My head has had another reset. Im not sure if its because of Matt kicking me in the ass, or if it’s the time of year (I had a similar reset about this time last year) but whatever it is, Ill take it. Last night was the third Bear Creek STXC race of the series, and I showed up ready to go. I forgot about any expectations but did resolve to push myself into the red-zone (read::puke) and ride with everything I could muster. The course was layed out on both sides of the road and the start would take us around about ¾ of the lake to separate us out before hitting the singletrack. I don’t know how many starters there were, though. Maybe about a dozen. It didn’t matter becaue when Chuck said go, I went. My start could have been better with a different gear, so I snapped a few up and stood to get a few good cranks in to hang with the front group. Matt, Gunner, Luby, Evan, Dave and I took off with the remainder of the riders behind us. I tucked in behind Luby and Gunner when the lead group split off and hung on his wheel. Luby is one strong dude who knows how to choose lines. I hung onto Luby and Gunner as they traded spaces a few times for two and a half laps but eventually started drifting back when I bobbled a little in the climb up the back of the lake area. No matter, I wasn’t gong to pass those two anyway but in any case I noticed someone trying to bridge up to me. With my HR pegged and some verp in my mouth I stomped on my pedals to clear the parking lot to give myself some breathing room up the final climb and rock garden sections. I don’t know how close he got to me, but what I do know is by the time I was crossing the road for the second time I was away, and felt like I was flying with a great big smile on my face. Jess and Gray cheered each lap and I was proud to have put on a good show.

Round two was a gravel-lot miss and out with a kayak finale and was pure win all the way around. We had a staggered start to give everyone a chance and somewhere in there my front wheel washed out. I made my best cross-remount and kept going but my knee/foot got a little jacked up in the crash so I just didn’t have much left. Matt tried to pass me, but hung up on my rear wheel and went down himself. Somehow he thought hugging my rear wheel would keep him upright, but all it really did was give him some good raspberry burns on the inside of his arm. Ill need to make sure I hook him up with some tasty beverages at Marysville to ease that pain.

All in all I don’t really think I was much faster than I have been all year, but my head is good and the fire is definitely lit for cross season. Now when I ride I will honestly remember the words of wisdom given to me by Vegan Rob- “I don’t think you’ve found the next level of sufferning yet.” I still don’t think Ive found that level, but now Im feel like Im ready to try.