Team:

Since Superweek - my legs took a vacation along with my poetic genius.Life sort of came back to me in the middle of the Saturday night Elk Grove race, all of a sudden road racing was fun again. But the Japanese poet in me is still hidden somewhere inside.

Well I could write a narrative race report and say good things about somebody's race instead of saying it in Haiku.

Well, myself and Brian Smith (or me and Brian Smith, or Brian Smith and me or Brian Smith and I or I and Brian Smith.....) did this Criterium in the poor slums of Carmel, Indiana. I never felt more afraid for my life, with each block I felt the neighborhood closing in around me like the ghouls in Night of the Living Dead.

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2325283097/

Actually - Carmel - the neighborhood of West Clay was really quiet, cozy - almost surreal like a movie set. The community was really supportive of the race. Everything was cool on that front.

Cat 3/4 men was a 60 minute race - about 8 turns - 5 were roundabout turns with 3 clean angled turns as well. Approximately 2 minute lap - thus a 30 lap race.

Pack was about 40-50 strong at most. Alot of attrition.

My performance was ho-hum, got cemented into the pack. Tried to move up front, attempted, attempted and attempted.

Given the technicalities of the course - the race had a lot of attrition. I just held in there, not a victim of attrition.

Every dog has their day. I wonder if mine came, or is it coming. Or will my Thousand Splendid Suns shine in cyclocross. If I were a dog....my tongue would always hang out like a piece of ham.

Dearest reader - Brian Smith was amazed at my conversation to and from the race as I am sure you are amazed with the poetic beauty of this report.