End of the Race season....sort of!

My "race season" ended officially on Aug. 13th with the end of the TR4 in Canmore. Completing stage 8 was easier this year and it was I who was waiting for Alana to finish her victory lap of the bar and not vice versa. Actually she usually just leaves me there when she gets tired.

TR3 and TR4 went well but took some moments of reflection and input from friends to realize this. It was in my mind to win the BCBR, TR3 and TR4. Second in all left me with the "always the bridesmaid....."feeling.

TR3/4 was interesting as a tactical race. After day one I knew I couldn't get the time back from Ian but made him work on Day 2. Day 3 I had to run a smart race with Coach Cal riding most excellent and threatening my spot. I could not go too hard as I still had 4 more days to go. Just so happens the Day 3 was a crazy vertical day and moderating the pace was not always in the cards. Day 1 of the TR4 saw Simon take the lead but I caught sight of him near the end of the day. Good battle with Simon as we rode within sight of each other most of the race. Thanks to Craig and Jonny for the chase car cheering while I imploded inwards into a black ball of pain holding Simon off the last pavement climb of Day 2.

Day 3 unfolded as precisely. I held Simon's wheel for the first half of the day jockeying back and forth. I attacked just before the top of Jumping pound ridge then tried to stay out of sight. Things were going right proper until the double slash on the Cox Hill downhill, one switchback from the trees.

SO that was it. Aug 13th happened and it was back to work and to slowly dig myself out of the hole that trying to juggle work, training and athletes creates.

One shining light was the 4 weeks until the Oregon trip with Dave on my cross bike.