Israeli National Championships

When I began this quest in August of 2012, I realized that doing well in biking events was going to be a long shot.  Yet, to some degree, I have done well.  I don't normally get dropped by my age group.  I hang tough in the hilly races.  And, I hang on (usually) on the flat, fast courses better than I did as a youngster.  Yet, the same issue, the back, keeps flaring up and the sciatica which comes and goes, seems to always come back as a race approaches.

With the championships tomorrow, I have pain in my left shin going into the ankle all from sciatica.  Am I worried?  Not really, for if after a few laps the pain gets to be too much, I will be a man and do the right thing, I think, and withdraw.  I don't want to cause permanent damage for it's just not worth it.

What this racing has taught me as a 56 year old, is that we really don't lose our competitive side as we age.  I like competition, to some degree, and I believe I deal with losing appropriately as I think it over deeply, let it ferment, and then come up with a plan to improve.  Yet, I notice those around me have improved as the year has gone on and more vets have come out of the woodwork and they are also lean, strong, fast and competitive.

Thus tomorrow will be the final road race here for me in Israel for some time as we will be out of the country next year.  I would like to think that I have helped let people know that one can train on a mostly (I am not perfect as I have had fish every now and then and some cheese during breakfast) plant based diet.  I would like to think that I have inspired some on my team to believe that they too can ride well when they are in their 50's, 60's and beyond.  I hope that I have done at least that.

My goal tomorrow, should the pain not stop me, is to ride strong, stick with the pack, and react when needed.  I hope to be competitive and finish strongly and then accept with dignity the results.  This has surely been a challenge and the number of mornings I have gotten up at 4 or 4:30 have taught me that I need to continue training with a group and pushing my body but at the same time, listening to it as well.  I do need to address this issue with my back in a different way for I am not sure that what I am currently doing is working.

Okay, this will be a good test, and we all need to test ourselves, in some way, from time-to-time.  This could be mental, physical, or spiritual challenge.   In fact, it should be all of these. 

Until my next posting. 

J