Adjust

The secondseason is on, I feel like I almost have my cross rhythm
after three races. The thing is that the focus is off, I'm going into
the weekends off; off form, off kilter, out of focus. 1 win and two
seconds, not bad to start but not great either. I let myself down in a
way, that'll change now that I have it in front, clear, not quite
thousand-meter stare, short, myopic. Listen, it's there, plain sight,
grab it. ready?

Puritan

One of those days, not the best way to get fit but the wheels are on the bike and pedals ready to be turned. Spring ready to sprung, I feel coiled up-potential energy a lot better than last week's disappointment. I get this weird mindset when I ride the mtb to accomplish a workout, going up I can maintain the effort but on the way down I feel guilty, like I'm cheating myself on the workout. I'm getting less fit the more i ride downhill, what goes up must come down, right? I try and escape the work ethic but I stress about it in this odd way. I lose the race in my head everytime, for thel ongest time I thought I trained better than I raced, now, I think it's the opposite.

Southside

Good luck and good eyes if you know where these were taken. Good weather for long climbs, stayed good warm, not dripping warm.

@#

The sounds in my head matched the tempo of the trail. Rolling nines
around the loop. I hear it all, pictures matching video, clear as the
full moon night. Perfect gear 32:17. Cutting the ride short wasn't in
the plan, the window was open I jumped through it.

Walk

If I want to run fast I need to walk slow. I guess that's how I am
looking at it. If Nats are going in my head, I need concessions now.
Slow before fast. Better comes later, now is ok, better is later.

Bubbles

In touch by way of the magic that is RSS. I never realize that I am out there until I get friendly mentions, Jared and Joel, two friends who get it. They are about to almost be neighbors, sort of. Jared beat me up today on the commute home. I wish the commute always felt that productive. It should have taken a lot longer than it did, thanks for that. My bubble contains most everything I know. Reverse solipsism, my bubble. Work continues, the more the better little tweaks and little changes to work with my bubble. I hear the changes coming around the corners, taking the faster way through the apex. More means better later.

Mistakes

Nothing real special about yesterday's race. I went in relaxed, a little error early cost me. I gave too much leash at the start, I had my work cut out. the picture says it all; most of the race chasing solo. Caught the guy too late to do anything but sprint, I lost. Mistakes. Lacking knowledge of who he was cost me, I should have gone early. Now I know, better next week. This past week of training has been amazing, it'll fall into the place in the next couple weeks. The puzzle isn't perfect, the pieces fit but not always on the first try. I know that and new pieces are good for the head. Thanks to Jared for the pic.

Prep

Exercises in getting stuff together to put the puzzles to right. No race today, family took precedence, no Colo Springs, they're better off without another sinner visiting the holy grounds. They do have a big city burrito near there. I could eat the shit out of one of those. It's been a while. The onset of cross has me in the usual mode of getting parts and cables and tires and wheels. It never arrives later, always fast, never easy.

Fallings

If it had been dark all of the stars would have been aligned. Instead it was bright sunshine and the trail opened up for us and flowed like water down a narrow creek. I could name most of trails but it wouldn't really make much sense, the point as always was the FLOW. Almost Zen like in a way Agnostics rarely experience. Perfect tools for the job, Fisher, Bontrager, Ergon,I couldn't ask for better gear. Sitting back and letting the bike ride itself, It shouldn't be this easy. It is. Confidence inspiring the way I can't imagine it ever before. The color of the leaves great by high country standards, nothing on the northeast. No breaks too long in some spots, not a skid to be heard. Let the trail show the bike where to go, not the other way around. Look for the FLOW

It's there underneath the canopy out of the way 1 in 10.

Progression

Stiffness and soreness from two little fumbles, bike practice always
makes for good legs. Easy skills on the cross bike and more mtb to
come. Bike practice makes me happy.