Today was the first mtb race of the season.  I really didn’t want to take it seriously, but let’s admit it – as soon as the word “GO!” I wasn’t necessarily fooling around.

To say I was a little nervous prior to the race would be an understatement.  You’d think I’d be over it by now; from stepping into the ring with an opponent 20 lbs heavier to staring down an ironman course… I’ve gone through the gauntlet.

But there I was, all nerves and assuming that everyone in fancier kits and on nicer bikes were faster and more skilled than me on the mountain bike.   Yeah, that was my first mistake.

I got behind some doozies on the single track, where there’s no place to pass.  So I was nice & held my tongue – and it probably cost me.

But what I was most happiest about was that I didn’t freak out on any part of the course.  I rode it all!  There was no downhill that I couldn’t do or any uphill that made me walk.  It was really a nice ego boost.

End results?  3rd place.  😀 I was happily surprised… and just enough to wet my palate for more (and to train harder).