Granby, CO
Well folks, this is it - here they are. The nation's best mountain bike racers all lined up at the start. Wells, Overend, JHK, Craig, Trebon; they're all there...
My view at the start was smack dab in the middle of this star-studded field. And as I heard the "1-minute-to-start" announcement, the field nerviously hushed. I looked up, acknowledging the larger-than-life banner above me...
So many times over the years have I been on the sidelines watching this very event; as a fan - dreaming of racing with the big dogs one day. And here I was, going up against the biggest names in mountain bike racing today.
The ensuing 5 laps of this utterly crippling course would leave racer after depleted racer dragging across the finish line covered in dust; spent, legs twisted and cramped. And I was no exception...
It is rare that a course's descents are as demanding as it's climbs, but exceedingly steep and rough terrain meant no rest following each climb...
And as realistic as my mid-pack-finish expectations were at a National event, nothing is more humbling than finishing 20-25 minutes behind the leaders. And I went into this race recovered and ready. A professional athlete, I am................
........................A National champion, I am not.
But despite a 37th place finish, this event was truly one of my proudest races.
Because as a 16-year-old beginner racer long ago, I watched 1990 World Mountain Bike Champion Ned Overend line up to contest his National Championship.
And today, I lined up next to him.
It's not always about how you finish - it's about arriving at your own personal milestones that make you proud...
Ride on...................
2 comments:
Good work holmes. :-)
Nice job Simmons!!
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