ICEMAN Part 3

Reflection

I probably would have made this entry a couple days ago, but the Iceman occurred on a bad day in relation to my classes. On Monday and Tuesday I had a test and Wednesday I had to write a paper. Of course I could hardly study on Sunday evening with the Iceman still fresh in my mind. Then this weekend I have to write another paper and do some other school related stuff. I might by going to the symphony too.

At any rate, I know I won't get to write about everything I want to in this entry, just because there is so much on my mind concerning the Iceman and this season.

If you remember, before the season started, I had said that I wanted this season to be magical. I was really sick of not getting any results in running and I wanted to succeed. I was telling my mom a few days before the Iceman that I thought this season had been really good, but it lacked one command performance; one grand race; a real "pop" as I called it. But I think now I can say that I made that "pop" happen. I can now say that this season was magical.

I think what's more magical than the results I achieved so far is that I have a better understanding of what I am capable of and, of course, where my true talent as an athlete lays.

The day after the Iceman I was no longer motivated to train hard for this season. Everything was peaked perfectly; my mind as well as my body. I had planned on doing a cyclocross race, but I was no longer motivated to do so. I figured anything else would only be a breath mint after the dessert of a race at the Iceman. So instead I decided to do some running for the first time in about ten months. It felt good and was a nice change from riding. I intend to do some running and a host of other sports for part of this winter to expand my fitness and temporarily avoid the drudgery of winter bike riding.

Not to worry though. A new storm cloud is already forming and the 2006 Iceman is already fading away with the rest of this season trailing behind it. In this cloud brews my next plan of action; the formation of my motivation, training design, and other components that make a successful mountain bike racing season happen for me.

Soon I will announce my new sponsor for 2007.

I'd like to give a shout out to some people in no special order:

-All the spectators at the Iceman. They gave me energy.
-My parents for supporting me.
-Macomb Bike and Fitness for helping me lay the foundation of my cycling career.
-All my competitors. What would races be like if none of you guys showed up? You make our sport what it is!
-My friends and family who believe in me.
-If you think I forgot you, then you too deserve recognition.
-Oh yeah, all the people who read my blog, but don't write any comments in it ;)

-Randy LaPrairie

ICEMAN Part 2

The Race

All the usual suspects and then some were at the start line so I knew this was going to be a fun race. I took a conservative position in the third row where I could end up on the outside of the first turn to avoid getting smashed or slowed down.

I had a clean start and soon enough I found myself in what I later learned was the chase group behind Matter, Schouten, and Simonster. The start was pretty fierce with dudes cutting me off, surging, and jostling for position. I was breathing pretty hard. When things settled down and the group became more refined I put down a surge to keep evey one on their toes. I could see that Robert Herriman had put a little gap on us, so I pulled the group back up to him and let some other guys take over. I stayed cool for a while letting everyone pull me along. Then the trail opened up into a dirt road where there was a long incline. At this point I attacked opening up a pretty good gap. The chasers remained strong and they caught up to me a couple miles later. They followed me for a few minutes until we came into a really hilly area.

I was feeling good up the hills and no one could hang on. I was able to make a pretty sizeable gap on the group. I was a little nervous riding by myself but I pressed on. I rode about a third of the race alone. Soon I started to see some riders in the distance. It wasn't till about eight miles to go that I caught them. It was Jesse Lalonde, Dan Jansen, and Robert, who escaped the chase group earlier without me noticing. Jansen dropped off and it was Robert leading Lalonde and myself. I waited patiently to make my move past them. Right before the Ice breaker hill I moved to the front. At the foot of the hill I started putting on pressure. I then surged up the hill putting a little distance on them. At this point I knew they wouldn't be able to catch me and so I hammered home.

I had no idea what place I came in but I knew I had a good race and was happy to be finished. Then I saw only Simonster, Matter, a Schouten standing around. Everyone seemed really excited so I asked what place I came in. They told me fourth! I was elated.