SMASHFEST!

Racing twice in one weekend is never easy. You know the pain you feel on the Saturday race is only going to be exponentially increased in 24 hours when you do it again on Sunday with tired legs. So why do it? 

Because it is SO much fun! 

It’s not very often that I get to totally smash myself with races so close together. Therefore when I can I take advantage of it, I do - and cyclocross/cross-country running season is the time to do it!

This past weekend was double cyclocross; one Saturday and one Sunday. I was totally pumped on Saturday and ready to just hammer it, but first I got to cheer on my boys, who usually race a few hours before me.

LittleCheetah was amazing out there. For those of you who know cyclocross, you know it’s a beast. You know it’s 40 or 50 or 60 minutes of pain and suffering that you have to have a lot of heart, grit and determination to do. But most importantly, you have to enjoy doing it. 

Running all over the course cheering for Javelin Daddy to catch the racer in front of him, and at the same time holding back proud-mama tears watching my littleman try ... and try ... and try again to get his bike up some of those crazy hills, then finally succeeding! It completely melts my heart. 

Family race weekends are the best!

Once my boys finish and have gathered their breath again, there is usually a few hours gap before I race. We’ll usually kick back, grab some snacks and talk about how fun the course was, what lines to take and where the crazy parts were! I resist the urge to dig into one of the delicious smelling post-race burgers, while my boys chow down. A post-race burger is absolute satisfaction, a pre-race one … well, let’s just say that may not go over well come lap 3 or 4 of my race.

A few hours go by and cue my race time.

Saturday’s pre-ride of the course went great and mentally I was ready to put myself through some serious pain and suffering to try and get the results I wanted. I lined up and off we went. Within the first half lap I was wondering what had happened to my legs? Did they take a wrong turn? Did they fall down a hill? Whatever happened, they clearly didn’t get off the start line along with the rest of my body! 

While I did go through pain and suffering, it didn't exactly yield the results I wanted. A few washouts here and there followed by some slow, ugly turns and hills made for a great sufferfest, but not a speedy one. My legs definitely had a different idea of what they were doing that day. Around lap 3 I'm thinking "crap, maybe I should have had that burger"? No worries, always tomorrow.

Post race pain face

Sunday’s race pretty much followed suit, with my legs left wandering around off course, clearly not attached to my body. Some days you have it and can hammer it, and some days you lose your legs. What can you do? That’s racing and I love it.

Next weekend is a triple header; cross-country at noon on Saturday followed a few hours later by cyclocross that night. Then, another cyclocross race on Sunday. Bring it. And maybe the burger too!

Friday Five: Fall Favorites

At this time of year I can't believe it's already mid to late September because I know it will be November before I can blink. Fall is one of my absolute favorite times of year for many, many reasons - but my top FIVE are below:

• Number 1: Fall is x-country running and cyclocross season which usually means lots of lots of double header race weekends until the snow falls. Sometimes this means 2 races for me in one day (a noon and evening race) and a serious smashfest of my legs.

• Number 2: NEW this year, I get to play support crew chief to BOTH my boys, as our Littleman has entered the world of CX along with his crazy parents. There is no better way to spend a weekend than cheering your lungs out and racing your butt off.

• Number 3: The weather is usually beautiful, as we tend to retain some warmth before our long stretch into winter. I say usually because so far this year we've had a chilly fall. But I'm hoping it doesn't last - I'm not ready for winter yet!

• Number 4: Post race rituals! We usually find ourselves heading home after a day of racing to cook a long relaxing family dinner. We put the tunes on and have some great conversation over tasty beverages and a good ol' game of Uno or Yahtzee! 

• Number 5: Fall is {more} family time. This means extra time for playing, riding, cooking, chillin' and whatever new adventures come our way.

What are your fall favorites? Post race rituals? How do you celebrate a great weekend of family competition?

The unexpected potential

I understand the body quite well. With an exercise physiology and science background I know how the body works and how it adapts to physical activity, at least theoretically. What I sometimes don't understand is MY body.

Last Friday night I decided to race a 5km. I wasn't going to, but then my husband asked if I was and I thought "sure, why not"?

About a month ago, my "A" race for the season didn't quite go as planned, despite feeling great leading up to it and ready to race. So why not race a 5km that I wasn't planning for and see what happens?

Heading to the race start with my best man

Race morning arrived and I was not at all in the mood to race. As I approached race start I was hoping my race-brain would kick in, but it just wasn't there. Going through the motions, I lined up just before the archway and got ready to race; when the gun went off away I went.

I checked my pace, as I always do in the first few hundred meters, to make sure I wasn't heading out too quickly. It was a little quick, but I figured I'd run with it (pun intended) and see what happens.

As the kilometers clicked by I kept checking my pace and thinking "am I really still at this pace" followed immediately by "wow, I'm going to crash hard". However at the same time there was a little piece of me wondering what would happen if I just keep this pace going? I was unexpectedly feeling good at this pace; it was hard and uncomfortable, but do-able. Alright I thought, why not take the chance and see where this goes; I'll either PB or explode and I was curious what one would happen.

As I approached the last 500m or so it was getting ugly, but I was also very aware of my time and it was on track for a PB. As I rounded the last corner of the course I saw my littleman, ready to pace me to the finish. When he was younger this meant that I would slow down to enjoy the run into the finish with him, or when he was really little I would scoop him up and carry him across the line - not these days! I now have to pick it up to keep up with him in those final few hundred meters.

I crossed the line and stopped my watch. Officially it was an 11 second PB, and 14th OA woman. I don't understand it, I definitely didn't expect it, but I'll take it. Sometimes my body decides when it's going to kick-ass, or when it's going to feel awful, despite how mentally or physically I plan and prepare for it.

Post race refuel!
A delicious burger from Drift Food Truck!

The thrill of competition and the unknown of what is possible. Our bodies are amazing machines, capable of endless limits; and even though I may not understand my body all the time, the unexpected potential is always in there!

On tap this weekend is a double-header: XC running on Saturday and CX on Sunday! I absolutely love this time of year - so many races, so many opportunities for unexpected potential!

Photo Credit: Eric Carcoux of United Cycle