Southridge Winter Series Race #1

[denmother]

Originally Posted by allison

You rock, Nancy! I'm planning on bringing containers and instant oatmeal so you guys don't have to run to the store Saturday night while I'm sleeping



BTW, any way I can talk everyone into watching the New England game instead of bike videos Saturday night?

We have 2 TVs!!!

[2wheel_lee]

Well said, and it's a great outlook. I look at racing and riding in the same manner.

Originally Posted by sauce

I totally feel you on this. I too went way over-board last year with all my endurance racing. Going from a non-athletic, grade-obsessed UCLA philosophy doctoral student to a compulsive racer mountain biker was just me repeating the same old mistake again.

I say - try really hard to enjoy it. Put your energy there. Look at what you really love about mountain biking, and go after that. Do you love long, epic rides or the thrill of downhill? Maybe you love both. I love both, but I choose to pick and choose my races as to keep it fun. I will ride xc one day and dh another, and if I don't feel like riding one day (even though I had planned to), I don't ride. Sometimes I do Yoga instead. Sometimes I'm physically tired but have mental energy, so I just do some reading instead. And the time away from biking makes me cherish biking that much more and actually keeps me consistent in my pursuit of riding - ironically enough.

So getting balance in your life - it's really just all about listening to yourself and your desires and heeding those desires instead of forcing yourself into some uber-competitive torture-fest. I know I sound terribly didactic right now, but I can relate to your experience.

Is being the winner your goal, or is being balanced and thereby happy your goal? Winning doesn't make happy, balanced people; it makes people who are tyrannical in their desire to win and empty in their inability to enjoy the moment.

But if the only reason you don't want to race xc is because you fear you won't win, I say go do it. It would be a good opportunity to just not give a %$%$ about winning. If you don't want to race xc because you're honestly concerned about your fatigue levels and "not having fun at Fontana," then screw it. And if you want to not race DH so you can focus on Vision Quest, do it! You're not thereby ditching DH - you can always go back to it. It'll always be waiting for you. You're not a loser just because you choose not to do everything. You're a winner if you're truly satisfied with what you are doing.

And yes, this is just a veiled attempt to get you to drop out of the women's pro dh category so that I have less competition, because really ... I just want to win! j/k

[mottmcfly]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

Well said, and it's a great outlook. I look at racing and riding in the same manner.

I'm not sure this is a comment I agree with.

" Winning doesn't make happy, balanced people; it makes people who are tyrannical in their desire to win and empty in their inability to enjoy the moment."

Actually, I'm really sure I don't agree with it.

[davidB]

Just RSVP'd

XC Beginner 19-26 XC
and maybe Super D beginner as well

not sure yet on the Super D and what that entails there

[denmother]

Looks like we will have a great turnout! Looking forward to meeting all you new peeps. Way to represent! 50 yeses and 5 maybes so far. We definitly need to get some group photos!

[sdyeti]

Wow, it's nice to have someone who can relate. Funny thing is, sometimes I care about winning and sometimes I don't but... if I don't do as well as I wanted to (not even in reference to anyone else) I get pretty disappointed because I know I could've tried harder. I am working on the "not giving up" factor by doing long rides that stretch my mental/physical boundaries and also things like spin class (where we are doing timed sprints, etc) and not letting myself ease up. I've just stated to get back into doing yoga and loving it. I am trying to do a mix of activities and exercises to keep balanced.

Originally Posted by sauce

I totally feel you on this. I too went way over-board last year with all my endurance racing. Going from a non-athletic, grade-obsessed UCLA philosophy doctoral student to a compulsive racer mountain biker was just me repeating the same old mistake again.

I say - try really hard to enjoy it. Put your energy there. Look at what you really love about mountain biking, and go after that. Do you love long, epic rides or the thrill of downhill? Maybe you love both. I love both, but I choose to pick and choose my races as to keep it fun. I will ride xc one day and dh another, and if I don't feel like riding one day (even though I had planned to), I don't ride. Sometimes I do Yoga instead. Sometimes I'm physically tired but have mental energy, so I just do some reading instead. And the time away from biking makes me cherish biking that much more and actually keeps me consistent in my pursuit of riding - ironically enough.

