"Anything in particular", he asked. "Yeh, my calves are a bit tight" I replied. So as the massage man began, I buried my head in the towel at the end of the bed and clenched my fists with each of his pokes and rubs feeling like a right hook from Rocky. Then as expected came a hardly confidence inspiring, "What the f*** have you done to yourself"
Maybe my post champs tapering process may have been a little off the mark. Haha.
Got my super athlete warmup done, consisting of riding up the road, sending all the hips and bumps at the edge of the road, then spotting a car about halfway up the lane and sprinting to see if I could get past it. Didn't quite notice the other car pulling out and near got flattened, but I think wearing Matt Adair's invincibility cloak (skinsuit) saved me life, and I knew it was gonna be a good day.
Went back to the car to get a drink and eat some, but never got the chance as John Runciman came running over to tell me my race was starting in two minutes which I had also realised, but hadn't really registered how short two minutes is. So ran over to the start and jumped over the fence to find everyone had been gridded, and there was no room for me anywhere but the back, on the outside of the first corner. Nightmare.
Luckily I got clipped in as quick as the man blew his whistle or whatever he did to start the race, and I had got up into 5th or so coming into the first corner. As I took the corner, since I was still stuck in the outside line, I tried to cut across into the inside so that I could line her up for the next corner right. This worked ok, til I heard the carnage behind me, 1 lad who I must have clipped was lying on the ground, another facing backwards, and everyone else ploughing into the back of them. My bad...
Luckily I got clipped in as quick as the man blew his whistle or whatever he did to start the race, and I had got up into 5th or so coming into the first corner. As I took the corner, since I was still stuck in the outside line, I tried to cut across into the inside so that I could line her up for the next corner right. This worked ok, til I heard the carnage behind me, 1 lad who I must have clipped was lying on the ground, another facing backwards, and everyone else ploughing into the back of them. My bad...Made up another place or two coming out of the next corner, and by the time I got into the first bit of singletrack I was sitting in a comfortable second to Chris Oakley. Rode behind him for a while before he so kindly moved over a bit and let me past! What a gentleman!
That left me free to get the power down and get away from the rest of the field. I gave her the beans and tried to stay off the brakes as much as I could, and coming across the line for my first lap I'd opened up a good gap.
From then on I did my best to maintain the lead by just riding steady and as smoothly as possible. This was the biggest race of the year for me(other than the Epic Blast, haha) so I really really didn't want to end it with a puncture or make a silly mistake and break the bike or myself! I opened her up on the fireroads and took her easy on the singletrack to make sure I was in no danger of wrecking something, and kept the legs spinning til I got back to the start/finish for the end of my second and final lap.
That left me free to get the power down and get away from the rest of the field. I gave her the beans and tried to stay off the brakes as much as I could, and coming across the line for my first lap I'd opened up a good gap.From then on I did my best to maintain the lead by just riding steady and as smoothly as possible. This was the biggest race of the year for me(other than the Epic Blast, haha) so I really really didn't want to end it with a puncture or make a silly mistake and break the bike or myself! I opened her up on the fireroads and took her easy on the singletrack to make sure I was in no danger of wrecking something, and kept the legs spinning til I got back to the start/finish for the end of my second and final lap.
And that was it, U16 Irish XC Champion, jeb!
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of my sponsors who I couldn't have done without. Lol Jk, I don't have any. Davidmmontee@aol.com.
Would like to thank me Mammy and Daddy, Simon Curry, Barry Kellett, Gar Mckee, Willy Mulligan, Ronnie Ogilby, Ciara MacManus, Greg May and everyone else who's helped me out this year.
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