Race RECAP: Racer J’s first podium; @ TBF Granite Bay 2-23-2023
How do I stay motivated when I’ve never known success? How do I build momentum when I’m stuck inside my head? How can I generate opportunities for success?
Sign up. Show up. Be There.
One year ago I raced for the first time in TBF Racing’s XC MTB race series at Lake Folsom SRA’s Granite Bay. I placed 6th of 7 in my age group with a time of 1:18:49.5 My second race ever was done and dusted. Folsom Lake’s Granite Bay was all the more exciting because it was my first race on a carbon race bike, the Scott Scale. After a year of consistent racing — notching events like Sea Otter and Lake Tahoe’s XC MTB races on my belt — I returned to Granite Bay on a whim.
Racer H asked if there were any races coming up, and we looked on the phone. Lo’ and behold TBF Racing’s MTB Madness was the very next day. So we signed up for the Men’s Sport class for 2 laps and prepped the bikes for the next day. The next morning met with wet skies, wind, and rain. After a 2 hour commute from the Bay Area into Sacramento, I arrived at Lake Folsom under grey skies and scattered showers with a temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
How many times can I emphasize that it was cold, wet, and miserable? I wanted nothing more than to be back at home under the covers in my warm bed. But that was neither here nor there. As Racer H and I lined up at the start line, I kept telling myself that I was just there to enjoy my day and ride my bike. The other racers commented about how much smaller the racing field was compared to two weeks ago when it was sunny and warm. I just nodded and agreed — the weather was worse and that’s why everyone stayed home.
I got lost two different times on the first lap. It was my own fault both times — I need to remember to keep my eyes on the horizon and look for course markers. Both unintentional detours were a result of pushing so hard that I lost my mind and situational awareness. Both detours were also recovered by regaining my situational awareness — noticing the lack of noise from other competitors was usually my first clue that I was off course. At the 4:30 mark in the video, you’ll see that I wave my friend off and continue blasting down a straight road. I was so mentally dead that I didn’t realize I wasn’t even riding the course. About 10 seconds later I realize my mistake and turn around.
After rejoining the course I was promptly passed by the older men in a pack of four or five riders. I must give my respect to the other racers here at TBF Racing. They always keep the racing clean, the passing is generally courteous, and nobody rides dirty. Everyone is there to have fun and enjoy the trail.
The second time I got lost, I was mentally drained after a stretch of hard riding and wandered onto the beach. I blindly followed the old racecourse in my mind. As I wandered along the beach I finally regained some of my senses and began looking for the race course. I saw the colors of the jerseys of some other racers and connected back up with them after the extended detour.
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