Sunburst 5th...

5th's not bad for having food poisoning, had way higher expectations but the body could not respond after trying to carbo load on a ton of bad chicken curry and brown rice last night. Could not fuel or drink during the race really as it made the stomach cramps worse so dehydration and lack of sugars had me moving way slower then I was used to this past couple weeks, especially during my intervals this past week when I felt AMAZING, so expectations were high and I am slightly frustrated with the bad luck, but thankful for being able to hold a good finish anyways. The really bad pain kicked in horribly mid race and really really bad after the race. If you saw me riding around screaming to myself after the race now you know why. I didn't know what all this was until I saw Lindsay and she said she was puking most the race with the same stomach cramps, etc... Thats when I figured out it was the chicken, since it was the only thing we ate that was the same. I winced through awards and got home asap, to try and get comfortable, took about 4 more hours for it to settle and be able to eat something.
Race went like this for me.
On the line I felt the stomach coming on a little but thought it was just gel and pre-race causing bubbles. Followed Macjie's sprint for lead, took over lead as we were coming back toward the climb, climbed to top of the hill pretty hard but not all out sprint...I think to much...instead of going for it. Coming around the top TJ and Brian came by pretty hard, I stuck with for a bit but dropped before the flat fields, was chasing with Jeff crashed...chasing with bender crashed again, learned from then on that the bald back tire is bad on the slippery fresh cut grass...stomach cramps come on hard and I settled for riding with bender hoping we would slowly reel Melcher in, got slower and slower as the race went on with no water and no fuel to hold off the pain in my stomach as much as possible. Last lap I let Bender take over, my muscles were screaming for fuel and I just had no energy left, he started to pull away coming outta the field as a comp guy pretty much seemed like he was blocking for him and tried drafting Bender...which ended immediately, sorry to this guy I was telling a million times to get out the way, and calling the comp all-star, I just get a little worked up with the whole letting one guy through and not another, but I was not polite with my frustration and I openly apologize if your reading and will make a point of doing so in person when I get a chance. Right after this I came by Bender with a dropped chain, I do the sportsman like thing and waited, which I kinda regretted, since there were plenty of adversities for me throughout the race and its racing, but I just found my self going "man that sucks for him" and slowing down till I saw him there instead of attacking. When it came time to fight it out at the line I had nothing to run on and was in pain so I just rode in easy and let Bender ride away. I am thankful for and appreciate riding/racing with Bender and everyone today and am sorry for any badly communicated frustration, it was just a painful time and not the best experience, I let it get to me a little...
Rest week this week after about 4 weeks of hard training, and then onto another 3-4 week period of hard training to head for late season peak. Gonna try and get pictures and video up from our trip in the U.P., but need most of them sent to me.

Thanks for reading and great seeing everyone today!
Nathan