My problems seem nothing compared to what happened to these girls today, but the last couple of weeks have certainly not gone to plan. I returned to the UK all fired up for the East Midlands Cicle Classic knowing I had built some good form over the previous weeks in Belgium and was going there confident of pulling out a result. Even on the morning of the race I felt good and was completely relaxed, knowing what I needed to do and knowing I was in the shape to do it. However I knew from my first attack that something wasnt right. Maybe I just needed to ride myself in? It wasnt happening. I continued to get in attempted breakaway moves knowing that getting away around the opening two laps of the reservoir is often crucial in this race. However it wasnt happening. I was overheating, my heart rate was racing, stomach cramping, felt very dehydrated and seemingly wasnt recovering after any effort. After leading the bunch back through Oakham I began slipping further and further back through the peleton. By the time we hit the first narrow road I was towards the back and as soon as the bunch began to split the extra efforts to keep getting back on were telling. I kept dropping back to the car but by about the third or fourth time I waved them on...race over....and climbed off at the next feed. Its a horrible feeling, even more so when you have high expectations of doing something in a race, but sometimes the body just dosnt allow you to do your thing. What actually happened? I do not know. Initial thoughts were maybe something eaten the night before/morning of at the hotel...maybe a lot of salt in the food? Who knows?
The problems continued the following week also. Whether directly connected or whether a result of what had happened at Rutland I was feeling very tired going into the weekends races. A little circuit race at Hog Hill to test the water still told me that something wasnt quite right. I placed 6th but with my body overheating yet again and heart racing I knew there was something more to it. Despite this and probably my own downfall I went to do the Chas Messenger in Buckinghamshire the day after. On what is a tough, wearing down circuit anyway it was always going to be a tall order. After getting in an initial break and being sent off course we quickly found ourselves back in the peleton. I struggled my way round the 160km for 19th, but almost salvaged a lot more over the last couple of laps bridging across to a number of different groups before finding myself in the lead group (well going for 3rd come the final few kms). However with riders sitting up and cramp setting in I wasnt going to be jumping around anyone anytime soon and a few of us lost contact with this group just 2km from the end, ending up just behind.
On my return to Belgium I was straight in to see the doctor....the same afternoon as I got back in fact. A blood test and urine test carried out and had the results a few days later. The tests came back showing a few things that were a bit low that may have been contributing to the way I have been feeling. Treated straight away and with a couple of prescriptions also, hopefully I will be back on track straight away. A very efficient system for getting cyclists back to normal quickly and just another one of the percs of being based in Belgium. With a number of good races to come in May, I hope to be feeling back to normal and next time have some more good results to talk about. Until then........
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