxing, that i probably didn't replace enough calories in the meals between the openers and the race, and that, in addition to impacting the engine, those factors would like have starved the brain of much needed carbs. This would also explain the horrible driving skills i exhibited this day.

I'm disappointed with the result. But I continue to learn. Everything counts; preparation, diet, training, even -- or perhaps, especially -- mental state. I'm still learning.


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*Kyle Wolfe at Finish Fast Cycling. If you're looking for coaching services, check him out. He's pretty awesome.