Man did I blow it yesterday! The race course in North Carolina was the same on Sunday as the previous day, fast, nothing technical, and the same strong guys.  I felt a ton better, but still no snap and hanging on with the accelerations.  The start went good which is all I have been hoping for lately since earlier in the year I was terrible.  I got the whole shot and kept the pace high hoping to get rid of the stragglers from the start.  It worked pretty well but soon after the road section I got caught in a crash.  I closed this gap which took allot of energy.  It was the same break (yes I am calling it a break since it was a road race on cross bikes) as the day before.  Justin Spinneli, Steve Tilford, Jon Hamblen, Sundt, some fast guy who rode for Turin, and a couple otheres. 

With a half lap to go, Tilford dumped it when he was second wheel in one of the turns.  Spinneli got a good gap, I jumped across and we had about 5 seconds on the rest of the group.  This is where I blew it.  We came into a 180 left turn that went into a steep ride/run section.  Everyone had been riding it.  Spinelli went into it first and I thought I would do the old jump off the bike in the turn and stuff him and then run it hard to the top.  The stuffing part worked, but he was able to stay on the bike and actually got a gap on me.  Not only that, everyone else got back on.  I went for a sprint finish for the win to flopping back to 5th place in about 5 seconds.  I tried everything on that run up, even cutting Spinelli off and trying to keep him from getting away from me.  It was lame.  I have never raced like that and was a bit disappointed in myself. 

After the race I felt like an idiot. I apologized to Justin for trying to force him into a mistake.  He was pretty angry about it, as I would be.  That just isn’t how I race and I felt like it was a complete jerkoff move on my part.  The better man won, I cracked. 

Here I am sitting in the airport, humbled from bike racing once again.  My form is no better after taking some rest.  I still feel tired.  What is up with me? More of a break? I just rested!  I am thinking that a solid week of good hours and intensity will bring me around.  We will see.  I am just ready for some turkey and stuffing this week. This is my favorite holiday.