Iceman Cometh: Thoughts…deductions…future aspirations.

A few weeks back I told the Hermitman that I can’t wait until we can just roll around for an entire Saturday, in sub-freezing temps, making multiple coffee stops every 2-3 hours, and simply traveling at a modest 14mph social pace. Taking 45 minutes just to weather proof yourself before you can roll out the door to brave the elements, stocking up on chemical toe warmers, the hum of the studded tires on the pavement, building up a winter single speed beater from old parts, tasting salt for the tire spray off the rider in front of you, rolling home at 10:00pm on a work night with your toes and fingers so numb that they feel like their being squeezed in vice grips when they finally begin to thaw out, and rolling triple digit rides back to back each weekend…some may say this sounds miserable and dreadful…but for me, it is poetic.

The Iceman Cometh marked the denouement of my season. It was my last effort for the year to try and put myself together and take a stab at a respectable time and finish. I felt particularly good going into the race this year. My top end speed, acceleration, and leg speed had all seem to come together in the week’s prior and I was feeling good and optimistic.

There have been several instances in my racing tenure in which I have put myself in situations and scenarios that are downright terrifying and from a general safety standpoint, quite high stakes. The hole shot at the Iceman proved to be one of these situations that had my anxiety running high and my mind racing with the dreaded thought of crashing and injuring myself. As a result, my positioning off the gun was about the least optimal as possible. I spent most of the race trying to “connect the dots” and pick up spots. Ultimately I ended up rolling a time of 1:36, which would of put me well into the top ten in previous years. However, due to what was quite possibly the fasted course the Iceman has ever saw, coupled with the deepest, most talented field this race has ever hosted, I was merely mid pack in the pro field. Overall, although I wish I could of made contact with a faster train early on and felt I was not quite on the rivets the entire race but rather in a comfort zone, I am happy with my performance and can truthfully proclaim that I had fun…after all that is what its all about, isn’t it?

Alas, this brings me to my annual self-assessment and gut check. What will be my goals for next year? What goals did I achieve this season? How can I achieve the goals that I did not achieve this season next season? What were my strengths and weaknesses this season? Usually, I spend the majority of December, January, and February formulating answers to these questions and use March to plot out my season. However, this year I already have a clear goal and burning passion for next season.

If I learned anything from this season that I hadn’t managed to in the past, it is that success in racing is product of mental stamina and confidence, unwavering dedication, and finally performance. If any of these variables are compromised than success is drastically reduced. This season I had a pipe dream that came true and it enabled me to take something more away from this sport than I ever had before. Although my goal for next year is lofty and some may perceive it as unattainable, it is the fuel to which I will elevate myself and persevere on.

From now until January 1st, while I will continue to ride avidly, I am going to focus on simply having fun on the bike, not worrying too much about extremely structured training, loosening up the diet a bit, staying away from the mentally tormenting bathroom scale, and recharging my battery. However, come January I plan to be committed to a level of Monkhood too which I have never been before.