Last one.

I love Sheboygan.
I don't know what makes it so special. I think it's the crowds of people everywhere on a super fun course. It has a little bit of everything- roots, big fucking roots, log overs, a log drop, wooden bridges, a quarry, twisty singletrack, pines, river edge singletrack, steep leg cramp climbing, a creek crossing... There isn't a place on that course that I do not look forward to. It's all good.
I haven't done a WORS race since the beginning of July. I knew it was going to be tough if only because I haven't raced or ridden that intense in quite some time. Sure I did other races, but nothing compares to the competition of a WORS race.
My first lap was fun, going back n forth with a couple of ladies. Second lap I was still feeling good... I was starting to relax and get into a rhythem. Third lap I took another gel and my stomach cramped shortly after. I think I took it too soon not thinking that the laps at Sheboygan are pretty short. I knew right away after I took it that I wasn't going to feel well so I willed it away. Luckily it didn't get too bad.

WORS #12 ©WORS Danny Marchewka

My legs still felt great through my 3rd lap. I don't know exactly where it was, but
on the 3rd lap I did something to my back. I thought maybe it was just tense from all the roots and having too much air pressure in the back tire. But it didn't exactly feel like that and still today, my back hurts. I don't even want to ride my mountain bike. The thought of it causes me to tense up. It's just this one spot by my back rib.
Anyway, Sheboygan is pretty rooty so it was pretty intense at times, I could barely hold onto the bar, so I slowed down quite a bit. At first I was pissed off. But then, I was like, whatever. It wasn't like I'd be missing out on anything if I could pedal faster. So I just dealt with it. Weird for me, though, to actually look forward to climbing...
I guess it was kind of a bummer if only because I'd like to see how I would've finished without that issue as my legs were totally fine. But I'm sure there were other racers that day with their own problems as well.
In the end I had a blast and that's what it's all about. I still look back on it and smile.

I'm hoping to get an epic mountain bike ride in this weekend. We'll see. I'm not one for making plans. I either change my mind, or get disappointed if what I wanted to do doesn't work out.