Day 2 of the LA UCI Cross at the Greek seemed like it would work for me. I didn't have to go a full day on Saturday due to the mechanical and I was getting one more night of good sleep. Alas, I was wrong. There were some slight modifications to the course on Sunday, but nothing dramatic and the gist of it remained the same. Technical, tight and not my cup of tea. The lap was even shorter on Sunday. Adam Craig was rolling them in under 5 minutes. In other words, if there were 3 technical sections I was struggling with, I had to do them many times in quick succession.
I got a good start and found myself at the top of the hill on Allen's wheel. On the fast downhill right hander I lost it and got swallowed. I just didn't have the guts to ride it fast. no excuses, my skills are not there. I got on the gas again and the real issues of the day began. There was no gas. Every time I stood to go the legs said no. I wasn't suffering, they weren't cramping, they were just sore and had little or nothing. Guys were flying by me on the one straight where I would normally have an advantage. I got lapped early and pulled. 34th. Argh.
Allen had another good one. After starting 3rd to last this time, I was staged 5th to last, he moved through the field and was closing on Todd Wells and a Rapha guy. One more lap and he may have had Wells. 7th for Allen.
I spoke with Neal and Allen after the race frustrated and depressed. I felt like I was just a pretender and that I had no business in the field. You see, I just want to race Elite and have fun and not be in the way. i know I am not going to win nor will I likely get UCI points, but I like traveling to race and if I am going to race I want to race the best. period. I would like to race masters in 2013 as a 40 year old, but should I even be trying now? Neal and Allen talked me down a bit. Too much traveling the last 2 weeks and no rest. The body cracked. Three days off this week and we will try to get back at it.
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