Race report by Crystal Anthony
“You have to win in your head first.” Tim Johnson’s advice from the clinic he conducted for us echoed a experience I’d had the day before. I got home from work, tired and unmotivated to ride. Immediately, the typical train of thoughts started chugging down the track… “Well, maybe you should just rest. Don’t overdo it. It’s not going to hurt you to take it easy. Take a nap.” However, I knew it actually was a good idea to ride, and with Gloucester coming up on the weekend, I knew proper preparation needed to start already. Being tough is a habit, something to practice every day, not just on race day. “Just get out there, and ride. If you really still don’t feel it, you can turn around,” I put the brakes on that train, got ready and set out. Within 10 minutes, it began to rain, then pour. However, the air was warm, and I found myself welcoming the experience. My legs actually felt fine, and I got into a rhythm, plowing through the downpour. It took some squinting here and there, making a visor with my hand at times, but it felt like an adventure. A knot inside unraveled. It didn’t even occur to me how tight and constricted I’d felt until that happened, because suddenly I felt strong and capable. I could push through challenges; I could push myself. Bad experiences with overtraining in the last year had left me skeptical of my ability, timid about pushing, and uninspired. Rest was helpful and necessary and I did need time to recover mentally and physically before regaining that inner confidence and strength.
