4 places I would like to visit:
-Bahamas
-Italy
-A remote cabin with Bridget somewhere--anywhere in a mountainous region with a large cupboard of food and frosty diet beverages, a roaring fireplace, a good book, and a couple of bikes during the fall while the kids are at Grandma's house (either one)
-On a podium accepting a medal/ribbon for a cyclocross race top three finish. (I don't care what race class)
Unexpectedly, I can now cross of the last one. I finished 3rd in today's cyclocross race. So what if only 13 people raced in my class, Master 35+ C. I still lapped half of my competitors. Heck yeah! I beat the 4th place guy by well over a minute. The race lasted almost 50 minutes and it was really hard. I felt like puking at the end from trying to catch up to the second place guy when I thought he might be faltering just a bit. He didn't but I sure blew up trying to reel him in the last lap. At the end I was toasted.
Prior to racing I looked forward to eating some fresh tamales that were for sale there. But I was so baked and nauseated at the end that I just couldn't do it. And since I needed to get going so I could still work this afternoon I had to take a pass on them. Oh well, 3rd place is good enough. It is easily the best finish I have had in this class. There are two classes above me (Master A and Master B) and one below (Beginner). So there are still plenty of better riders out there. But last year I was finishing in the back 1/3 of every race. This was a nice change. Friends were acusing me of sandbagging this year--also a welcome change. I may make Master B's yet this year.
4 comments:
Congratulations!!! I am so envious. I don't even have kids. I have no excuse. What's sandbagging?
Thanks!
Sandbagging is when you stay in a lower class than your ability would warrant. If I consistently was in the top 10% to top 20% of my class I would consider it time to upgrade to Master B's. The idea is to race against those that are at least your equal or better. It is how you get better as well.
Not moving up just to get a good finish is considered sandbagging and friends on non-friends will publicly call you out here if you don't move up. It is poor form to stay down in a class longer than you should.
Wow! that's so awesome! Good job! You're my hero.
Thanks! You are doing too bad yourself. Very dramatic change over the past couple of months on your end. Congratulations!
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