tiny victories

It’s been a weird road season.

I was off to a certainly less-than-auspicious start. Pro/1/2 pack fill, but I was making what felt like huge steps in unlearning Cat 3 tactics & replacing them with those I had been gleaning from my race-savvy new teammates. The support & encouragement that I felt from these guys was incredible; I never once felt as if I didn’t belong. Killington Stage Race was a disappointment due to two ill-timed mechanicals, but for the first time this season, I felt great.

Then I hurt my collarbone on my commuter bike.

Then I started running to get back into form, which various joints protested pretty heavily.

So here I am, about two months past KSR. I am feeling mostly healed, mostly positive about things, but it’s hard to get back into the mindset of the week-in, week-out competitive athlete. This coming Sunday marks my return to the NE p/1/2 peloton, and I’m all nerves..

When all is said & done, though: I love bicycle racing with all of my heart & can’t wait for those early, hectic weekends to become reflex again.