Graupel

It's coming, the harder days to get it done while the weather is friendly. Today knocked open that door a bit, not quite cold but snowy and wet, better legs than I have had, better from yesterday's work and this weekend's goals. Modest at best, ambitious at worst. Trying to stay out of the candy plate is really hard, callow, weak-willed, institutional life solves this, this weekend allows for solutions, solutions make me sleep better. Out in it, a part of it, mine for the taking. Ready?

Structure

I like institutional life, a little too much sometimes, even it is self imposed. I respond better to a loose program, sort of institutional. I like that much structure, just a bit more than not. 

Sounds

music-Yesterday I didn't hear the music in my head the whole race. Usually I have a song going to help me keep my rhythm and avoid falling out of sync. Some guys race with a shuffle or something like that. I couldn't. 15 years ago when I first started bike racing I had a song in my head the whole season, one song, the bangles doing "Walk like an Egyptian" every race I'd start and sure enough about 5 minutes in the internal speakers would begin " and all the cops are hanging out in the donut shops" mmmmmmm donuts. That didn't happen yesterday, I'm paying for it today, it shouldn't be but it is. I'm only as good as my last race. Bad mindset, bad way of thinking. I will get to 10 wins, it's hard knocking on the door and not getting in two weeks in a row.

I was out of step the whole race. Not putting the pedals right, missing out on the important moves, trying time after time to feel the race in the legs. Pedaling one legged didn't help, my right side is so jacked I can't put my shoe on today. I need to listen better to the sounds of the race, put wheels to right at the right time. Maybe I got all of my good rides out this summer and I need to start from the beginning and create new ones. Rethink and re-evaluate the program.

Now I'm listening to the sounds of the computer and the heater system and the hum of the monitor, tuning in to the whole orchestra, trying to figure out if it's a minor or a major, happy major, down minor, in my head it's a bit of a minor third today, the interval is working out as the day gets started. The tonic is playing as I try to get going.

Grimace

Better, coming through the turns slicker than the ice, upright for most of the icy riding on the soon to be frozen roads. Dirt roads make me happy. Drivers too fast to notice. 42:16 up a 10% grade for 2k. Moonstone brings smiles mistaken as grimaces. Suffer slow race fast.

Full head, empty

The full moon usually makes me happy except when I get in this mode where sleep is harder to find, constantly wondering if I overslept, or not being able to gauge how much time I have until I need to wake up is skewed by the bright moonlight. I can tell if it's really early, or late, and know I can fall back asleep and get some more time. But, the full moon gets me every time. I don't know what my head does, even if I did have a clock or a watch the effort of looking at it would wake me to the point of getting me up anyway. I let it happen and enjoy what I got and relax. Hoping my body got what it needed and is now ready for the day. Chemical sleep aids scare me, I have been offered Ambien, Lunesta, not really my thing I think tonight I'll try Keller's suggestion; Porter. That'll work better than that other stuff.

Two Days

Rocco, Brett and Matt O heading out to recover from the hell we put ourselves through yesterday morning. Bike practice lends itself to very easy pedaling after it's all over. No feeling guilty that you aren't doing the work, you did it, it's over, time to get the shit out of your legs and get over the fact that it's wednesday morning and you just did two mini-races.

Butter

Thanks Dieter, I love butter as much as Tavin, this might be the best one yet:

Bike Practice

I made it to my second Wednesday Worlds CX Race, most of the Boulder area fast guys, a lot of people makes me want to live in Boulder if it wasn't for all of the Boulder People. They're everywhere, with this over-medicated, over-rested look on their faces that makes me happy to visit and ride away.

John has it right, he can visit the city, or whatever played-out name they are currently calling it (The Republic) and be home in 20 minutes, I too prefer to enjoy it from a distance, get the hell out, and head home. The athletes there are the redeeming quality. They make the trip worth it. Friendly faces to train with, suffer and get home. Life is Good.

B bike

The gears weren't really working anyway. The new version of the B bike will be better for training and better in the slop. Maiden voyage today was sweet. Perfect 42:16 is fast.

Mistake

Inattention and I got the wake up I needed. No more half-way, half assed set-ups. Go or don't, this is the shortest season we have and where I want to be. Almost there, the fitness grows and the legs are responding when I give the chance to open. If I don't capitalize, my own fault. They tried another move on me yesterday that I didn't get a chance to counter. Send one off the front and chop me at the end of the start straight. Force me to chase, open up the gap and let it all happen. My fault, my mistake(s) I know better and I didn't use all of my tools, I missed the chance to give them an f-u, you can't pull that shit on me. Now, I have the hunger back and the legs are ready for more work. Better days to come, double digits for the year. No more, next week begins the second half. Ready?