@qclabrat i don't think i'm burned out already? (warning: what follows here is just a rambling of thoughts i've attempted to piece into some sort of coherent explanation)
H2H races are pretty spread out so it's not like i'm doing a race every weekend. i did do that richmond race in there and i'll be doing some other races (like GGG, mountain man and some cross) but those are also spread out for me. and since cross isn't where my heart is, if i miss one it doesn't really bother me too much. (although i think steve just gasped)
i have been doing trainer road. i did two of the training plans over the winter and i hop on every so often now when i get home late or the weather's crappy. but i don't consider it really training. i watch some tv, sweat a little and come up with a clever strava name for the ride when it's done.
i don't think my overall fitness is that great. i think my riding has improved where i think (for the most part anyway) i'm getting better at picking lines and tackling techy trails and all that. but, i can't sustain a decent output of energy for a long period of time... or rather a
consistent output of energy. i can stop and catch my breath on a casual ride and be ok to go again... but that doesn't really work in a race.
so maybe it's just frustration? not getting podium doesn't bother me. it's nice but, seriously, it's not like i get cash and stuff out of it. i am frustrated that i don't feel my racing has improved even though i think my riding has improved. but! racing isn't a priority for me either. i want to be a better rider not necessarily a better racer. and there is the factor that i don't always feel like i'm racing. it's easy to lose sight of whoever's in front of me very easily in a MTB race... even if they're literally a hundred feet in front. with cross last year, i did get that competition feeling because i could always see someone and try to catch them.
there is also just the plain fact that i've been really worn out this year and it has nothing to do with biking. i'm tired and don't sleep well and i'm exhausted when i wake up and i just feel like i'm running on half a battery. and, as i've mentioned over on norm's blog, NJ Transit has sucked balls majorly lately with canceling trains and changing schedules and just making that part of life a little more irritating. i took some random days off this week and it felt really good to just not have to deal with life stuff. i need to remember to do that more often. i have two vacations planned coming up: kingdom trails in july and then my usual two weeks off in august which can be a smorgasbord of traveling locations.
i don't know if any of this is even an answer. maybe it just poses more questions.
