2019 Race Season

First race of the season was on Saturday and it went pretty well except for the pesky NWV ‘Legend in the Making’ getting the better of me again! (Great ride Robin, 33:12 is a top effort – 2nd)

After a few months of training it was time to strap the new improved TT bike to the back of the Fiat 500 and head off to the dogging capital of the world, Broxton roundabout and its infamous car park. Robin pulled in 5 mins later (Also in a Fiat 500 – new team car?) in the tightest pair of jeans i have ever seen, I assumed the car park has a dress code I didn’t know about! Soon after we started our warm ups, my methodical approach compared to Robin rolling down the main road a couple of times. Each to their own and either way we were ready and set off with numbers 4 and 5 on our backs.

I went flying down the A41, avoided being killed, falling down cavernous pot holes, climbed a few hills, overtook a couple of people and was generally having a good if painful time. That was until Robin came flying past in his ‘relaxed’ fit Lycra but even this couldn’t dampen my happiness at the finish line when I finished in 34:17. I had gone 2:38 faster than last year and as a bonus eventually finished 6th. (ELATION)

The week leading up to this had seen me go through a number of emotions that racing gives you. I had planned in 2 practice runs on the same training runs I had done the previous year. The first was destroyed when after putting in a massive effort into a headwind i was stopped by traffic going for Sunday dinner. (FRUSTRATION) The second attempt nothing went wrong except me being slower than the previous year! (DESPAIR) Rebekah rightfully suggested this could be down to wind speed and many other variables but what did she know, I had wasted the last 4 months and that was that!

The morning of the race was also a bit of a roller coaster. I woke up NERVOUS and ANXIOUS that i would be worse than last year. I was prepared, had worked hard, lost weight and improved all my equipment (Pointy helmet and everything!) but I still might actually be slower.

However, this all changed when my 2 daughters surprised me with a good luck card they had secretly made. Below is my Facebook post that sums up this best, but fellow racers please remember this is meant to be FUN so ENJOY it and be happy for other people’s success!

First day of the race season for me today and the girls surprised me with a card they sneakily made. It has taken me back a little as I do feel guilty missing time with them to train but it has also made me realise I have been working hard and it’s now time to just ‘enjoy’ it and whatever happens, happens. Good luck and stay safe to all the other racers.

Stay safe, ride hard and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone!

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