On Racing & Whims or On a Wing & a Prayer…

I was notified a while back I would be required to attend Mountain Bike Nationals in Sun Valley, ID. I was also informed it would be a mess of work, days stuck in the booth and advised not to expect to have much fun… Seriously? I laughed a little and then sobered up when I realized the info I was getting was for real.

Yippee-kai-yay.

I’m sorry but bike races are fun. So I went to work on a plan to insert some fun into my days in Sun Valley. Riding would be involved, as well as copious amounts of alcohol (just being realistic) and plenty of sun. I mean it is Sun Valley after all. But how to carry out my solo-fun plan?

And then it came to me… in a flash, I found myself registering for a USA Cycling license and paying money to race.

Aw crap.

The race I didn’t have to qualify for was the Super D, so that’s what I’m doing. I’ve never actually raced a Super D but I like them. There is not one thing wrong with gravity-assisted XC racing. The one glitch in my plan is I haven’t raced at all in 2 years and thus have no gauge for my fitness level, how fast I am these days or what the rest of the field will be like.

Not to worry, right? Right. It’s only Nationals. On the advice of a close friend, I was told to, “KILL, KILL, KILL.” Killing is not really my thing, but when it comes to competition I do know what to do. Unlike some, I have the competitive bone and I enjoy it very much. This sort of whim is right up my alley but I will be a basket case until the race.

Tire selection, course re-con, and getting my head in the right space will take over my every waking moment until next Sunday. Forget training… that window closed a while ago. I have no illusions of having a stellar race or that I’ll win anything. I do, however, have expectations of having some fun and, at the very least, having an excuse to get out of the booth.

If I live, I’ll let you know how it went.