Previous race, upcoming race

I haven't posted since my last race in the middle of June.....well, because I am just about finally recovered from it. I wish I could say it took me a long time to recover as a result of the hardest effort I have ever put in, resulting in a win.....but sadly that is not the case. I arrived on the morning of the race to light showers (it had been raining most of the week) getting my pit set up in a primo spot right on the course. I was feeling awesome after having a good taper and just felt like I was ready to dominate. I had my prerace pasta breakfast about 2 hours before the race began and just chilled out. After a short warm up I headed down to the start line. At this race there is no lemans start.....just a traditional race start with people on their bikes which suits me just fine. I was about 1/3 from the front and was off to a comfortable start. Everything is pretty slow for about 10 minutes as the field sorts themselves out. Once things were strung out I really started motoring. I was feeling great and riding about 3rd in the solos. I actually thought to myself...."man we are going fast, faster than normal"....but I was feeling good and not overextending myself. I figured it was just that I was in good condition and since I didn't have a lot of time on my mountain bike I just wasn't used to the speed. We continued along into the newly cut section of the course. It was in much better shape from the rain compared to the pre-ride when it was very soft and sandy. I was pleased and had just made it through a section I was having difficulty with during the pre-ride. I think my confidence was a bit too high. I came around a corner and was going down a steep hill with a bit of a compression dip. I was looking ahead at the small rock garden ahead looking for my line when I hit the dip.....I didn't have my weight back far enough and over the bars I went. Actually I stayed attached to my bike. I went straight into the rock garden and landed on my head and shoulder. I lay there a little dazed (still clipped into my bike) and tried to assess the damage. The worst thing was my shoulder. So bad in fact, I couldn't put any pressure on it to push on the ground to get up. I knew it wasn't my collarbone but I was having a lot of trouble moving my arm. Another rider kindly helped me get sorted out and I was on my way. Only problem was I couldn't hold onto the bar with my right hand. I knew my race was done. As I watched all of my competition pass me for the next 15 minutes I could only think what could have been. The best shape of my life only to crash 40 mins into the race by a stupid mistake on my part. I got myself back to the start/finish and went to first aid. They put me in a sling and sent me to the hospital thinking I either separated my shoulder or broke my scapula. Luckily, after 6 hours in the ER, I had no broken bones....just severe deep tissue bruises and an sprained shoulder. I am now fully recovered (still some occasional stiffness) and have been riding a fair bit on the road.

This weekend I am going to race in an 8 hour MTB race at Hardwood Hills. I'm not sure how I will do....don't think I'm quite in the condition I was in June as I am rebuilding towards another 24 hour in mid August. So this race will be more of a training race than anything. Then I will take 4 days off to go camping with my family. The following weekend will be highlighted by another 8 hour ride (not race) followed by 2 weeks of long, high intensity training. Then I will taper down to be ready for the 24 hour where I hope to seek revenge.

I hope to post a report shortly after the 8 hour.

Steve