Rim Nordic #3 was to be my return to racing after a full two months of rest and relaxation.  Well not really, between Big Bear in early June, and now, I had changed careers, relocated, dealt with a nagging knee injury, and moved back in with my parents; fun stuff!!

Anyway, the weather was good.  I had camped up there the night before, so early in the morning I took a practice lap.  The lap felt good, my skills hadn’t diminished too much, but I knew I would be slow.  From the starting gun I got the holeshot and led all the way up to the long fire road stretch.  Upon hitting the fire road I popped like a balloon.  Two jr. riders, who were on my tail, dropped me like I was hot.  I was sucking for air like a fish out of water.  My legs felt dead.  I would say with some certainty that, yes, in fact, my fitness has gone down since earlier this year.

Instead of jamming through all the short climbs and flat sections, like I think I used to, I was instead defeated by them.  I used my granny gear a lot.  Barely getting over the top of every climb it seemed like.  Still it was fun.  I got a good bottle handoff from my imaginary girlfriend Jenn, it was good to be racing again.  Good to suffer.  My back was aching, my wrists hurt, my lungs burned.  On lap 3 of 3 I got a flat tire, which seemed to fit in nicely with my performance so far that day.  I managed to finish the race eventually.  But I did not stick around for the results.  I am amazed at the difference that steady, routine training for intensity can make.  I felt like a whole different, slower, person today.

The turnout at Rim Nordic was noticeably smaller than last year, maybe half as big.  No doubt the economy has played a role.  It is depressing to see such well run events wither in light of such circumstances.  I look forward to mountain bike racing next year, but now my focus will be on the upcoming cyclocross season.

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