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.