As some of you may know, I recently gave up cross-country running in order to focus on academics and bike-racing. This past year my bike had multiple cracks in it and although I still rode it, I was very scared for most of my rides, particularly descents. Because of that, I have only ridden 4-10 times over this past year, and I attempted a season of track running during which I specialized in steeplechase (think long-distance running + hurdles + water and you have this event). Although that season did not go as I had planned after I severely bruised my heel bone and could barely walk, strained my hamstring, badly aggravated an old injury, I enjoyed getting to try steeplechase. In early May, I finally sent my blue Orbea Onix into Calfee Design so that they could repair my cracked frame and I could safely ride it again. On Friday, I got my bike back and it was PRISTINE!!! I thoroughly looked it over and the only way I could tell there was any repair work was a faint carbon pattern under the matte of one of my chainstays. Overall, it was INCREDIBLE workmanship and I am superbly pleased with their work. Upon getting my bike back yesterday, I went for a 20 mile celebratory ride. This morning, I got up early in order to go to the Saturday morning group ride. When I got there, I found out that today was the today of the 6th annual Ann Weatherill Cycling Classic, so I joined in on that. Before I made up my mind though, I encountered one of my XC coaches who managed to convince me to do the 60 mile ride based upon the fact that there would be 10-20 riders in the pack so I would never have to pull. Within 1 mile of leaving Pioneer Park, my other XC coach who showed up had technical difficulties and because the other XC coach and I waited up for him, we got dropped from the main pack. For the next 23 miles, I had to work REALLY hard at which point we hit the first rest stop and caught the main pack. Upon leaving the rest stop, there was a wrong turn marked on the course, so the two XC coaches and I managed to once again get dropped from the pack. After several miles of the back, I suddenly found out that I could now longer climb hills any faster than 6 miles per hour. I was officially fatigued. As soon as I soon where I was, I said goodbye to the two XC coaches who continued on to finish the Classic, but I took a shortcut back home and ended up biking a total of 57 miles today, a lot longer than the originally planned 20-30. Because of this rapid immersion back into biking and how much I am enjoying it despite the enormous pain, and although I am sad to leave the amazing environment of collegiate cross-country, I have now completely dedicated myself to a prosperous 2 years of cycling!
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