In addition to writing a little something here after each ride, I have, for the past eight years, also kept an actual paper training log. I know, old school. Paper and a pen. I use Joe Friel Cyclist's Training Diary to log weather info, ride stats, and a word or two about each ride.

What I do is keep the previous year's log opened up to the current date on top of a dresser in my cycling room. That way, as I prep for a ride I can look back to see what was going on in my cycling world on any given day a year earlier.

For instance, last year on July 1st I did a "Three Bridges" ride on what I termed a 'nice day' with sunshine and 80 degrees. I noted it was a good easy recovery ride dedicated to my sister Tracey, who went under the knife on this day a year ago after busting up her collar bone during her visit here.

But the big thing was the WCA race coming up on the weekend in Palmyra, as it is once again this Saturday. Last year I rode the course on July 3rd as a recon ride to prepare myself for the race in the Master's 4/5 cat. and noted the following:

"Tough, tough climb. Jesus, this is gonna kill me. No way eight laps of this. We'll see how many I can do in the race."

Well, I was dead-on about that as it turned out.

It WAS killer. And I only made three laps of the race. But those three laps sure were cool to be in. Looking back in my book, this is what I wrote of race day afterward:

"Big hill killed me. 1 great lap with the entire group though...all worth while...learning experience."

Indeed.

I learned that my weakness, climbing, kept me from hanging with the group for very long. Without that one steep hill I know I would have had a better chance at being in the peloton for longer. I learned that once again, there is nothing like the rush you get when you are in a group of riders like that. I learned that it takes everything I have to hang in there, and when they step on the gas I'm spit out the back. I learned that it would take much more serious training, time, and effort to bring myself up to competing at that level now.

I also learned that the rep a lot of racers have as being kinda jerks is not always true. I was lapped at one point and real worried about it as the leaders started to swallow me up. I worried I would be in the way or yelled at by the 'jerks' in the sport I so love, which kind of ruins it to some degree. That never happened. In fact, I was very pleased to learn that I was treated with respect. Not one but TWO different riders yelled over encouragement to me. One even put his hand on my back gently just to let me know they were coming and to hold my line. "Nice job buddy, keep going," he said. The other said something like, "Keep at it....you're doing fine."

I thought that was pretty cool.

Then I pulled off the course and rode home to the 4th of July party! Was it how I wanted the race to end for me? Of course not. Was it still worth it to try? You know the answer to that! For those two laps that I was at least in the pack....thrilling....and something I'll never forget.