Not The End of The World

I have never won a race. The best I've done was 2nd place in my age group in a local cross country ski race when I was a sophomore in high school. There were four individuals in the 16-18 age category, but none-the-less second has been my best.

I don't ride for a team. I don't get my bikes, skies, clothes, and lodging from money that sponsors me. When I'm at a race, everything you see came out of my pocket. I don't have a web page dedicated to my training, racing, and life. You just get this blog. Someday, just maybe, you will get a perspective from the lead pack. But for now, enjoy the view from the middle.

And so be it. I knew it was going to happen sooner than later. I met people who have had it happen to them. I was lucky for four straight years, but this year my luck ran out. Today I received the dreaded "failure to be picked for the Chequamegon Fat Tire Race" letter. Yes, that awkward letter telling me that because I'm not the greatest biker ever, my name wasn't drawn for this years running of the Fat Tire.

So, this September 15th, on one of the last days of summer, as bikers line up at 6:00 am for the best position and as the experts gather, already in the lead, I will not be in the middle of the pack. I will not be making sure my GUTM packs are taped onto the stem of my bike. I will not be comparing myself to the biker next to me. And I will not be drooling over the pros lined up 100 ft away from me. No, I will be at OO patiently waiting to see what the lead pack looks like.

I often wonder what it's like to have a race organization beg you to ride their race. What's it like to have a person in a yellow "race official" bib guarding your position at the starting line. I fantasize about a day where my effort pays off, even if its just for that one race, where I don't have to dread this day.

As the lump in my throat grew I thought, "its not the end of the world." And Nikole reassured me that its not the end of the world by the fact that she was going to be unable to make the race this year. Her take is that if I don't get picked then this is the year.

So, as I write this the light rain will soon be turning to snow. Life is good, and its not the end of the world. Right?

Bike On,

Sturgie