Focus

Where have I been? Lately, I have been too busy riding to blog.

Every season I end up putting in the bulk of my base mileage during this time of year. I ride slowly, with one gear, and for hours on end. Last week I rode over 25 hours. All this time in the saddle provides for great opportunity for thought. As a result, every season I end up attaining this burning focus for the start of the season. Typically, if I do not get satisfactory results in March when the season starts, my focus tends to fade.



However, this year something feels different…my focus is stronger and more intense than seasons of the past. I had been toying with the notion of racing a 24 hour solo MTB race for several seasons now, it has always been something I’ve felt I need to accomplish. Recently, I watched the newest documentary from Gripped Films (those who brought you Off Road to Athens) titled 24 Hour Solo. The movie focuses on Chris Etough and his pursuit at a 7th world championship. In the first scene Chris says, “There is something that happens in a 24 hour solo race that is indescribable…in a 24 hour race there is no place to hide…at one point you will come face to face with your soul”.

There have been several races in my career that have evoked a great deal of emotion. This is one of the components of any type of sport that creates addictions and burning passion. The races that have required more than just endurance and strength have always been the most memorable to me and have served as the most meaningful learning experiences. Every person I have talked to that has experienced a 24-hour solo MTB race has tried to describe this emotional experience to me. This season its time I find out what this indescribable feeling is all about. I feel like I have been in the same room with this feeling in the past…however, I do not think we have formally met yet.

In the past, I have always avoided committing to a race of this caliber for fear that it would ruin the rest of my season in terms of training and the toll it would take on my body. However, I cannot fight the urge anymore. I have not yet committed to a specific event, but I am debating on a few events in August to choose from.

Since my decision to focus on a 24-hour race, my priorities have seemed to shift. My lifestyle has been built around my cycling for sometime now, but like the title of this blog, there are many distractions in between. I accept that in order to go into this event competitively I am going to have to make sacrifices. Recently, I have decided to give up my winter employment as a snowboard instructor in order to dedicate more time to training and proper rest. This may be a decision I regret in the future but it currently seems necessary in order to attain my desired fitness level for this season.

I intend to continue to race a full road schedule with a mix of a few select MTB races as well. My logic with selecting an event in August is the hopes that it will lead to keeping good focus and dedication for the majority of the season.