Chasing Wabbits!

Hello friends!

Forgive me, I just realized I never mentioned anything about my first mountain bike race since the comeback! Please forgive the slip!

Anyhoo, back in May I competed in my first race in over 3 years. I had to take almost three weeks off from riding leading up to the race to let my back accept the stem cell injections (doctors orders) so my fitness level for the race wasn't exactly where I'd hoped. But my only goal was to finish the race without embarrassing myself too much. And of course I entered Open Single Speed, because I'm just not that smart.

The course took place in beautiful Wilder Park in Santa Cruz, overlooking the deep blue Pacific then twisting in and out of emerald green forests. Each lap was 11 miles with about 1500 feet of climbing. My class only completed two laps while the pros did three, but at race pace and minimal fitness it felt like twice that amount. I'm a notoriously slow starter, so I got smoked on the initial climb. My old lungs just don't appreciate being played like a bag pipe from a cold start. But once my wind bags settled down and my thighs stopped screaming at me I began sliding into a rhythm and started catching some of the riders in front of me who went out a bit too hard.

Ripping down the Enchanted Forest loop

The course wasn't terribly technical, but there were enough roots and rocks to keep you on your toes. My competitive streak has long since faded into my rear view. The days of caring about where I finish are replaced with blissful joy at the simple and wonderful fact that I can turn a pedal. And as people passed me, and I passed others, I smiled (and heaved and sweated and labored) realizing my journey, while slow, had brought me to a place I secretly feared might never materialize.

So when I crossed the finish line, with no clue as to my finishing position, I was rather shocked to discover I had landed on the 5th and final spot of the podium. The post race beer tasted that much sweeter being able to stand before my fellow racers and receive a medal. Three years removed from my last race and a mountain of pain behind me, I soaked in every second.

Big grins all day long!

I have no plans on returning to racing on a regular basis, picking and choosing from events rather than training for a particular series. These days I can begin a big ride knowing I will finish in manageable pain, rather than complete destruction. This past week saw my biggest numbers to date on the mountain bike over a 7 day stretch, and my legs are cooked as a result. When my legs are more exhausted than my back, that is a good day!

A big week!

I hope this entry into my meager little journal finds you well, my friends.

- Ian