Black Lung

Park City, UT
I think I have Black Lung...(cough...cough)It's been three days since my latest dive into the dry pool of pain and I am still coughing up the dust. This time I emerged victorious. Well, I didn't win the race, but I managed to get my best pro result of my short career (38th out of 97) in the cross country. I felt good going into the race on Saturday, did my normal warm-up, and then gunned it from the start. I had to starting on nearly the back row. That's what I get for missing the last two races. I managed to pass a bunch of people right at the start as it was the typical Ski Area Start...straight up. I always do well when it goes like that since I am not trying to haul a huge carcass up the hill.

Upon reaching the bottom of the next hill, I was staring at the back wheels of guys I never see in races...just at the start line as they get called up way before me. This inspired me to stay on the gas. I managed to pass a lot of them too. In my mind, I cannot believe it...then again, after all of the training and planning, I can. The most unbelievable thing besides a working class pro like myself riding with the full-time pros, was this was at altitude. Something that a sea level person should be feeling the effects of, yet I was floating instead of drowning in Hypoxia. Normally riding that hard at that altitude feels like breathing fire through a soda straw. Yet both the lungs and the legs felt great.

All systems were go, so I stayed on the gas the entire race. I never had the feeling of crumbling or pain so bad that you are looking for any reason to quit. You know, excuses like, "Ummm...I think my tire is flat and I got a stick stuck in my spokes...and I am trying to save myself for tomorrow. My feet hurt. I think my frame is cracked. I sure am hungry. " I have had all of those reasons and more run through my head many times...but not this time.

When I ride through the feed zone, I can always count on the moral support of a few people regardless of how far back I am. This time, Jon from Fisher/Subaru was feeding me. The first time through he had this look of amazement on his face. When I saw that, I knew I was having a great ride. Poz from Trek always gives me a shout as well as Waldek from Luna and Gary from Maxxis...and this time, they were louder than ever...they knew I was going good too. As I ride past the start finish line, I always get props from Longo, the announcer. This time he did not even see me as he was probably expecting to see me 20-30 places later. Even Frosty, standing on the course at the start/finish line will give a yell, but he just stood in amazement. Those guys are always there for me...rain or shine as well as many others all around the course...all around the country...I may not see you or recognize you...but I hear you...so thanks. This is a day I will never forget!

For the latter part of the race I was locked into a battle with a couple of guys, one of which is a fellow Northern Californian and good friend, Aren Timmel. Aren and I kept yo-yoing for the final two laps. I think he was having some mechanical issues. We also had two other guys that were latched on. On the final climb, both Aren and I gassed it trying to lose the other two. I know I was on the edge of blowing up so I backed off a little bit, allowing Aren to get a 5 second gap. The other two Yahoos caught me on the final descent, but I managed to pull it together to surge one last time, caught Aren at the pavement, but ran out of room to pass for the finish sprint with the other two only seconds in arrears. It made for an exciting race right up to the finish...something that rarely happens when I normally finish further back.

With the US National Championships in my backyard this coming Friday at 2:00 and Sunday at 2:30 up at Infinion Raceway things could get real interesting. My form is definitely coming around. We will have to see what this weekend brings, but if Deer Valley is any indication, it should be another great ride. Stop on by the Luna Truck and say Hi if you are in the neighborhood.

Enjoy the ride...