Just Go Hard Out Of The Gate...

"Just go hard out of the gate..."



That was really the only thing that I was telling myself before the race last night.  Feeling like a complete idiot with my start the week before. I wanted to make sure I had learned my lesson. So I figured regardless of what else happened in the race I was going to put it at just sub-puke for the first lap and a half at least and whatever happened after that, happened.

And I won...

I'm still a little surprised by that. I haven't won a sanctioned bike race since I was 13 or 14. And even then it was what they use to call a "citizen's race". One that you didn't have to have a racing licence to participate in. Just a bike and a helmet. There were probably less than 10 people in it. But I got a little ribbon (Which I held onto for a long time.) for it. But that was my only real proof. My parent's weren't there, I'd don't think any of my friend's were there. I just got on it and went as fast as I could for the two laps (I think...)  and no one ever came around me. Unlike the next race I did when J pimped me at the line for a podium spot... The bastard.

Anyway, it felt very surreal. Once I was in the lead (Which took about a lap.) all I could think about was the course and what lines to take. Every time the course turned back on itself I would steal a glimpse to see where the other racers were. They were close. But with the exception of one guy who tried to pass with three laps to go on the toughest corner on the course and wiped out I had clean wheels the whole time.

It's a position I haven't been in many times. It felt good. Great even. But it brought on all kinds of thoughts. Weather I was going fast enough, if I could maintain it to the end. Not fucking up on a tricky part of the course. Just ton's of stuff spinning through my brain.

Next thing I knew I heard the final lap bell ring out and I knew I was going to be able to pull it off. It was almost out of body. Please don't get me wrong. I know it's just a little amateur race in Salem, Or.

But it means a lot.

Thank you to everyone for the cheering and congratulations.

That means a lot too...

Rubber side down,

Big E