Part 1: The closest yet is no disappointment
Manchester, England, 7-8 November 2009The 30th of August seems such a long time ago, but whoever said time is a great healer never had the support I had. An injury is bad at the best of times but to suffer one just ten days before the World Road Championships was the worst possible. I had dislocated my shoulder on my strong side and done quite a bit of damage. With the help of Aidan Woods and the Paralympic Council of Ireland I rolled down the start ramp in the Time Trial nine days later. Strapped and uncomfortable on every bump I finished in the top ten and headed home to recover after being pulled from riding the road race. I was not a happy camper…
Once back home it was a race against time to be ready for the Track Worlds in Manchester just six and a bit weeks later. Due to the nature of the injury I had to use a set of aero bars on my road bike so I could still train and get more rehab than Amy Winehouse.
Standing starts at the bus garage at the back of the airport must have had the drivers who came in and out of the depot thinking who was this nut case going up and down the road each day. Well at least they didn't see me painting 100 metre sprint lines across the road that evening.
Healing came slow and the doubt and worry all came calling so it was with a belly full of nerves that I walked in to Manchester track last week.
Due to current developments the kilo was the main goal, a kind of in and out event.
Just suck it up and get stuck in and hopefully the shoulder will hold up and the thing might work out! In contrast there was little work done for the pursuit. I had last ridden one in May in 5m23s and it was not our key event. I rode it the next day in 5m18s – a new PB!
The evening of Friday 6th November was the date for my kilo round. Warm up went well and the nerves did not call too loudly! As with all events, routine is your best friend. Or so the sports psychs tell me. Warm up sheet on the floor beside the bike, stopwatch, and mp3 player. I started to get ready, gloves and helmet and glasses placed to one side. Track bike left up to be checked. Clock ticking. Warm up finished, fresh skin suit on and the last motivator, a video on my ipod of all my good starts, good lines, good moments all tied in with my favorite tune! That takes just four minutes so that's on when I am waiting to be called to the gate.
Memories of leaving a few tenths of a second in the gate in Beijing are gone, not one thing is the same as that day. I even changed my gloves. It's like it never existed in my mind. Suddenly the guy ahead snaps a chain in the gate and I am called up sooner than I thought. Phil + Brian give me the nod and I walk to the gate, nerves kicking in now. Just have to keep them out just a bit longer. Its crazy to say but usually it feels like a walk to the gallows but today it's just a walk to work! Clip in, nod to the starter, clock starts… light the fuse! Beeps come 5,4,3,2 locks out back leg. 1, lunge back
0…. launch …we are out like a bullet and gaining speed. First lap down and we are on schedule - fastest ever opener! Lap two and no drop off now, it's into a different energy system, legs screaming. Lap three, I can make out Hugh Porter saying it's a fast time, third quickest. There's the bell 250 to go, now it's hurting like never before the high cadence is starting to drop like a balloon leaking air, last 100 metres, trying to hang on to every scrap of speed, throw the bike at the line… can't see, can't breathe, can't pedal.
Hit every sponge on my slow down and just about manage to stay upright! Sixth place at the worlds against fulltime riders, and giving away a few years, slightly!
We were third with about 80 metres to go and ended up only 0.9sec off the medals. The closest yet is no disappointment, gave it everything. PB time. Roll and wobble to the cool down area. Then it kicks in. 0.9! Was it the shoulder, the start, the line? It was what it was - until the next one!
