13 minutes into the race I flatted. I thought I could fix it in 2 minutes and get back on the course and be fine. It is 33 miles after all, so 2 minutes wouldn't be that bad to make up. I put some air in my tire, started to ride again and nope, the hole was too big. So I got a tube out, it was a 26 inch. That's OK, they can work with enough air. Then I broke my tire lever. I couldn't get the tire back on the rim. Rookie mistake, under prepared, silly. I couldn't even roll my bike back. So I walked (and ran at times, I was delusional I could make it back and finish all three laps...) back 2.5 miles while carrying my bike. 2.5 miles is a lot farther than I realized, especially with 2 full bottles on my bike. I wore a hole in my CR sock:( and the muscles in my shoulders are the sorest they have been in years from carrying my bike. Back at the start line, I turned in my tag and told them I was a DNF. My friend patched up my tire and off I went for one fast lap, I needed to burn the calories I'd consumed with the expectation I'd be racing for 33 miles.
Frustrating day because I felt good, was ready to race and didn't get to due to bad decisions on my part. I've gone over all the scenarios of what I could have done differently many times. Luckily the hard lessons learned were at this, a local race. I'm determined to not have to "learn" those lessons again!
Frustrating day because I felt good, was ready to race and didn't get to due to bad decisions on my part. I've gone over all the scenarios of what I could have done differently many times. Luckily the hard lessons learned were at this, a local race. I'm determined to not have to "learn" those lessons again!