Moving Forward
Last night I headed out the Driveway intent on finishing the 3/4 race for the first time. I actually rode out there, and in the process got in a nice warm up. That’s the nice thing about riding out there. The bad thing about riding out there is that you have to ride back. But, with the south wind one usually has during the Spring and Summer it isn’t so bad.
Back to the racing, I did actually finish the race with the group. Woohoo! This is the first 3/4 race where I have ever been able to hold on the entire time. I am sure there were some fast people who decided not to race since Ft. Davis is this weekend, but whatever. I finished the race without getting dropped.
We had two crashes going up the corkscrew, I avoided both of them by pulling off some ‘cross action and riding through the grass outside of the track. Luckily neither of them dislodged me from the group.
My legs felt like they plenty in them towards the end, but when I stood up in the last straight to follow a few guys up the side to possibly move up a few spots my legs quickly told me to “sit down.” Apparently I had been working harder than I thought.
My stomach had been not feeling that great previous to the race, so I had a hard time gaging my effort by the sensations in my stomach. But, I will say, I felt like I was able to move around pretty easily (though the course makes that easier). I noticed a couple of times that I had drifted to the back and took the first opportunity to move up, which at many times in the past I just wouldn’t have had a choice about.
It looks like my next big goal will be the Tour de Louisiane back home. It’s June 10-11th in and around New Orleans. I am really looking to get in a large amount of riding during the month of June as I will be in a transition period occupationally (i.e. unemployed). I will race the Driveway between now and then, obviously, but I probably won’t make it to any other races before then.
Hopefully this weekend I’ll have an exciting announcement to make. So all five of you stay tuned. ;)
