I need 75 UCI points. I have 70. I’m five points short. So there is no World Cyclo-Cross Championships for me this season.
Not much I can do about this except get on my bike today and work on getting better, stronger, and smarter.
Guess I’ll go do this now…
I’m home and recovered from the Koksijde World Cup. What a day! The course was very heavy and muddy – all thanks to the snow that fell overnight. But luckily by the time I raced it was very sunny so the cold wasn’t an issue.
I had a decent race – even beating one person and for a while I was ahead of two people! This was pretty cool. I found the sand running so exhausting. I was literally stumbling over myself trying to keep my legs from not buckling under me. A good sign of how hard I was pushing myself. I felt I rode the course not badly technically. Admittedly sand is not my strength. More practice is required! I did ride the mud really well – I was able to keep my legs turning over and used a trick of pulling myself along the metal barricades (this even got me some pushes from some spectators)!
So it was a good day. The support from Ignace and Alex before the race and afterwards was truly overwhelming. Luc and Linda were great to have there – letting me hang out in their camper, being there at the finish, taking photos and just being great friends. Also big shout out to Karl and Denise for letting me travel with them and for sticking around for my race.
I’ve written a race report here. Photos are posted here.
Tomorrow I’m racing at Drongen with the junior boys. I’m looking forward to seeing Marc race and then racing myself. Great way to round out a weekend of racing.
Last year at this time, I was pretty amped up. It was the day before the Koksijde World Cup. I’d been training on the course all week. I felt good. I felt too good – I was over confident. I felt like I was going to have an awesome race and ride like I’d never ridden before. I also needed to only “finish” the Koksijde World Cup to get the last points I needed to qualify for the Canadian Cyclo-Cross Team and the World Cyclo-Cross Championships. Well, I didn’t have a great race. In fact I didn’t race well at all. The good news is I got the points that I needed. I did qualify. But as I was racing I was in a such a negative headspace during that race that I convinced myself that I didn’t “deserve” to go to the World Cyclo-Cross Championships. Yes, I was in a very bad spot. I had done a very good job of crushing myself mentally.
And now here I sit, the day before the 2010 Koksijde World Cup. I’m in a very different spot this year. If I have an amazing race, I can potentially get the points I need to qualify for the Canadian Cyclo-Cross Team and the World Cyclo-Cross Championships. But it is a long shot. A very long shot. I know this. I’m comfortable with this. Yes, I’d love to get the points so I can qualify. But I’m realistic. I know where I am as a bike racer. This year is a different year for me. I’m focusing on small improvements that will take me to the next big improvement.
So today I sit here with no false hope. No crazy thoughts of having the best race of my life. Instead, I’m going to go out there and race my bike. I’ll pedal as hard as I can. I’ll run as hard as I can. I’ll stay off the brakes. I’ll keep my legs spinning as smoothly as I can in the sand. I’ll attack the power sections. I’ll sprint into the climbs. I’ll keep my eyes up and focused forward. I’ll keep my brain clear. I’ll listen for my supporters out there cheering me on.
I won’t shake my head. I won’t shrug my shoulders. I won’t let my neck slump. I won’t let negative thoughts enter my head.
Nope, it is a new year. This is a new me. I’m just going to ride, smile and try to remember as much of it as I can.
Can’t hardly wait to race at the Koksijde World Cup.
It is Tuesday here. Tuesday in Blauberg, Belgium means one thing – group ride day. Karl and I waited until 1:15 and rolled out to meet up with the group ride. We went to the same place as last week. And we waited. And waited. And waited some more. Finally by 2:00 (after waiting for 30 minutes) we left and went on our own ride.
We had a great ride. Hit up some new roads. Did some climbing. Did some descending. Pedaled along roads that to Karl didn’t “seem like” roads. At one point we thought we were super far from the house – turns out we were in Zichem (a mere 10 km away…). We ended up in Scherpenheuvel and found a small little bike shop to get Karl’s crank tightened. The old guy there wasn’t convince that Karl knew what he was doing, but finally Karl got his hands on the tool and sorted out his bike. We hit up more twisty roads. Got turned around a bit. Warmed up and just enjoyed being out on our bikes. Quick detour to the Mie Moon Cafe to pick up my MEC waterproof pants (I ditched them while waiting for the group ride…) and we were finally back at the house.
I think we rode for just under 3 hours. I’m happy to say that I didn’t slow Karl down. At times my tongue was dragging on the pavement but I managed to keep pace with him. It was a good day out.
The funniest part was when we had sheep on one side of us, horses, a peacock and chickens on the other side of us. We called this the “zoo”. Yes, I think I’m still riding the wave of post-ride endorphins. Fun day on the bike.
Tomorrow I’ve got a double day. A road ride with some tempo efforts in the morning. Then it is off to Floreal Lichtaart for some riding in the woods. Tomorrow Ignace is meeting up with us to “train” us. Not sure what this will involve – I’ll be sure to let you know….
Many thanks to Alex for changing my brake pads and helping with my minor SRM issue (don’t worry Marc – All is Good). Oh, I’m going to start riding the rollers…. Alex and Denise picked up some rollers at the second hand store for 10 Euros – so I figure it would be good to get on those every day to get used to them and to work on spinning.
Next Tuesday we’re going to be sure to ride with the group… We’ll go to the start and do the entire loop – this way we’ll know it. Tim and Jos are pretty sure the route has changed – this is why we didn’t see the group. Tim says it was “IMPOSSIBLE” that there wasn’t a group ride today…. Mind you Tim also wants us to wash with cologne….
Today was one of those days – some ups and some downs. The course at Asper Gavere is hilly and muddy. It seems like I was either going up or going down. But through-out it all, I was smiling. I had so much fun today. Not once did a negative thought enter my head. I just focused on riding and riding better each lap – and I’m pretty confident I did this.
I did get pulled – darn 80 per cent rule. This was a disappointment – particularly since I felt like I was riding well. But this is bike racing. You can read my race report here.
It was a very good day from start to finish. Thanks to Luc for the driving, cheering, photos, and friendship. Thanks to Ignace for the pit work and for the bike work. Thanks to Karl, Denise and Alex for the cheering, support and good vibes.
Next race for me is the Koksijde World Cup on Saturday. This will be a good one as well – my sand training at Merivale Gardens will definitely pay off there!
Ottawa Cross 