Catch up

Ruby Campground; attitude is everything

The following two weeks after the Brighton XC race is the most difficult time for me to get any workouts or rides in. I rode twice the week before Ruby. Going into the race, my outlook was not good. I didn’t expect to perform well at all. The race got under way and my competitor Lillian was leading the pack down the straightaway. I caught her at the first hill and stayed with her through the technical terrain. Every straightaway she would gain distance on me. I finally caught up to her after the “Wall” on the return trip from our first lap. Again, she pulled away at the river crossing and through the straight away on the campground road. The race was turning out as I predicted. I caught her on the first hill as our chips recorded our times for the first lap. I love the technical sections and I was able to keep pace with her. This is when my attitude changed. I told myself, “Well if she is going to win, she is going to have to earn it.” As we hit the wide wooden bridge, I realized I had more of a push and had to veer left to avoid hitting her. My legs were feeling good. I started to break more to keep pace with her. Finally another rider wanted to get by and I took the opportunity to pass her. I knew she would catch me on the straight away and I really wanted her to earn the win. Eventually I could not see her through the trees. Now, my attitude starting to change again, I wanted to win. I rode the last lap with the mind set to win and it paid off.