![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.1){kind=small}
grateful 
With barely 3 hours of sleep (I was still at the HP Makati office until 12mn the previous night), I managed to make it at the starting line in Batangas by 7:15am. I wasn't psyched up to race. My preparation has been poor since I have been focusing more on work the past few days with a new role, a new team and a new office. Luckily, I managed to drag myself from bed at the wee hours of the morning last Friday and comforted myself knowing that I'll be learning a lot of things from this race. And learn I did... With all the haste, I forgot to put extra attention to my racing nutrition. I haven't been cramping the past few races because I paid particular attention to my saltsticks and energy gel consumption. And for Friday's race, I took it all for granted which caused me major cramping in the last 30 kilometers. I was so tempted to go down my bike several times during stage 1. I kept massaging my legs while riding and poured 2 bottles of water on both my legs to keep it cool which somehow helped me finish the race. Jim Chua of Team BONT was a life-saver! He saw me cramping and didn't leave me behind. That was such a morale booster that I know I just had to fight it through. Crossing the finish line on Friday morning made all the pahirap at pasakit worth it. Thanks Jim!!!
I was dehydrated and under-nourished during that last torturous 30 kilometers. I learned my lesson and I made sure I came prepared for stage 2. I finished stage 2 with a smile on my face because I didn't suffer as much as the previous day. I was saddened by the major bike crash in Tuy though. While I have been one of the lucky ones spared from the accident, the crash ruined the race for a lot of people especially those who were badly injured. This is perhaps the biggest cycling mishap I've witnessed and I just hope I won't see one again. =(
Stage 3 was the 30-km team time trial. This is one of my favorite cycling races but I came ill-prepared for ToM. Knowing how much beating my legs have taken in the last 2 races, I know I'll have to heavily rely on my stronger teammates to make this work. My legs felt like jell-o. I had to be honest with them and tell them upfront that I don't think I can do much pulling. I realize how great the teamwork was when we huddled together and discussed the strategy taking into account everyone's fitness level. When we started pedalling off as a team for this stage, my legs felt so heavy. I tried to hang on but I can only stay with them a few meters from the turn around. I was a goner but I was confident that the remaining girls can win this race as I saw Kaye, Joyette and Popo pedal stronger than ever. True enough, panalo! Hehehe...
I didn't join stage 4 anymore. I wasn't really registered to join this race and I haven't really prepared myself for the 40-km individual time trial. I slept off on Sunday morning while my team mates raced. By the time I got up, I still feel tired and craving for more sleep. I then decided to just head straight home while I can still drive. It was a good thing that Joyette rode with me going home or I might have fallen asleep. Hehehe...
As I collect my thoughts for this weekend's race, I realize that I still have so much to learn and many racing aspects to improve on. I am at awe by the improvement of most of the cyclists that have joined both 2009 and 2010 races. Most if not all have exceeded their performance last year! At the beginning of the race, I can feel the very positive vibe. Most of my cyclist friends were on a very good mood and greeting everyone in their way. It was more like a reunion of good friends than a race. Anyway, to everyone who made this weekend happen, thank you for an enriching experience. =)
