Far West velodrome championship

A few days after I got back from Colorado I drove down to the Encino velodrome to the local qualifier for elite track nationals. I raced the kilo and pursuit, did pretty terrible in comparison to my previous weekend but had a great time. After training at ADT for the past few months I have made a lot of friends at the velodrome, most of whom had shown up to race as well. It was great to see every one to thank them for their support in the past few months as I gutted out my workouts on the track in preparation for nationals. In addition on the schedule was a full olympic omnium which was awesome to watch with plenty of exciting races in the program. Especially awesome was the presence of the current women's omnium world champion Tara Whitten in a proper world champion kit, who put on a clinic on how to dominate an event. It was fun to be partly on the other side of the event and watch my friends have awesome rides instead of having to focus on every detail of my preparation. I can't wait to watch some great racing come October at ADT.

Sunday of Track nationals

Day 2 of nationals came like a slap in the face, not too kindly. After finishing up late and going out to get food my eight hours of sleep seemed insufficient preparation for the kilometer time trial and team sprint.
Along with Clark and Matt I had the most apathetic warm up for the kilo. All year I have had problems with the kilo, mostly from falling off the rollers during warm up. My race started off well, first lap good, second lap-controlled chaos, third lap-carnage. The lights went out in in turn 2 on my final lap, I started drifting up track and it took all my strength to get across the finish line.
While cooling down and prepping for the team sprint my Usada chaperone cam by to inform me of a random doping test, meaning my day just got even longer. Before I went to fill a cup I had a job to do, get my team sprint team through the first lap. This one lap is what I had been working on since the beginning of the year, and i came through, with Sam and Aaron absolutely blasting past me as we crossed the start line to take me us to the top step of the podium 2 laps later.

A day worth remembering

My gamble to arrive in colorado two weeks before track nationals paid of in a big way. Slightly accustomed to the altitude I blitzed my 3 kilometer pursuit in a personal best of 4:05, good enough to seed me 2nd going into the final the evening of day 1. My morning ride scared me a bit, i didn't know i could push myself so hard, finding myself unable to walk and talk after being helped off my bike by my coach Adam.
It was two weeks of solid prep to get to that point. after driving across the west I got to the Springs and stayed at my aunt and uncles house for a week before moving into the OTC for prep camp. That week included two track sessions, and road rides to maintain my fitness and adjust to the lack of oxygen in the air.
Camp was great, productive sessions on the track led to my discovery that in addition to a decent start lap I can hold a tough schedule in the pursuit, with no word on why i can't ride a decent kilo. As with all camps it was a chance to catch up with friends i don't see enough, exchange stories and see who talks the most shit.
It was a new experience racing twice in a day, with one good ride on paper my goal was to repeat it in the final. After warming up on the motor I chilled out and waited for the go ahead to start the final leg of my warm up. After blowing out my legs I went to sit on deck for my ride. All evening the wind was calm and the women were destroying their times from the morning. As soon as Anthony started his ride the wind kicked up and never settled down. I watched Anthony battle the wind and even Sam, the strong man fight it as he completed 4 kilometers. I was remarkably calm going into my race knowing I had pretty much done my job to make the team, all that was left was the execution of the final. My start went well, the months of work at ADT have made their mark, but i felt the effort almost immediately. As I came out of turn 4 the wind kicked me hard, like single jack to the face hard, promising a painful 8 final laps. As I finished I was beat, I rolled 6 seconds slower, and it was 6 times harder than the morning's ride. While I failed to best my qualifying time I still took silver, and my most meaningful result in these past 3 years of racing.