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Thursday, June 14, 2007

Time for reflecting...

Amanda here. You know, sometimes it can be a good thing to stop and take stock. To reflect on where you have been and what you have learned. It's nice to see Brian doing that right now. DNFing a race will make you do that I suppose. So I think it's important to remember what we've learned in the last five years and nine 24 hour events that Brian has raced...so here's my list of lessons learned...

1. Always have fun. Always. That is what these races are about. The first 24 hour race thought us that. Well, I should say that Dave Smith taught us that. He introduced Brian to his first 24 Hours of Adrenaline event back in May 2002 @ Laguna Seca where he raced a 5 man team for Granite. Seems soooooo long ago now, doesn't it? My how things have changed. I still remember how burned that Brian was that Dave was pulling faster laps than him all while Dave was going up against his 24 beers in 24 hours goal. Yep, it was all about having a good time out there! :)

2. It's as much about the competition as it is about having fun. The second 24 Hours of Adrenaline Race, May 2003 @ Laguna Seca, Brian sweet-talked Miles Wadsworth into racing a two-man team with him. As I recall, at this point, Brian was still thinking those solo guys were "absolutely nuts." ha ha ha ;) It was all about working hard with a good riding buddy and friend for bragging rights. Miles and Brian both worked hard and pulled out a well-deserved second place with 27 laps that year.

3. Always push the edge of the envelope. It wasn't enough to do it once. It never will be. It's about setting goals, reaching them and making newer even more ridiculous goals! In May 2004, Miles and Brian came back to beat their finish from the prior year and win first at 24 Hours of Adrenaline @ Laguna Seca. None of us were disappointed when they met their goal and won a first place that year!

4. Dream big - you never know what you may accomplish. There was that time where Brian shook his head and said those solo guys were crazy. He may deny it now, but he did - I still remember. :) In May 2005, Brian raced his first year solo at 24 Hours of Adrenaline @ Laguna Seca and he rode hard through that race like it was nothing. We had no idea what to expect, but wow was I impressed. Not only did he do it, he won his first time out on his own. What a difference a few years can make! What an amazing lesson to learn - no dream is too big if you just set your sights on it and go for it.

5. Nutrition is key, so don't get behind yourself. A hard learned lesson indeed. One learned with Brian's first DNF in May 2006 at 24 Hours of Adrenaline @ Laguna Seca. In retrospect today, we knew so little. It really can happen to anyone at anytime. Your stomach just won't cooperate. You're less than your best. There isn't much you can do except be mindful not to get behind. Definitely something we remember and it permanently changed the path of what we do to support Brian from the pit.

6. You can't plan for everything. This includes tornados, disasterous rain, ridiculously bad maps, SuperWalmarts, missed flights - all compliments of the Wisconsin 24 Hours National Championships near Wausau Wisconsin, July 2006. By far one of the most bizarre experiences of our lives - one that will never be topped. At least we hope. But that's the whole point, you simply cannot plan for the unexpected like that...

7. Hard work eventually pays off, as does good planning. After a couple of tough races, all the work and planning that those tough races provoked, paid off. BIG. And resulted in winning the 30-34 age group category at the World Championships of the 24 Hours of Adrenaline @ Conyers, Georgia last year. It wasn't a flawless race, but it was close.

8. Nothing beats having lots of support and a good attitude. Brian always races with a good attitude and we always try to maintain one in the pit. You're only as good as your weakest link or so they say. The Coolest 24 @ Cool California this May was awesome, but I think we learned that it is all about having a positive attitude and making that a priority. It's also nice to have family and friends to cheer you on, isn't it?!

9. And last, but not least, the most important lesson to date? Recovery time is crucial. Brian thought he had learned this lesson when he had to DNF his Florida Ironman last November 13 miles short of finishing the run with qualifying for Worlds in his grasp. This following after only 4 short weeks of rest from his 24 Hour win @ Conyers, Georgia. Five weeks isn't much different than four I suppose. Recovering from the race is still a lesson Brian is learning. It's hard for me to speculate what he needs - how much time, how much rest. It's just not built into him to take it easy. Now his body isn't giving him a choice about it. It should be interesting to see how this affects the future. At this point, I couldn't say, but I can tell him I hope he figures this out soon cause I hate seeing him struggle through this!

All I know is that each race takes it's toll, good or bad. Each race a lesson was definitely learned and it only served to improve his racing, his attitude, his outlook on life. I hope to look back on this post at some point later this year or next and be able to say that this last and newest lesson was finally learned. Until then, at least some stuff will get done around the house and we'll get the quality time together that we've been missing! ;)

2 comments:

Brian Sevall said...

Its kind of weird leaving a post to my own blog..lol
But you got it right sweety. So much stuff can happen before, during, and after these hard events that its almost impossible to expect everything that can and will happen. But its fun trying... Your awesome SWEETY! I will get it right sooner or later, hopefully sooner.

Norman said...

Hi Brian and Amanda,

When we spoke after the Cool Race, I thought you were crazy for wanting to race at CCCX. During the week after the race, all I could do was sleep and eat. I was on vacation with nothing else to do, so took two naps a day, stretched, and spun around on the flats for 20min a day.

I was so tired and I was reading your blog of all the killer rides you were doing and reading how you were complaining about how tired you were. I figured you'd been doing this longer than I and figured out what you was good for you. I guess in retrospect more resting after Cool and before Laguna Seca would have been good.

I only did one big ride (7.5 hrs) between the two races and I'm recovering much better this time that after Cool. I think having a coach like Terri Schneider has been really helpful in planning in the rest.

Anyway, Brian, I'm sure you will plan accordingly for the next time. You'll be back, stronger than ever!

see you,
Norman