I wanted to just post about this weekend while I take a break from chemistry for a few minutes.
Friday night after Melia went to sleep, and after dinner was finished, I headed to the airport for a 10:00 flight to Kona on Hawaii. I got into town about 11:00 and went over to Tiffany and Sherman's place for the night. They talked about everything with me and we caught up... haven't seen them for about a year. I finaly got to bed at about 12:30 on an air mattress. I woke up at 5:00 and after a whey and oats shake, I headed up the coast to Kawaiihae for the state championship TT. I built my bike on the side of the road with another guy from Honolulu (Mike Zagorski). I changed my handlebars a little bit, tuned everything up and even had to change a flat tire... Then I registered, got my start time, and started my warm up. I wore my swami's skin suit and aero helmet and looked really really fast, and nerdy!!
So I did everything perfectly and went to start the race. Felt warm, clear lungs, lots of energy (caffeinated energy shot) so I was ready to race!
This is when everything started to go wrong...
I started the race keeping my heart rate at around 165-170... low zone 4... Basically I was going 90 %. So I felt great... then at about 10 miles felt decent, then at the turn around-bad. I was hoping to average about 26-28 mph, and hit the turnaround at 30 minutes or less. Well I reached it at 35 and knew something was way off. The initial downhill felt good as I was hitting speeds of 46 mph. but then people started to pass me and I instantly was crushed. Then I noticed my feet were losing feeling, and then my hips and legs were hurting bad... I gave up trying to hammer and just focused on finishing. When I saw the finish line I had resorted to just... Crossing then line without quitting. I finished... 8 minutes slower than I had hoped... I got off my bike then... OUCH! my hips gave out and I fell over in terrible pain. Both hips were so incredible sore that I couldnt move my legs an inch without wanting to scream! I got my phone and called Robyn to whine to her and I lost it and started to cry a bit and stress... Was I going to be able to walk again? I know it sounds stupid and wimpy but that is how bad it hurt. She wasn't super impressed with my pain as I was lucky enough to travel and race in kona and I was calling to complain to her about the race. So I got off the phone and laid there on the side of the highway. That is when I took the picture above. I couldnt move well and in lots of pain I put my bike in the car and drove to the airport from the finish line. I had been left there by everyone at the race and felt stupid for even going to the race in the first place. I want to my stupid TT bike and never sit on it again! So Today I look at the results only to find I was placed in 1st place in my division. Masters men category 1,2,3...age 30-35... They threw that age thing in there to give out more awards I think... but in reality I was in 14th overall and got beat by everyone in my actuall USA cycling category being in 5th or 6th place I think...
So I lost alot of motivation this weekend and dont really want to race in another TT... ever.
So thats that. I need to get back to chemistry.