5/29/97
Went back to racing at Seward Park. I tried to race at the track yesterday, but it was raining, so I left before it started. I'm pretty sure the race was cancelled. Besides, there was nobody from my team there. I'd like to try racing at the track with some teammates.
I took it easy on the way to Seward Park, not letting my heart rate go much beyond 140 bpm, except naturally on some of the hills. I think that was a good plan.
Since I missed racing last week, I was a bit apprehensive. Strangely, when I got there, there were very few faces I recognized, and a lot of people who seemed to be new. But before the race, Mike, Alan, and Don Perry(from the team) showed up.
This time, the race started differently, at least for me. I actually was in the front third of the pack for a couple of laps. It was very interesting to be up there in the driver's seat. Unfortunately, I was eventually forced to the end of the pack on a hill. There, I stuck on the pack for a few more laps, but the accordion effect at the back of the pack was too much and soon I found myself off the back as I do all the time. But this happened later than it normally happens. I was dropped only a bit after the half-way point. There was a tall guy who was dropped that I followed for a while, but he dropped me on a hill.
I was lapped, but it happened with only about 5 laps left, so I decided to push myself so that I would only get lapped once, which has never happened. I even passed some people near the end of the race, but I'm not sure if they lapped me, and then I passed them, or if they were actually a lap down to me. I passed this really young looking kid. If he's there next week, I'll ask him if he's interested in our team, since Erik, the president, started the team out to develop young riders and women riders. I am not a woman, and am not young by biking standards, so at least I can help by keeping my eyes open for them. Youngsters, not necessarily women. I already have a girlfriend.
So today was the best so far, especially in regards to the lapping thing. A few more notches and I won't be lapped, and after that, maybe I can stay with the pack the whole time.