Well here we are again. The night before yet another race. If I am honest this is my least favourite part of racing. The nervous expectation. Trying to relax but not doing a great job of it.
Most things are tidied away and good to go. Registration is done, the bike is in, the briefing is briefed. I think I understand the convoluted transition area (actually not that complex). It has been a nice relaxing day, with a bit of training this morning, a bit of family stuff during the day and then a bit of official stuff this afternoon. I just need to pack everything for tomorrow morning, have a stretch and then I am good to go.
I am in the process of making some last minute decisions about clothing for tomorrow. Really I am just thinking about whether to wear arm warmers or not. I suspect that I will, since it is forecast to be less than 10 degrees when we jump on the bike tomorow. I will at least take them down with me and make a call once I am at the bike.
Racing tomorrow should be an interesting experience. By far the hottest field I have raced in and there is a lot of talk about a very fast ride leg. There will come a point where I need to decide between pushing hard to stay with some fast guys, or stick to my plan. I know the right answer to that question, but the trick tomorrow will be executing it.
In the end that is really the trick to the entire day. I know what I need to do on a race like this one. In many ways it is delightfully simple. On this course the conditions and the course aren't a factor. So you really can race to the fullest of your abilities. It becomes a question of pacing. Knowing what pace is correct for you and executing that. That is really what I am after tomorrow. I know the numbers I am after. If I can get to the end of the day with those numbers under my belt I will consider it a success. Everything outside of that is really irrelevant. The mindset I am taking is one of using the hot field to help me have the best race I can, which I think it is a healthy one to go in with.
So that is it really. Time will tell how tomorrrow goes. In the end it is just another race. I don't say that to dismiss it, but rather to put it in perspective. Every race is a new challenge and an opportunity to do your best. But at the same time if the day doesn't go to plan then the world will still turn. There will be other races and those races will be a new challenge and another opportunity. Being nervous tonight won't help me execute tomorrow's plan any better and really there is no reason to be to nervous since it is just another race.
I say that, but I am not sure whether I believe it. Worth a shot though.
Talk to everyone after the finish line.
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