Overdoingit.

This weekend... I just I don't know. Huge derailment.

Race Report:

I got there early and got all my equipment set up. Mike came out to help me hydrate and eat well during the race. He was good at having all my stuff ready for me for the 2 laps that I ended up riding.

I lined up, felt good, and started off. I really just started at a pace that was below my normal riding speed and planned to keep that speed all day long... I got through the added section of the first lap and into the first climb. My tire then got saggy... and I had a flat.  Jan from my Durham riding group was with me during the first part. I think I lost him in a hill. Jump off, look over the tire, fill it with a CO2 cartridge, and there's a hole in my sidewall. Jan goes by and asks if I need anything. I think I'm good but I'm running my finger over it trying to get the Stans to seal up. It finally did. I fire in another CO2 shot and I'm back on my bike. I never trust my rear tire for the rest of this very short race, although it was, and still is holding up in my garage now.

This isn't good as now I'm pretty much back of the pack, this of course doesn't fly with me, so now I'm ripping through crushing hills and trying to at least get back on track. The rear tire feels a bit squishy but its consistent, and I'm kinda liking the lower pressure. It keeps the back down on roots and rocks, so I kinda start to use it to my advantage over rockbed and such.

I take the jump, wait for my back tire to blow up, nothing, good.

Second lap.

Here's were things go to shit.

I passed someone who I think was retching on the side of the course. Right before the large open pit you ride through. I asked if he needed anything or water. He seemed pretty pissed that I asked. So I just rode on.

About half way though my second lap, I rode through a pretty loamy section and kicked up dirt over my legs. My cranks started to grind. I thought there was a small piece of sand in the hollow area of my cranks and never gave it 2 thoughts, but it was pretty noticeable. After another km or 2 it stopped grinding.

I then continued but things were getting crazy hard now. I was wondering if I was tired, or something. There's no way I'd be tired after 10km, that's just crazy... but flats for me now felt like massive hills. And hills just felt like I was biking through water. Like the most slightest of incline and it just felt like I was chugging. I managed to keep up and pass a large pack of riders who were lining up still in the technical areas. I actually just rode around them and jumped off one of the lips that a tree had provided. So that was at least 12 riders at this point that I had gotten back up on. I started seeing familiar solo faces at this point as well so I figured I was okay. But exertion to keep up was just unbelievable.

Around the big hill leading into the final down tech section I started to pedal again. I thought I had a stick stuck in my cranks as I felt something snap. Everything was working so I paid no mind. I pulled into the solo area and Mike again had everything ready like a pro. I downed my boost, downed my GA, filled and took off. Down to the timing chip area.. through, and onto 3rd lap. I felt better after having the Boost... like actually felt really good all of a sudden.

I got a quick sponge splash on me, and left for lap 3....

Now this track is a huge grind for the first little bit. I got through it but at this point I'm redlining on everything. I can't keep this up all day, something is very wrong with me... I get to the road crossing, I make a joke with the marshals, I cross.. I get off my bike cause its just getting impossible.

I look down and my bottom bracket is a twisted mess of sheared metal.... I can't ride another lap on it.. and I can barely turn it with my arms and hands. There is a LOT of resistance. I turn around, call in my lap reset, and hope the entire way that this can be fixed.

Nope. that's the end of my day. 2 and a half laps. I bow out at 2 hours in. At the pace I was going even with the bottom bracket shitting all over itself, I was on time to easily do 8 laps, and murder myself to try to get to 9.

My cranks are currently back at the shop. I'll call in today to see whats up and what warranty work can be done. I'm optimistic about getting my bike back and running by Canal Days this weekend. My entire family was coming out to that, it'll be a huge upset if I can't ride.

As I was packing up my bike, I also lost one of the nuts for my front quick release. So I have to replace that now too. It just wasn't a good Saturday. I got home, ordered a Pizza, downed it, went to bed at like 9.

Fast forward to yesterday afternoon's ball game. I'm rounding third and turn on the jets for home, and POP.. yeah baby, hamstring injury. I hobble home. I hobble my way around 1st base for the rest of the evening.

Its hard to keep high spirits when you have a weekend like this but I'm trying to figure out the bright side. The only thing I can come  up with is this.

It was probably a good thing that my bike failed out on me from a physiological point of view. I probably would have murdered myself getting to lap 9. I don't know when to stop when I have a goal. It was really hot out, and the forest was just one huge pocket of humidity. I would have done well, and I would have stayed hydrated, but the heat would have gotten to me eventually, and I doubt 1 day of recovery would have been enough, and I'm sure the drive home would have been terrible.

I'll try again in September's 8H. I need a bit more time in the saddle really and to get some more sprinting training in, but my plan was sound and I'm sure I could have done 8 over the day.

I need to let my leg heal. My right leg over this year has taken a beating. This winter I know exactly what I'm going to do for training, and I'm already looking forward to getting stronger physically.

I refuse to let this weekend shake me off my horse though. I've had a good run up to now, and I was due for a mechanical just through sheer odds alone. *The fact that I got through P2A without ONE mishap was already statistical wonder* Oh well. I'll get that crank replaced, I'll get a new BB, and my tire is fine.

Canal Days up next. Then my first triathlon. We'll see how things go from there.