Tomorrow, first race, 5K Scratch Race, nervous but ready
This will sound familiar, certainly familiar to me as it felt like a repeat of previous nights here and speaks to how long it takes my body to adjust to major time changes, 6-7 hours later than MN time, part of the reason I arrived 7 days before my first race. I went to bed last night/Saturday and tried to read a bit but kept falling asleep. 9:00 or so, off go the lights and here we go. How long before I wake again? The answer is midnight. I’m getting used to this by now, grab my phone and start reading the book I downloaded. I’m getting to like the story, The Name of the Wind, stories within stories that never seem to end in a somewhat mythical world. I haven’t been in this genre for a while, kind of fun and takes my mind off the ups and downs. An hour later and I’m down again. A few times awake but generally rest full if not sleepful! . Then, with a start, I’m awake. What time is it. Yikes, 10:44? Is it day, night, what day? Am I reliving last Tuesday? I’m up and open the door to the hallway and yes, it is 11:00 A.M. on Sunday. Well, my plan was to sleep in, but I wasn’t thinking it would be that long but happy I got some undisturbed rest.
Breky again, getting easier every day, load my backpack and off to the velodrome. As I arrive, parking looks to be busy. There is minimal parking around the velodrome but thankfully the street next to the entry has quite a few spots and I find one. The on-street parking is a bit easier on the busy days, easy in and out and not much further to walk than the official parking lot, especially when I don’t need to carry lots of gear.
As I’m parking, I see Larry, the USA instigator that kept telling me when we were in Colorado that this would be fun, and I had to attend. We talk a bit before I park. Into the track I go, Larry is set up close to me as he is one of many athletes that one guy is assisting, coach Mat, “Bike Butler” a guy who is busy every minute he is at the track. Well done Matt for keeping an eye on all your athletes. Larry and I talk a bit, good to have a friend to share thoughts and ideas. I’m feeling a bit nervous as reality is kicking in with one day to go before I’m racing. My plan is to install a bigger front chain ring and ride the trainer for 30 minutes. I am glad I was there early in the week to set up my cozy spot to call home as the infield is quite full, there is almost 500 Masters athletes competing, kind of amazing.
Easy gear change done, onto the bike for a sweaty 30 minutes, feeling better as I work the jitters out. A few high cadence, out of the saddle spin ups, yes, I like the gear choice. Although, there is still all but no resistance with this trainer so significantly different than on track feelings.
There really no sense to stay around and use up energy. I’ve learned from past Worlds, just being in and amongst active racers can drain energy. I pack up/lock up, although lock up is quite minimal. I look around the infield and can’t imagine the value of all the bikes, wheel sets and training gear in here. My gear is getting dated as all competitive gear dose over time. Off to change back into street clothes and to try and find some lunch at the Achaun Mall café I saw a few days ago. As I drive, I realized it’s Sunday and in France, a lot of places are closed. I feel a bit like I am back to the 70’s in the USA. Not a bad thing.
Lucky for me, the café is open, only store in the entire mall. It is a buffet like place, so I just stand around and watch where the trays are found and how it works, where food is, I sort of figure some of it out. I get to a checkout line and try and communicate, stumbling with language difference but I sort out the process. The lady checking me out is excited to talk to an American, unbelievable. She was in Miami a year ago and thought it was great as a traveler. I turn my ticket to the chefs and sit and wait. Eventually my vege burger arrives, kind of sparse. Lucky there is a side bar that has a wide variety and comes with the burger. Two trips to the side bar later, I am fed.
Back in the car on deserted streets and I find my way back to the lodging, without using navigation and driving straight to it. Yea, I’m learning the nearby local streets anyway. As it turns out, the road I take to get to the velodrome is the same road used as the last kilometers of the Paris/Roubaix Spring bike road race, kind of a big deal for me.
At the lodging, I’m catching up again and deciding how to manage my first race day. How early I need to get up, what’s for breakfast, pack a lunch and gear and get to the velo. My race is second to last of the day; it will be a long day, nutrition could be a factor, another challenge I’ve learned at past events. There is a 50-minute open track session at 1:00 I hope to ride and determine the final gear choice. It will be good to get to actual race day!
I’m glad I brought an iPad, for keeping up to date at the track and for entertainment watching Netflix and YouTube movies to help pass the time. Time for a light dinner, relax and eventually another “how long will I sleep” experiment. Predictably, my sleep schedule is a mess. Reading at about 9 and falling asleep so lights out. Midnight and I am awake again. Find my book and read an hour and try sleep again. No go, another bit of reading maybe? Still no sleep and my alarm is set for 7:30. In desperation I search my Android phone and find some Calming Sleep nature sounds, low volume and “voila”, I fall asleep about 2:00 am.