Originally Posted by
topflightpro
Man, what a crappy weekend. I nearly quit riding on Saturday and then hurt my back so bad on Sunday I can't stand up straight.
Saturday: I did the same RR Substructure did, only in the 4s. I had high expectations for this race as the course is mostly flat, and the one real climb wasn't so bad. yet, I made some stupid tactical mistakes and before I knew it, I found myself off the back. Despite chasing hard on the downhill stretch, I never caught back on. I was so frustrated and ticked off at that point. I threw my bike down at my car and nearly drove off, leaving it there. My coach, fortunately, talked me down.
Sunday: As I was loading up the car for the crit races, I tweaked my back. I had done something to it last weekend, but racing Tuesday night made it feel better, so, I tried racing Sunday despite the discomfort. The race Sunday made it worse. With each lap, the discomfort grew. They pulled me about 2/3 of the way through the race, as I was clearly off the back. When I went to get off the bike, I couldn't stand up straight. I've been stretching and iced my back, but I am quite uncomfortable now.
My one serious post of the day/week. I can empathize and will do so through previous experiences in both situations.
I posted once about a very long, National level road race I was in (guessing 120 miles). Due to the number in the field 120+ I could not hear the pre-race instructions in which they announced the finish lone was up the road about 100m. Each lap had a brutal climb of about 6 km. On the last lap at the base of the climb another very accomplished rider came up to me and said let's go (all the other breaks had been chased down throughout the day) - I of course obliged and off we went. We were never able to put much distance between us and the field, but at the same time they could not catch us. In the closing km of the race as was able to drop my fellow escapee only to hold the field sprint off, so I thought, I sat up in victory only to get swallowed up by the field. I then learned about the finish line move and was devastated. I walked over to the car, eyes welled up, it was my birthday and my dad had come to see me race for the first time - rather than learn from the experience I took my brand new helmet off and smashed it against the road, through my new Oakleys across the parking lot and was looking for a fight I was so pissed. My dad came over and explained to me that I had just learned a very important life lesson. Though I didn't see it at that point he was right. I have never let my anger fuel me in such a rage since, and have to remind myself of the beauty of the sport even if it deals us a bunch of heart ache in our enjoyment of it.
Lesson number 2. Just before getting ready to go pro I was at Nationals and climbing like a beast, ready to demolish all that stood between me and my future in the sport. Two days before the road race a set of railway tracks sent me head over heals and I tore a tendon in my shoulder. Going against all that I was told by our team physical therapist I raced, why? Because in my head I was invincible. Half way through the race I was still top 10 and the field had been obliterated due to the course, and I started failing fast as I could not longer take my left arm off the bar and dropped out. Subsequently I dropped out the next day as well. I have dropped out of, or been pulled out of 3 races in my life. I suffered through the remainder of the season with nagging shoulder issues. Finally I took the time to get it fixed and it came back stronger than ever. It just takes time for the body to heal.
Only advice I can give you (like I told another member last week) is to relax. It really helps the body both mentally and physically. Take the steps you can to get better and don't let anger/frustration fuel your goal achievement remember it's a hobby and you are doing it because you love it and it doesn't pay your bills.
Nuf seriousness for me.