Nrrrrrvous

[smurfalicious]

Well gals, I did it. Oh sure, there were times when I really wanted to die, wanted to load my bike in the next pickup I saw and quit. Heck, load it into *my* pickup when I came by it once. I was so super nervous that I couldn't really eat much before hand and I paid the price. I really should have brought a shot along because I was dying.

I made a big mistake and took all my excitement into trying to ride everyone else's race, and I would have won, if the race was about 3 miles. Anyway, I toughed out the whole 14 miles but I did a lot of hike-a-bike. It really wasn't more climbing than I could handle, but I was feeling half dead.

I'm not too stressed though, I finished despite having to clear out a million times for the upper level riders who lapped my sorry butt. Oh well, they were for the most part super cool and understanding. One of them passed me, and I grinned and told him I'd let him by this year, but give me a couple years I'll kick his butt. Guys were impressed I was riding a hardtail, they loved my streamers, and when I took this big old drop and sailed down a big old hill I never would have done at home, this super hot guy behind me was so nice! He totally congratulated me! Like, genuinely stoked I did it, not just glad I didn't crash in front of him!

So I know I have a lot of work to do, and that's cool. That's all this was about, having fun, which I did, and didn't. I know that I need to get comfortable with people passing me. I got so nervous that I'd nearly wreck rather than focusing on the task at hand. I'm gonna spend the rest of my training rides on Grey Butte, I can do the length, but I just haven't gotten my climbing strength yet.

Anyway, I was pretty stoked. Everyone was very friendly, supportive, and hello today! Hot guys everywhere....

[edit] I almost forgot, it rained like a cow peeing on a flat rock all morning long! The trail was slicker than snot, which freaked me out because I've only ridden hard pack, and sand. I know how sand handles, and damp hard pack, mud scares me. It finally stopped raining once we started, but that definately put a damper on things. [/edit]

love and cookies
-smurf

[LBTC]

way to go, smurf! you made it!!
<hugs>

that first race is a doozy, isn't it? hey, all this time I thought it was a road race, but this was mtb? cool. Last year I did 2 races a week apart. I was behind 2nd place by 30 seconds. I never knew. so....I analyzed the race, figured out what to differently, and, luckily with the next race only a week away, I even remembered all that. I won my category that race. *sigh* it's the race I missed this weekend, but that's okay. I must get well before kicking more butt.

so, you need to learn to eat and fuel and take along cliff shots or whatever goo works for you - enough to for one every 20 minutes (just in case), and, I guess, some practice riding in the wet could help, and, well, you know better than I do what you need to do. Not racing everyone who comes along is a good one, too. keep on it!

You did awesome to finish, and you're in great spirits despite how hard it seemed at the time. I"m proud of you, girl!!

when's that next race? 3 weeks from now? you'll do amazing!!

Namaste,
~T~

[CorsairMac]

and the She-Ra crown goes to.......................................Smurf!!!!!!!!! wooohooooo......you finished and had a blast doing it!......and good on you about the drop!! They say the first one is the hardest, job well done!!!!!

[fixedgeargirl]

Good on ya, smurf! You had fun (and didn't), learned where you can improve the experience next time (there WILL be a next time!). Like a distillation of life itself.

And you got to see a bunch of hot guys with nice butts in tight shorts !!

[Bike Goddess]

Wahoooo! Good job! Always finish, I say!!!!
Now onto the next one, right? Maybe it will dry out a bit by then. We're getting the rain down here in "sunny at this time of the year" California so none of us is too happy with that either!

Let us know when the next race is so we can support you again!