Imperial
Posted on February 1, 2009
Yesterday I headed out to Imperial, CA to race the Classic.
I actually like that race despite getting my clock cleaned every year. The people are nice, its a short drive, the race is organized and the prizes are the best around, no one can beat it.
I signed up for 2 races. the 30+ “elimination” race and the 3′.
So 21 guys lined up for the elimination race. I knew there were two fast guys in there. What I did not know was that Norm Carter was in there two. He was wearing some orange shit… who knew i was him. Oh well, the race gets under way and the first two laps were a bit weird. I did not get the feel for the race. There was no need to be at the front in order to make the cut (2 riders per lap). I figured that I could sit in the back and sprint past 2 guys and that was it.. Made my life a lot easier since sitting in was quite easy. Now the sprinting part was a bit different.
After the 7th lap I decided to pull out. I was literally redlining every sprint. It hurt and I had the next race to do well, so I “willingly” pulled myself out. To be honest I might have survived maybe 1 or 2 more laps. I felt like shit.
So the 3′s roll out and again small field. Now I am thinking that it was pretty dumb to do the elimination race. I basically threw out 7 good efforts… back to back too.
I hang in there, get myself together and save some energy by not going with the first moves. I sit in quite a bit until I am fully recovered and feeling pretty good about the race. I thought I would take the win.. thats right, I was feeling that cocky.
So now I am feeling good ad I go with a move that looks pretty good. We get brought back, then two guys go, then Brian launches, then 2 more go. All of the sudden I am in the smaller group and I knew I was in trouble. So the next lap I try to make the leap. Went with a guy and he made it… I had issues in my legs. It hurt again.
I drift back. Get in the group.. we work together, get a bit closer… I try to get in the front group again. No way.. I go supernova right on the straight away. I blew up pretty badly. Pulled out.
For the legs it was a great workout, for the head it completely screwed me over. What a blow to all the training. But then it is only January, blah, blah, blah.. But it is January for every one in the race… so no excuse. I JUST WASN’T READY.
So with my name down the list at VOS I am seriously considering actually not going. I will need to balance some training in the next couple of weeks or else it will be in vain.
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