Anaerobic Heroics

So today was the MASS Relay Race in Marysville. It was the first race of the season, first race of this format and my first time racing on the Mighty Spot Brand Team. I have to say, it was all a lot of fun. It was also very painful.

I've got a bunch of pictures and will build a page, but they're mostly of people standing around and hanging out. They don't really capture what happened today.

So what did happen?

From the first climb your vision tunnels down to just what's in front of you. Your hearing focuses only on your own wheezing breath. You hear the noise. It sounds awful. It's high pitched and raspy. You know it's not good, but you can't fix it. It just continues sucking in what air it can get to your lungs, which are burning. They're burning like someone lit a fire inside, but it's not warm - just burning. With every sucking moist breath (mucous runs from your nose across your mouth and in with the air), oxygen is brought through your burning lungs into your blood. The blood is mercilessly pumped by your heart to your legs. Your legs need it most because you keep pedaling them. They're numb, almost dead weight, but you keep pedaling them. Every now and again you push them by standing and climbing a hill. Now they burn like your lungs. They burn for more blood - more oxygen. Your heart pumps more blood to your legs and less to your brain. Your vision tunnels some more. There's no time to react to the next tree and it clips your shoulder. It will hurt later. There will be bruises and scratches you won't completely remember. You pedal on.

For a brief moment you wonder why you're doing this. Why are you going so fast? Why can't you slow down? There's no answer. It's what you do. It's what you have to do.

It's a quick lap. You hit it hard and fast, then you're home safe. Until next time.

-b

ps. the beer was good too. Thanks Bean's!

pps. so I rewrote most of this in my head today while riding.