Coefficient of Friction

i read my report. and thought about. and realized it really didn't say what i wanted to say. just a rehash of what i did, who i saw, etc. it said nothing about what the ride meant to me.

so i deleted most of it.

this meant something. these 40 miles in the mud in my backyard. last year, rocktober was my second and last race of the season. i dnf'ed. i was in pt on and off the rest of the summer, dealing with the second bulged disc i've had in my back, this time between l4 and l5. it started the winter before, i was in pt then as well. felt stronger through the spring and then bit off too much, too soon, too hard. lodi was first on a three person team and i worked my ass off to help keep us in the mix. two weeks later, i blew it up at rocktober, about 40 miles in. done. for the season.

it's not the first time. the first time was 2003. wilderness 101. 12 hours of ole bull solo. 24 hours of 7 springs, solo. bam. bam. bam. in constant pain afterwards. couldn't finish the seagull century. finally got diagnosed correctly. bulged disk between l5 and s1. pt for 2 months. ease back into the bike. time time and more time.

so last year i thought i could get back into long stuff again. there's more to the story in between all those years. whatever. when rocktober happened, it was hard. hard to deal with. wondering if i would be able to get back into the long stuff again. the stuff that makes me want to ride. the all day stuff. the rides that make you know why you're alive. soulful. deep.

i was full of doubts about this race/ride/whatever. a friend knew it. he kept after me to enter it. i was afraid. i was afraid of another rocktober and another season of pt, recovery and frustration. he kept after me anyway. but only up to a point. and then he just left me alone with my thoughts. and didn't ask about it again. it was up to me.

i entered it.

i rode it.

i didn't race it.

i needed this ride.

i needed this ride to prove to myself that i can still do this.

this type of ride is why i get on a bike.

this ride helps me be who i want to be.

i was happy all day.

i don't give a shit where i finished.

i don't give a shit i was in front of tomi.

it made me glad to see him in the woods on a bike on the same ride.

"just a ride in the yard."
"i like our yard."

it made me glad to see the people i know at the aid stations.
withers
bender
jake
steve
larry
don
tom
i'm sorry if i forgot to list anyone.

i had a great ride. i had a great day.

thanks.

pic from Bender

pic from Bender

Where’s a mud puddle to take a bath in? pic courtesy of Kegley

It was a heck of a day and a heck of a ride. Thanks to Rich and crew for putting on a good race. And major props to Tomi for being the Mastermind Behind the Crime for course design.