This year’s Ore to Shore was held on August 8. The course was the best! Yes, it was even better than last year. Thunderstorms moved through the area, Friday night, so the sandy course was packed. This was a year for personal records if they were to be had. Unfortunately, that wasn’t exactly the case with me.

Since I haven’t been riding very much, I came in over 10 minutes slower than last year. This dropped me about 40 spots in my division. Needless to say, I did not bring home the funny little dude in the process of an endo (the trophy).

The trophy I got, last year. He looks lonely, doesn’t he? I tried to get a companion for him, this year, but not hard enough.

“Di, how did your race go?” I got this question A LOT. How do you answer this question when the answer isn’t what they want to hear? Well, if you’re me, you’re just honest.

“My race didn’t go well. I was much slower than last year, yada, yada, yada . . .”

“Did you finish the race?”

“Yes.”

“Did you have any mechanicals?”

“No.”

“Well, then, you had a good race!”

That’s a very optimistic view to have of a race, and it would be a good one if I didn’t race to win. Sure, I’m not the fastest, but I have had my fair share of victories in my division and age group. This year’s races are quite sad because I haven’t been training. Therefore, my answer to that optimistic statement is this:

I never have mechanicals and I always finish the race. I didn’t have a good race because I did not do my best, and doing my best doesn’t stop at the race. It includes all of the time on the bike preceding that race: the preparation.

I know some of you are shaking your heads and thinking, “Di, you just need to enjoy this.” I agree, but this is how I enjoy it. I am very competitive. I need to feed that drive. I need to feel accomplished.

There is an upside to my disappointment with my Ore to Shore performance. It was one heck of a wake-up call. I have not been riding enough. When I do ride enough, I am a much happier person.

Disappointment in race performance is just like falling off of a mountain bike. You just have to get back on and brag about your wounds, later.