Construction Zone Ahead-The NOT Sea Otter Report

Sea Otter Crit: The soft spot by Andrew: April 19th 2012

Sometimes, you just suck. Well, let me rephrase, sometimes I suck. I mean, I really suck. Thursday at Sea Otter I got to suck and suck huge. Reading this over it strikes me this could be misinterpreted, especially after my last race report where I mentioned My Fair Lady being a favorite. Regardless, I sucked.


I broke. I also had an epiphany. You cant start something hard with an excuse. If you go into something with an excuse, you are bound to use that excuse the moment times get tough. Good life lesson through biking. I went into the Sea Otter crit with an excuse. Really does not matter what the excuse is, if you have one, you are bound to use it.

I could feel it coming on. We were sprinting out of corners and up a hill. Even on the first lap my inside the head conversation was one of quitting, softness and pansieittes (a well known affliction of the soft). I pulled out the excuse in my head and started using it right away. I also knew my race was over right there.

My legs refused to believe I was this soft and they kept going and stayed with the front of the pack. But I knew what my legs would not admit. It was only a matter of time until I talked my legs into believing as well.

By ten minutes left in this personal crucible, I broke. I kept turning pedals but I was a broken man. All will to compete was lost. I gave in to the excuse and that soft spot in my mind that allows such weakness.

I feel better for writing this. I realize this is one of the saddest excuses for a "race report" possible, but I feel better for getting out in the open. Not a lot better mind you, but this helps. The one big take away? You are either in, or you are out. Straddle the line and you are sure to fail.

Good racing to the rest of the team. Was fun to see the guys do well, congratulations fellas. I will be busy for the next week working on patching that soft spot in my head. Warning; Construction Zone Ahead.

Andrew