So getting balance in your life - it's really just all about listening to yourself and your desires and heeding those desires instead of forcing yourself into some uber-competitive torture-fest. I know I sound terribly didactic right now, but I can relate to your experience.

Is being the winner your goal, or is being balanced and thereby happy your goal? Winning doesn't make happy, balanced people; it makes people who are tyrannical in their desire to win and empty in their inability to enjoy the moment.

But if the only reason you don't want to race xc is because you fear you won't win, I say go do it. It would be a good opportunity to just not give a %$%$ about winning. If you don't want to race xc because you're honestly concerned about your fatigue levels and "not having fun at Fontana," then screw it. And if you want to not race DH so you can focus on Vision Quest, do it! You're not thereby ditching DH - you can always go back to it. It'll always be waiting for you. You're not a loser just because you choose not to do everything. You're a winner if you're truly satisfied with what you are doing.

And yes, this is just a veiled attempt to get you to drop out of the women's pro dh category so that I have less competition, because really ... I just want to win! j/k

[denmother]

Quoting Gene Hamilton "It's all about 'Personal Best'. Not how fast you went, who you beat or didn't beat or what your time was. Did you do your best? If not, what do you need to change next time?"

This has stuck with me and has become my own personal mantra.

[sdyeti]

Oooooooh, can I bring my yoga DVD??

Originally Posted by denmother

We have 2 TVs!!!

[Winston]

Good, the orange jersey slows you down.

Originally Posted by Marshall Willanholly

...but if not I'll be on the green Sunday in Sport men 35-44 (P) wearing an orange jersey.

[denmother]

Originally Posted by sdyeti

Oooooooh, can I bring my yoga DVD??

Yes, please!!!

Originally Posted by Winston

Good, the orange jersey slows you down.

Hey Winston, are you still coming out this weekend, I don't see an RSVP!!!

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by mottmcfly

I'm not sure this is a comment I agree with.

" Winning doesn't make happy, balanced people; it makes people who are tyrannical in their desire to win and empty in their inability to enjoy the moment."

Actually, I'm really sure I don't agree with it.

Different strokes for different strokes. I'm sure this doesn't apply to all people, and probably not a majority, either.

[Winston]

I'm waiting to see if SDyeti races DH or not. If not I'm hitting the Fully Loop instead.

Originally Posted by denmother

Hey Winston, are you still coming out this weekend, I don't see an RSVP!!!

I've got my fingers crossed for 3 Path ladies on the Pro DH podium.

[denmother]

Originally Posted by Winston

I'm waiting to see if SDyeti races DH or not. If not I'm hitting the Fully Loop instead.


I've got my fingers crossed for 3 Path ladies on the Pro DH podium.

You are too funny!!! Who's the 3rd? Is Sauce gonna race Pro too?

[sdyeti]

I'll be there, racing both (feeling masochistic).

Originally Posted by Winston

I'm waiting to see if SDyeti races DH or not. If not I'm hitting the Fully Loop instead.



I've got my fingers crossed for 3 Path ladies on the Pro DH podium.

I think so

Originally Posted by denmother

Is Sauce gonna race Pro too?

[Jman]

This is a serious turnout. Is it always like this? I'm curious though, are the tents and registration all in the main parking lot, next to the 4x track? Thanks, also is parking a problem?

[Dino Brown]

I would say YES- the registration is where you describe!
I would say NO- parking should not be much of a problem.

[allison]

Originally Posted by Jman

This is a serious turnout. Is it always like this? I'm curious though, are the tents and registration all in the main parking lot, next to the 4x track? Thanks, also is parking a problem?

SRC has a few motorhomes and tents, and then a few manufacturers will have little areas set up right next to the concrete pad.

Parking I don't think is usually a problem? The asphalt parking lot probably fills up, but if you've got a truck or anything you can pull into the dirt anywhere.

It'll open up a bunch after XC probably also.