The thought process of not quitting

Lets talk about the Iron Lung. I have never had a good race at this event. Last year it was cold and rainy. I had to beg the Georgetown climb every lap. I ended up tired, sore and almost last(assuming you couunt me in forn to fthe guys who DNF). But I had no doubt that I would finish the race.

Now this year was a bit different. I had the good stress of watching the Spinsisters racing that morning which was very exciting. But it does take some energy to do that but it was well worth it. This was only my second ABA cup race and I had just gotten over being sick. So I knew it would not be the best race but it is all training anyway.

Elite Men had 5 laps to do, 5 Devonian drops, 5 Georgetown climbs, 5 hard and technical single track climbs. I knew that I would be tired and near the back but I was okay with that. I was riding into my 4th lap and just after the fast rolling section off the start I flew into the single track full of roots. I have done this lots of times and didn't think anything on it until I just touched a root, got on top of the bars and had teh handle bars turn completely sideways. Here was the result:

I have another picture just after the race that shows all the blood and gorey details.

So there I am lying on the ground wrapped up in my bike pondering life. I know mmy face hurts and that i am bleeding from someplace on my left cheek. I use the back of my glove to find out where the blood is from and how bad it is. I push against the bone and deduce that it is not broken. I run my toungue around the inside on my mouth and make sure I still have all my chiclets. Then I just lie there for a few seconds. I get up and look down the trial. Then a voice in my head say" it is just not your day". I turn my bike up the trail and start to walk back to the start/finish line. This would have been the first race I had ever quit. I turn the bike around and decide to finish. No, I turn the bike around again and start walking out. I stop again and turn the bike around stare down the trail and ponder. Maybe just one more lap. I am not bleeding that bad and the course is kind of fun. Down the trail I go. I ride totally within myself and start having a much better time. I nail the DD, I cruise the Orchid, I sit in on the GTC and before you know it I am back at the start. Well heck, I have done 4 I might as well do 5. Not caring about my time I ran almost a faster lap on number 5 then 2 and 3.

At the finish Jay meets me away from the crowd. He knew I was injured. He just came up asked me if I was okay and did I need anything. I said no and he rubbed my back in that "good job, I am here for you" way and sent me off on my cool down. It really looked worse than it was. My eye did swell shut but soon healed up.

So, was it the right thing to do, should I have stopped? I was the only person who could decided that. The battle in my head went on for a while but after a good self check and deducing the extent of my injuries, finishing was the right call. Just because it does not go your way does not mean you give up. There are many lessons to learn about perservering and changing a game plan once in motion. I pride myself in having finished the race, no one would have faulted my for it but I would have always second guessed the decision. My bike was working and the injury although painful did not limit my ability to ride. From racing to training ride in one quick splat of the face.