Okay, I have now realized three things: I'm old, I'm slow and I'm fat.
Granted, I've got loads of endurance, but all that the past six months of marathon training has given me was a distant view of the peloton racing on up the road.
It wasn't entirely my fault, or was it?
We began the Roubaix '11 all together, Bob and I setting the tempo as we rolled along the Frenchtown Frontage Road. I could feel that my legs weren't great, feeling sluggish as we rolled along. We hit the first climb on Six Mile Road and topped it with the bunch. Sure, I was winded, but no big deal. Racing is about suffering and surviving.
We go speeding down toward the Nine Mile valley and the three loops to follow. Then we hit a really rough section of road with foot deep pot holes and I am in the middle, unable to get a good line. I'm rattled, I lose both my water bottles and slow to a crawl trying to get a better line. I'm instantly at the back of an accelerating pack and have to sprint to get back up to speed. I'm in the red zone, am sucking wind and I am losing contact with the peloton. Yikes! This wasn't supposed to happen.
I shouldn't have lost my focus. I should've been with the group, but instead, I screwed up and got gapped. I chased for the entire first lap, giving it the best tempo and intervals that I could. It was then that I realized that my cycling fitness just wasn't there. My race was over. I DNF'ed after the first lap.
On a positive note, Bob and I allowed Big Alex Gallego to get up the road and to hold onto the lead to win the Master's A race. John finished second to win the uphill finish over a chasing peloton for a 1,2 for MBW Racing. Woohoo.
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| Big AG across the finish |
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| John busting a mov |
Lesson number two: I suck at fishing! My best bud and fishing partner-in-crime, Morgan, and I headed out to Rock Creek for some spring fishing. I got schooled as he landed five to my one in our afternoon on the river. man, have I got some work to do!
Next up, the spring Skwala stonefly hatch and the Bearmouth Road Race. Have I got a lot of work to do!
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