What I learned this weekend

It was again, a weekend full of lessons.


I learned. . . . . .

1) My glutes are my "strength". They're my strongest muscles which is why I climb so well. . . .and why i'm better at shorter power bursts.

2) Your Coccyx (technical term for your tailbone) provides the attachment area for 9 different muscles, including your glutes.

3) When your coccyx is hurt. . . . .accessing those 9 different muscles and using them to their full potential is very tough. . . . . and rather painful.

4) Taking a prescription painkiller to ease the pain of a bruised coccyx is not a bad idea. . . . .unless you're racing. Then it's a TERRIBLE idea.

5) I believe it's the acetaminophen properties within these prescription painkillers that can wreak havoc on your intestines for prolonged periods at a high heart rate, causing extreme stomach discomfort even vomiting.

6) When you can't use one group of muscles because they're painful, your body automatically compensates to find another group of muscles it can use. . . .thereby limiting the amount of exertion on the damaged ones.

7) When your body loads on muscles it doesn't usually use to stack the load on. . . . .they fatigue at a much quicker rate. Doing a marathon race in this state is not a good idea.

8) When your muscles reach extreme fatigue, they start to cramp. Again, your body adjusts to use OTHER muscles to lighten the load on the now-cramping muscles. . . . .which fatigues them even quicker and sends you back into this cycle, until your body has no more muscles groups to try because they're ALL cramping.

9) It is extremely painful, but not impossible to continue riding your bike once you start cramping.

10) It is possible to lose almost all feeling below your waist, for a short period of time, while you're riding. . . . . .while your body is trying not to cramp up solid. I think after a certain amount of time your body just turns the pain off. Unfortunately the pain doesn't stay "off".


While this wasn't a stellar race weekend for the Nigh's (Captain ended up losing the contents of his stomach after his race as well), it was a great weekend for many of our peeps. Kudos to CK for tying his best finish ever (and for almost taking me OUT as he passed me - thank GOD I have skills). . . .great job to Christine for her BEST finish ever (3rd overall). . . .Nice one to Squirt, who said this wasn't the kind of race she liked and therefore she almost didn't even DO this race, but she ended up finishing 3rd overall (out of 17+ expert women). . . . .nice job to Ron who looked well rested and FULL of zip when he passed me to finish 5th in the expert men. . . . . and all the other peeps who fared well for the weekend.

Another race down. . . . .6 more to go. LOTS more opportunities to pull out GOOD, painless, flawless finishes.