A Purlely Synchronistic Day
Results for Master 55+, Time 53:33 9th in my Catagory
September 27, 2008
A Purely Synchronistic Day
As I’m sitting here on board an Amtrak train floating peacefully through Merced county, I’m completely amazed and feel pretty lucky to have done so much and covered so much territory in an incredibly small amount of time. I even somehow was able to complete the crazy logistics necessary to be sitting here now, which had seemed quite impossible when I first awoke and realized what the Hell I had gotten myself into.
I couldn’t sleep and just lay in bed staring at the moon clock on the ceiling. After twenty visualizations of today’s hill climb moon clock told me “it’s four in the morning Dum dum”,so I gave up and whined to Cathy how I needed some coffee.
While I impatiently waited for coffee to be served I began blogging. I’ve decided to start doing daily blogging because my fans (all three of them) can’t seem to get enough of my blowhardiness!; or “blognaciousism” (new word).
When I finally rolled out of the apartment it was dark and cold. I was a little bit behind schedule now. So begins the synchronicity…
As I’m pulling up to Starbucks, a van rolls in right ahead of me and it’s Chris! Wow, couldn’t time that any better. The both of us run in for our coffee and we’re off to Tam. We get to Stinson and we’re pretty much the first ones there! I like that. I like time to spare. I got my one day license. Time to get the annual (cheaper).
I
ran into Tim, Mateo, Rich and Mary Ellen. It was a pretty good showing
for NorCal BikeForums. I discovered I’d be riding with Rich. Mary
Ellen would be starting just 5 minutes behind our group… Scary thought
of her passing me like I’m standing still… Man! I’m not sure if it
would have been an honor of an execution! It’s quite interesting how
intense everyone gets before the race. The personalities really change.
Everyone gets kind of edgy and more barking than conversational tone,
everyone fidgeting with the bikes. Here I am, not a care in the world
snapping pictures and jesting as usual. A real “Pheobe” …, but they’re
friends I can tell…they put up with it. 
Chris’s group goes out and I get some good shots. It’s now time for me to get ready. Of course right on time…”Snow suit syndrome”. I like the new kits BTW. Shirts that zip all the way down! There’s nothing worse than pulling the shirt over your head and having everything in your pockets make a B line for the toilet.
I have a mild feeling of trepidation, but excitement overwhelms. I’m only worried about the lead out to the cattle grates. I’m really worried about mistakes in the peloton.
I’m at the starting lineup and nobody really wants to be at the front. “Move Up” the official yells! “I’m too old to yell to everyone way back there!”
I can’t get my GPS to sync up. One thing out of sync… “Thirty seconds!” “F” it… “Auto Pilot ON!” I’m sucked in to this dream… the feeling you get when you’re at the top of the first hill on a roller coaster. “No turning back” Almost dizzy.
I’m immediately surprised and maybe somewhat disappointed at the sluggish paceline. I feel great! I’m loose relaxed and everyone is on good behavior. I kind of wish they would step it up a bit, but I’m not going to beat myself up to do it.
The fog had cleared and it was warming up. I’m now regretting wearing the arm warmers. They’ll haunt me big time later. At about three quarters of a mile from the cattle grates the paceline jumps…I jump into the number three slot ahead of Rich and I’m wondering if I’ll regret it. We make the turn on to the mountain. I’m in a perfect position, so I hit the side of the mountain hard with about eight others. Riders start dropping off pretty quickly. I’m with six, but I’m maxed, so I back off a bit. It doesn’t take too long for me to get my groove and more riders dropping. I hit the turns hard to gain some inches and egg pedal out of the turn.
I can’t believe how good I feel even thought these guys are putting the hurt on me. I’m looking for a “Ramon” to pace me, but no luck. Not many drummers in this group, so I’m on my own. I start getting confused with who I’m passing. Racers from the wave before us are co-mingling with my group. Well, I’ve lost track of where I’m at. Either 3rd or 6th.
One guy, I keep dueling with. He pulls ahead…I pull ahead. I say something stupid to him everytime I go by to mess with his head… “I wish I hadn’t worn this scuba gear”… “How’s your mother? I here she’s here for Octoberfest?”
It works! He can’t take the verbal pummeling! The poor guy drops back.
I come up on the junction. Thank God! Shade! I’m really burning up and I need a downhill. Both wishes are fulfilled. I hit the first sister really too hard. There’s a rider right in front of me and I want to drop him. I pass and now I have two on my wheel working to break me. I egg pedal the downhill and punch the uphill. They pass…They fall back. Finally on the last sister I break them! In doing so I’m trashed, but the spectators and thoughts of my nephew keep me going strong… On the last downhill I sprint I have nothing left, but there’s something there cause I’m flying! I grunt like a female tennis player as I cross the line!
I never got to find out how I did. I talked to Tim and Chris for a minute and took off. I had a 1:05 Amtrak to catch out of Jack London in Oakland and it was 11:am.
I time trialed back to SF and with out stopping took off my clothes…Cathy had the shower running… In…Out! Grabbed my bag after Noontime ran out the door just as 2 of my friends just happened to be driving by! I dove in the car. They dropped me at Bart. I got to Oakland and ran down Oak st. to Jack London (8 blocks) just as the Amtrak pulled in!!!!
Just one red light could have beat me…or 1 more minute on Tam!
Syncronicity!
Pete. BTW I’m gonna kill it next year! I really enjoyed representing you all. NORCAL Rocks!!!!!
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