Nationals 2011...hurt so good.

My whole season has come down to this one moment, Nationals. All of my hard work and training leads up to these races. It is a test of strength, ability, and knowledge. You are racing with many junior racers you have never seen before, everyone is a threat. You hope and assume that your coach has brought you to the highest peak so you will be at top form at Nationals. This is how I view Nationals, my 2011 Nats were bittersweet, but my encounters unavoidable.

Day 1, the Road Race. Usually road races are 50-80 miles, well not when you're 14! My race was 33km. Shorter than the elite criterium and the U23. I headed over to the road race course getting pumped for my efforts in the race. I was riding around the course surveying the turns and the straightaway to the finish. I roll up to the loading zone, 20 minutes prior to my race start. There was already half the field! We jumped out of the loading zone, I stuck out my elbows and darted to the start/finish line. I managed a top spot on the line. The group and I sat there for about 10 minutes. I tried to control my breathing and give my legs as much oxygen as possible. 3...2...1... and we're off! The first lap I felt really good, the field was on every single move. We blasted through the finish to see 2 to go. I led up the climb after the finish and through the tight turns. I tried for a breakaway once again, but nothing got away. It was approximately 1.2km to the finish I was sitting 2nd wheel following one of the most recent attacks. The rider cuts to the right, takes out my front wheel and I'm on the ground. Kids after kids riding into my chest and falling on top of me. I lay there for a second, get up and walk off the pain. My bike was wrecked, my National Road Race was wrecked. I assessed the bodily damage, and nothing was internally hurt. My shifter was broken, the rear Zipp 303 I was riding was broken, I couldn't go on. I see down the road a big man, with a strut like Larry Nolan. It was Larry! Who almost walked a mile to make sure I was okay. Lots of road rash and tire marks/bruises on my chest. I got a ride to medical where they cleaned me up. You always know when your teammates love you when they are told to go away from medical because they are crowding. I love you guys. I walked over to the van, got in and we started to drive away from the course where my skin was left. We did a little adventure! Off-roading in the team van, made me laugh quite a bit. I knew that for some reason that wasn't my race to win. I told Larry, "Jesus did not want me to win today, he wanted me to win the next day, and the day after the next day!" I definitely think that my attitude affected my TT, quite a bit. When everything looks or seems for the worse, brush it off your shoulder and hope for the best the next day. I was not completely disappointed about the RR, I still had two more days to receive a jersey. I went to sleep, on my right side hoping I would not ruin the bed sheets with my fresh-cut wounds.

Day 2, the Time Trial. My second race was the time trial, my specialty. For most of the day I hung out around the house. Awaiting my TT, awaiting the pain that I ride for. It was about 2 hours before my race, I did about 30 minutes of complete spin to open up my legs from the day before. Then I rested. It was about an hour to go to my start and I started my warm-up. I was in the zone. The pain of the day before seemed to slip away. I was ready to do what I do best. I was in the start gate. 10......5...4...3...2...1 and I was off on the most excruciating 10km of my season. It had big rollers with a nice descent that followed. I maintained the same ratio I had over the flats, on the climbs and clicked it up to my hardest gear and flew down the descents. I was in deep trance to catch my 30 second man. The gap kept closing, I kept going faster. I started my final kilometer of my TT and railed to the finish, catching my 30 second man on the line. My time was 13:35. The closest time was 13:41, and still one rider to finish. The last rider comes through with a time slower than mine. I am National Champion. I become swarmed by Matt, Larry, and my coach Felicia. I saw a tear come from my Mom's eye as well as Larry and I. It is the best feeling in the world to win such a title for a sport you are so passionate about, and to win after the worst luck the day before the TT. I think it was staying positive that helped me win, and the ability to shut out all pain that could have let me lose the race. I am just about the happiest kid alive.

Day 3, the Crit. I did my normal routine, ate breakfast made by the one and only Mrs. Nolan! I acquired all my stuff and headed over to crit course. I warmed up and watched the other races go down. It was now my turn to race. They called me up to the line, I had a top spot. My race started, there were many early attacks. I had to really dig to respond to those attacks, I lost my pop after the TT. There was an attack with 12 to go that really lasted for about 5 laps. I gambled. Following my contenders attempts to bring it back. It didn't last. I sat in to respond to attacks rather than attacking myself. I waited for the sprint. It was 1 to go! We sped around the course we were about to embark into the 3rd turn only 400m from the finish. I had fourth wheel, there were 3 kids competing for 5 wheel. All of a sudden my rear wheel locks up and I skid for about 20m. I did not go down, but dragged my competitor. His bike was tangled in my frame. My rear wheel lost about 4 spokes and my frame was cracked. I was pulling pieces of tape and hood out of my rear wheel. I noticed the blood on my bar tape, no idea where it came from! My crit was also ruined by something unavoidable. I was in perfect position to sprint. Oh well, I still brought home one jersey, in the race of truth. It was bittersweet. 2 DNF's and one win, but I have 4 more years to attempt to claim the title in the Criterium or Road Race. I can't wait for next year! Thanks for reading. I also wanted to thank the team and anyone else involved for making this a great experience. Again, thanks for reading.

-Jack Maddux