my ego got kicked in the nuts.

or lee-go my ego.
which is a better title?
anyway. yesterday was the ballard twilight crit. an exciting bike race through the streets of historic ballard.
like an idiot, i didn't preregister. didn't even think to. and the cat 4/5 race filled the hell up. all 75 spots. you'd think that if there were 75 people signed up BEFORE the day of, and 30 more people on the wait list, they'd split the groups. race fours and rives separately. but that's not up to me.
so, anyway, i also qualify as a "master" because i'm at least 35. so, i decided to give that race a try. it's generally regarded as a safer and faster race than the 4/5 race. i definitely like the safer aspect. but the faster part? i was a bit worried going in, knowing that a lot of the masters were 1s and 2s. or just "old" guys that have been racing forever.
the race got off to a bad start in two ways:
first. before the race even started. i was standing around the finish line watching the cat 4/5 race and watched some guy crash. he didn't slide out or skid, or fall over. he flipped over his bars and slammed into the ground. where he lay motionless. on his stomach. he DIDN'T move. i guess he must've been unconscious. i dunno. he ultimately came around and was yelling for someone to help him. the paramedics had responded quickly and were doing their part. but it was disturbing for sure. and disheartening. the race was eventually stopped. and he was carted off on a back board. he gave a thumbs up on his way out. so, hopefully he'll be alright. probably sore as hell today. as i was watching that i thought i should go get my entry fee back and call it a day. still recovering from my crash. but then i reminded myself that the masters would be safer.
second. when our race started, like an idiot (again with the idiocy) i couldn't get clipped into my pedal. so as we took off from the start, i spent the entire time to the first corner only half pedaling, half trying to clip in. watching the pack pull away.
i spent the next few laps just trying to hang on, move up. anything. but with no luck. i couldn't catch back on. try as i might. some other folks and i got gapped and pulled from the race after about ten minutes.
here's a pic of me before the bottom fell out.

it was a blow to the ego for sure. especially after feeling pretty good in the crit i did on thursday.
i rode home with my tail between my legs and thoughts of selling my bike to look for a new sport.
what's next? i feel like i have to go back to the training drawing board and work on the fitness. i dunno. maybe i just have to race to be a better racer. but it sure leaves a bad taste in one's mouth when you can't even finish a race. it was reminiscent of the capital crit i did last year. my first race. same result. pulled. at least this time i didn't cry.
how's THAT for mental toughness?

the great crash of twenty ten

started with some jostling. some bumping of of shoulders. some breaking. then some crashing. some handlebars flying over-ing. some elbow slamming into ground-ing. some shoulder slamming in to ground also-ing. then some sliding to a stop on my butt-ing.
good times.
here's some photos:

and:

that's where my butt was. the road ate through my shorts and plenty of my skin.
and my elbow looked like this for a long time:

eeeeeewwwwwwwww.
well, it's been six weeks. i did my first bike race last night.
a bit more timid in the pack.
a bit more cautious.
but i'm back out there.
i'm back out there.

no g'news is good g'news with gary gnu

when i was a kid i used to watch the great space coaster and a gnu puppet would read the news. and his tagline was the title to this post.
i'm no gnu, but i have g'news.
since i last posted...
walla walla ended when my lover crashed in her race and broke her collarbone. i changed out of my spandex and into my nurse's uniform to care for her.
THEN, before she could even get back on her feet, i crashed in my next race and suffered and AC separation in my left shoulder - not to be confused with AC Slater from saved by the bell. oh the tragic irony of it all. so, my first two stage races ended early. when i crashed and messed up my shoulder i was about 30% of the way through the first race (of four). the worst of my injuries was the AC separation. but it was accompanied by plenty of road rash (i lost most of my butt) and a large gash to my elbow requiring stitches. the road rash is great because when it's all bloody and oozy it sticks to your clothes! and then you have to unstick it! and that feels like a bubble bath. if that bubble bath were a kick to the nuts.
i'm slowly on the mend from the crash. and my lover is well on the mend. i've ridden on the trainer a bit and will hopefully get back outside on the bike this week. just need to get some parts fixed. on the bike. thankfully the damage wasn't too extensive (jennifer broke her frame). anyway, the crashes sucked. we don't like time off. and i'll be out of climbing even longer than i'm out of cycling. and that's horseshit. i crashed my bike in october and broke a bone in my hip. then i crashed at cherry blossom. is someone trying to tell me something? or is bo jackson worried i'll steal his thunder?
i dunno, but it sure makes climbing seem safe.

blog management

where oh where have i been?
here

in regards to your 5 year old

every parent thinks their child is the best. it's only natural. it's also quite comical. working at a climbing gym i often get to hear about how physically gifted people's children are. and how they're so great at climbing EVERYthing. trees, walls, stairs, corporate ladders... i'm reminded of this as i spoke with a mother yesterday who's five year old is "LITERALLY a better climber than any ten year old" she's ever seen.
i wonder if my parents thought i was LITERALLY the best something...
i'm sure...

my first stage race!

the tour of walla walla 2010.
two days, three races. 6000 miles!
jk just kidding. three races in two days, yes, but not quite 6000 miles.
day one is tomorrow, saturday, and has us doing a 9 mile time trial and later in the day a 25 minute criterium.
on sunday we'll do a 58 mile road race.
i'm not too worried about the road race as i've done a few of those. i've never done a time trial. and it's been a while since i've ridden a crit.
but as is the case with every race i do, i'm nervous as hell. and this one makes me tripley nervous. it'll be fun and a good experience to see what i need to work on and how i handle multiple races in multiple days. so i'm excited and scared.
oh, and my second stage race is NEXT weekend.

bo jackson!

the greatest two-sport athlete of all time. except maybe jim thorpe. and myself.