Not My Day

Boulder Racing Cross #4
Westminster City Park

Rode out to the race with Allen Krughoff and Brandon Dwight today and my Crux was honored to get a place among all the Ridleys. I always like riding to races with guys like that because I feel like I always learn something and I have a lot to learn. We got there a bit later than normal, signed up and headed out on the course. I had one of those weird warmups where everyone was passing me and my legs felt awful. The good news is that generally means I gonna have good legs in the race. Strange but true.

Sadly, I never got to find out. I had a good start position and lined up ready to go. The whistle blew and didn't get off the line well. Paco went flying by and I had to touch the brakes to avoid his back wheel. By then Will Iaia was leaning on me and I was leaning back and then it all went to hell. I clipped his pedal with my foot and over I went. I rolled the tubie went down hard and curled up in a ball. Several went down around me and I know that it disrupted many more than that. My apologies to the group. My friend Shawn raised an eyebrow at me later because I have had my bike handling issues, but I'm not sure today was one of them. A better bike handler may have kept it upright I will admit that, but there was little I could do. Again, sorry guys for causing a mess.

I got up and assessed. No rips in the skinsuit (thank God, I can't afford another right now. You people need to start buying more Breeze Bars or taking swim lessons) not a lot of blood. Great I thought, 5 seconds and I'm done. The I remembered that we have pit wheels for just this kind of situation. I ran the 200 yards to the pits, wrestled the wheel out and got the new one in. Off we go! I was waaaaaaay back. I mean like minutes down. The wind was howling and there was little or no protection from it. All alone. I am proud to say that I NEVER thought of dropping out. I often say to myself "this is your race today." What I mean is that things can go well or poorly but at some point, that is the race you are in that day. 1st or 4oth, that's your race, are you going to race it? I raced it. I rode back riders one by one and I turned myself inside out. I caught guys and had people I normal race with on good days in my sights and I almost got back to Josh Whitney. That dude has been working way to much, get your priorities straight man...real job, whatever!

I ended up 25th as Allen Krughoff took the win, Baker second and Dubba 3rd. Great rides today by Ariel Brown who overcame a cough and the grass for a good finish, to Boups who fought through two flats and was his own mechanic and to Zack Gould (yet another Apex/Neal Henderson product, why are you not coached by Apex?) who was 11th. Proud of you man. Great work.

We all have bad days, but I think the true test of an athlete at any level is how good were you when everything goes wrong. I was good on a really bad day today. I kept my cool and rode hard. I'll be sore tomorrow but racing is always joyful, always. I love cross and I love cross in this community. So many good thoughts and so much support. Thanks for always being there guys. I cannot wait until Sunday and States.

As a side note, good luck to Allen out at the Portland USGP this weekend. Go kill it man. Go rep Breeze Bars, Apex Coaching and Boulder Cycle Sport.