I’ve said many times that I’d rather be riding good and have a bad result than to be riding bad and have a good result.  It’s not about the results.  It’s about having done everything correctly to be able to attain a result.  But, I’m having a bit of a hard time coming to terms with yesterday’s race.

I finished 18th.  The course did not suit my abilities.  It wasn’t horrible, but it was pretty much a hard packed circuit race.  Very, very non-technical.  But, that was just a product of the weather.  It had been pretty technical the previous days, but it dried up and got super smooth and very “easy”.  It was a complete power race.

I didn’t have real aspirations to win.  That was going to be a stretch.  But, I thought I could finish somewhere between 5-10th.  I missed my pedal at the start.  It’s a simple as that.  I was buried immediately.  It was such a simple mistake that put me in a situation I couldn’t recover from.   The race was over for me after one lap.  I had been behind 3 major pile-ups that split the field into small groups.  And I needed to be in the front group from the gun if I was going to have any chance to finish somewhere I would be happy with.

I lost most of the motivation I had pretty early.  After watching a big group of 10 ride up the hill I knew the day wasn’t going to be good. I did nothing but cruise for most of the race.  But, I eventually got some motivation back and  got riding pretty good.  That is the only good thing I have to say about my ride for the day.  It wasn’t like last year when I flatted 4 tires.  That was only partially my fault.  This was totally my fault.  It’s too bad that it had to happen at Nationals in KC.  I had the form to have a good race on a course that I thought wasn’t good for me under the conditions.

Despite the disappointment, I did have some fun.  I saw a rider nearly try to mount his bike without his front wheel, after a crash .  If I would have waited 5 more seconds behind a crash, I would have gotten to witness Jonathan Baker punch Adam Meyerson in the face.  I did witness from the interior of the course of how fanatic cyclo-x fans are.  And, I got the pleasure to race in front of a bunch of friends locally at the National Championships.  Pretty special.  And a million more memories that would take forever to write.

So, I can’t complain too much about the weekend.  There are not too many things I can think of that I would of rather have been doing.

60 degrees in the morning, high 20

Great photo. Sums up my day. Taken by Alex Grigsby

Riding by myself.

Never too happy. Hard packed ground.

Brad Huff and Co.

Guess whose bike? Hint-initials N.O.

I’ve been a little lax on updating this since the season is over, I guess.  I’ve been going through some sort of funk since racing Nationals last weekend. It’s mostly mental.  Completely.  I’m not sure what it is all about.  Cyclo-X is a funny sport.  I love it.  But it is frustrating at times.  And many of those times come when it is the most important.  At least when it seems the most important.

I’ve been trying to catch up with stuff I put off the last few months.  So, I called Dr. Franklin, my ENT guy.  Long story short, tomorrow, the 26th, I’m having surgery on my sinus problem, in Topeka.  It should clear up a bunch of problems I’ve had historically.  At least that is the plan.  I’m a little nervous about the general anesthesia.  Last time I did that I didn’t wake up for a long time.  I’ve got a cycling friend, Jeff Unruh overseeing  it, so it should be fine.

Yesterday nite we drove up to Chicago for Christmas.  As usual, the roads in Iowa were crazy bad.  Cars everywhere off the interstate, pointing and laying in different directions.  30 degrees and raining.  Great for driving, if you like driving on ice.  When we got here, it is definitely winter.  Plows everywhere.  I had to shovel until 3am just to park the car in the drive.  I didn’t mind.  I hadn’t exercised and I like shoveling snow.  I’ve always liked it.  It’s kind of like mowing grass.  Or roofing a house with shingles.  It is rewarding seeing your progress and predicting your finish time.  And the payoff is in efficiency.  Anyway, it seems right to be somewhere with snow on Christmas Day.  I’ve spent a couple in California training and it seems so much wrong.

So, running in the morning when I wake up.  There are usually a bunch of geese on the golf course, but probably not this year since the water is all frozen.  Then Christmas stuff and to the airport by 9 to fly back to Kansas City to arrive at 11 something.  Drive to Topeka. Then surgery.  It seems like a rush.  Good time to lose some weight I guess.

I’ve already got a urge to race again. At least ride a bunch.   That is a good thing.  I kind of always have that urge, but this year it seems stronger or something.  Might ski abit through the New Year and head South for some warmer riding conditions if everything goes well.  Seems like those are the best ways to figure out life quandaries.  Alright.  Merry Christmas!

Snowy Mt. Prospect, Il

Trader Joe's wine sign, in chalk. Holiday theme. Pretty good artist, huh?