Fontana

I've been racing almost every weekend for the last 3 months. It's a bit excessive, but without much time to ride during the week it's been a good way to get in shape and it's been a lot of fun. I have managed to see myself get better every single week, every single race. I don't think there's been a race this year where I didn't feel like I improved from the one before. That is until today...

My allergies have been acting up pretty bad recently so for now I think that's the main reason for my downturn at Fontana. Whatever it was though, I simply didn't have anything to give. I'd push up a hill, and then my legs wouldn't stop burning. I just couldn't go. I essentially stopped racing about 3 miles into the first lap. From that point on I just sort of cruised. It still hurt though, I just didn't try to push it all that much from then on. I think I finished 24th out of around 36. My goal after the first US Cup race was to finish in the upper half of the field (after finishing 19 out of 32 there). I think that would have been doable, but now I'll have to wait another week.
Can you feel my pain in this picture? This was just over a mile into the race and I was already hurting.


I'm a little unsure of what will happen next week. If I don't start breathing better the racing isn't going to get any better. Especially with next week at Sagebrush being an 18 mile race. I am going to try to change allergy medicines and see if that helps.

Things were a little better in the Super D. The course was a little disappointing as it was mainly just the 2nd half of the xc course. We started by category in a sort of crazy LeMans start. First we set our bikes down, then walked down the hill about 15 yards and sat down facing away from our bikes. Then at "go" it was a sprint to our bikes and we were off. All the reaction drills I did from running track in college paid off here. I was the first one to the bikes and then I was off and in the lead. I knew it wouldn't last long and it didn't, but it at least felt good to get off to a good start. After the first 20 seconds or so I was in 5th and I held that position for most of the race. Then at the flat section towards the finish I was pretty much done. I couldn't go as fast as I needed to and was passed. I finished 6th of 12. Not bad considering how my xc race went.

My Super D run is here.
And my XC laps - Lap 1, Lap 2, Lap 3.

Despite the lack of posts I am updating my racing results page. This is mainly for my own reference, but feel free to take a look.

I also continue to post my Crafton TT times. Now seems like a good time to mention the Crafton TT after my poor racing today. My only concrete goal coming into this season of racing was to break Mike Erb's record at the Crafton TT we do. He went 16:25 and when he did it I busted my ass to get 17:41 and I couldn't believe how fast he went. I thought that time was untouchable (by me anyways). Well last week I beat it. And I didn't just beat it, but I went 14:53 to crush it. I was feeling good that day. If only I'd felt that way today.