Good Bye For Now

I'm done.  Not with riding and racing, of course, but with writing.  I no longer want to share my personal thoughts, feelings, and life stories.  If you are still interested in reading about  how I'm progressing as a racer, my Dad will be posting a short report after each race (and maybe some pictures too).  So, thank you friends and family for following my crazy stories and leaving positive comments.  And who knows, when I  grow up and finally become that Pro Mountain Biker that I have always wanted to be, I will start writing again (or maybe sooner).  Good Bye.

I should just let it go, but I'm not.  I got a couple of negative comments (which I already deleted, couldn't stand looking at them) on my last post.  Some lady in my class (which I'm pretty sure I know who it was) said some mean things.  According to her, I have no business racing with the women because I'm not a woman. She says I'm holding up racers and causing crashes.  This is not true!!!   I could go on and on, but I don't feel the need to explain myself.  This is to Miss Anonymous:  Please stop reading my blog and if you have a problem with me, let me know right away instead of leaving anonymous comments.  I'm not going anywhere, so you might as well get used to me.

OK...I feel better.  I said what I wanted to say.  Time to move on.   .   

FSC #5 San Felasco

Well...I thought I was ready for the race.  I had a really good practice yesterday and the course was awesome, but today, I don't know what was wrong with me.  Things just weren't right!!  Thinking back, I had a good nights sleep, woke up in good mood, and ate a decent breakfast at the hotel.  I think, actually I know, when my stinky mood kicked in... as soon as I walked outside.  It was in the forties and I HATE the cold!! I would rather it be a gazillion degrees out than anything below 70!!  The only good thing about the cold weather was that I got to wear my METAL arm warmers.

...But they were even giving me problems.  They were so big I could have worn them as leg warmers.  No problem, Dad to the rescue with the electrical tape.

Then, it was time to warm up and get the chills out of my bones or I wouldn't make it off the starting line.

OK...that didn't work out, it only made me grumpier.

 I was extremely nervous on the starting line. And looking around at some of the other racers, I had a bad feeling I was not going to make podium this time.  And I ended up being right.  Long story short.  I was in the 5th position finishing the first 7 mile lap and almost through the entire second lap. I was giving it everything, I mean absolutely everything, I had.  Then, 6th got me.  I don't know how I made it through the finish line. I had no air left in my lungs and I was crying.  Was I crying because I lost my podium spot?  Maybe... or maybe it was because I have never pushed myself that hard before.  This may sound wierd, but I think this was my best race yet.

**Thanks to the Mace Family for the pictures.

 

FSC #4 ALAFIA

Although I hate to admit it, I haven't been on the bike in 2 weeks.  With the weather and not being able to tear myself away from the mini ramp (my skateboard skills are improving), the training stuff just didn't happen.  But I gotta tell you, no amount of training could have prepared me for the race course at Alafia!!!

After pre-riding the course on Saturday, I almost told my Mom and Dad that I wanted to bail out on the race.  I found the course to be extremely difficult.  With it's non stop steep rooty climbs and drops, I had a hard time trying to get the feel of it.  I practiced different lines to take on the technical sections and nothing really seemed to work (couldn't get the flow going).  Definitely a "power course"... and I only have so much power!! So, after getting home and really thinking about whether or not I should do the race.  I kept asking myself questions like:  Can I really do this race without killing myself?, Am I really up for this huge challenge? Should I take the easy way out and just skip it?  And my answer to the last question was, heck no!!! 

On race day for some reason I felt very relaxed.  I didn't even get all stressed out seeing the other 9 women in my class.  I felt like I was doing this race for me and as long as I did my best...I would be happy.

Here's my short race report because I'm really tired and I have school tomorrow.  I was 5th going into the woods.  Went back and forth with the 4th place lady. I think I got passed by all of the 11-14 year boys (they are sooooo fast!!) Ending up, you guessed it, in 4th place.   In a couple days, check out MTB Mike's blog, I'm sure he will have a cool video of the race.

Weekend Work

 Well...at the beginning of the week I was seriously thinking about doing the Gainesville race. Then, I got the flu and missed a couple days of school.   So, instead of racing, my weekend  was spent doing make up work and recycling the wedge into an awesome half pipe. I'm pretty lucky to have an "old skater Dad".  All I had to do was mention that I thought it would be cool to have a half pipe in the backyard... and then POOF...Dad was out of the house getting the needed supplies with my Papa. And after 2 days of hard work (and the help of my friends), this beautiful thing was created.

My Dad can still bust out some cool tricks.