The Race: Reston Grand Prix
The Course: 60 minutes
The Field: 1/2 women
The Finish: 1st
Things in my life are kind of a mess right now.
Then there was this race: the weather was good, I liked the course, the location was right in my home area, and there were a few dozen wonderful people out there cheering and supporting before, during, and after my race. The race itself was great. I felt strong from the start and stayed second or third wheel almost the entire time. Monika launched a number of solid attacks (no, really, that was her, despite Joe’s insistence that it was me up the road) and won two primes. I waited until there were only about five laps to go to try a counterattack that I was hoping would stick until the end, but while I eventually decided to sit up because the field was closing in, I also won a prime in the process. Then it came down to the final sprint and my legs felt strong – opened up from the hard work of the solo flyer attempt and ready to go. And then it was the red tape finish line and an awesome feeling of accomplishment.
Sometimes life is shitty and everything hurts. And then sometimes you go out to a race with your friends and you win and you get a yellow champion’s jersey and everyone is happy for you and then it feels like, hey, maybe things might just be okay.