topping out and getting le sick

I don't get sick much, but when I do, I make it count. Last year I went without a cold the entire year. The year before that I only got sick once and had bronchitis so badly I was at the doctor every four days and missed the entire collegiate MTB season.

Last Monday (the 13th) I went on a two hour road ride and was just flying without even trying. The day before that I was jamming at Jim's and absolutely killing it and didn't even feel tired. I was starting to plateau in my training and needed some time off. However, I didn't recognize that I was starting to overtrain so the next morning I woke up with a nasty headcold. My throat was sore, sinuses clogged, and I even had a headache, which is quite uncommon for me.

The past week was spent in full-on recovery mode. I sat on my butt any time I wasn't at work. And even when I was at work I was chugging water. The winning combination went like this: Emergen-C every morning, tons of water during the day, sittging in bed or in front of the computer in warm clothing while at home, and getting ten hours of sleep each night.

On Sunday I turned 24. This year has been very challenging and full of change, and I wouldn't have guessed I'd be here if you'd asked me on my 23rd birthday. Racing (and being competative) at the top of cat.2 is something I never thought I could do even if I had the opportunity, so I'm really glad I've had the chance to do that.


At the beginning of this season I made a list of goals for the year:
-Pay off student loans. (On schedule to finish paying them by year end)
-Buy a car (Done in February)
-5 top-5 finishes (So far 3. 4th at Rhinelander, 2nd at Eau Claire, 1st in Super-D at Mt. Morris)
-Win the Subaru Cup (I didn't win it, but I learned I can throw down with the top Comp Racers)
-Move out in September. (I'm moving into my new place August 1st)

I'm going to add some goals for the second half of the season, as I've checked off a few of my current goals.
-Win a comp race.
-Learn to race cyclo-cross and complete three races.