Some Good News and Some Bad Ones

August 26, Sunday. It was a busy week for me. I resumed my training with the road team last Monday, August 20. I was also informed that I will be leaving on September 3, Monday, with a coach to join the Asian Cycling Championships for Track in Bangkok. I will be racing in scratch and point race with Sir Steve Pelaez from California. Wala daw uling pressure to win. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag dahil hindi naman ako pinag-eensayo para sa mga events na yun. After the races in track, I and the coach will then proceed to Ratchacima for the road racing events, and meet the rest of the road team there. Kasali ako massed start and itt. Napakaimportante ng race na ito dahil according sa info na binigay ng coaching staff, doon din gagawin ang road racing sa SEAGames. An opportunity to study the place and possible routes before the big event in December. I still don’t know the exact dates of my events but was informed that the team will be back in Manila on September 12, Wednesday. Due to conflict in schedule, I have to turn down a couple of race invitations from organizers. The first race is the 4th Leg of Criterium Grand Prix on September 2, Sunday in Tarlac. The second is a multi-stage race, the Tour of Cebu. Nagkaroon din ng balita na I requested to have it postponed para makasali ako. Pero hindi yun totoo at hindi ko kahit kailan gagawin yun to be able to join a race at the expense of other cyclists.

Nagpunta kaninang umaga ang team sa isang race. A race I won noong hindi pa ako nakakabalik sa team. The team was asked to race there by the coaching staff. Nakaplano kung paano kami pupunta sa venue. I turned down an invitation to join a big race in Pangasinan that was supposedly the elimination race for the tour in Ilocandia. Pero as I’ve expected naprotesta kami. Ok lang naman. I understand. Ganoon talaga. Sayang ng lang ang araw, nakabyahe pa sana. Buti na lang nakaensayo pa ng kahit kaunti sa circle bago ako pumunta sa meeting place.

Sa wakas, nakuha ko na din ang itt bike na gagamitin ko sa itt sa Asian Cycling. I spent some time setting it up to no avail. Hindi ko natapos. I only have around 10 days to know and bond with the bike. This is a very big challenge for me. Bukod sa ikli ng panahon para gamayin ang bike sa isang importante at critical na karera, medyo hindi ko kasundo ang brand ng bike. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang problema ko sa brand na iyon, pero halos lahat ng sinalihan ko na karera using my own bike with the same brand ay lagi akong umaayaw, kulelat, o kaya ay nadidisgrasya. It was also the bike I was riding when I had an accident in Commenwealth Ave and broke my collar bone. Kaya medyo takot ako. I hope everything will be fine, and along the way break the bad luck I have with this brand. This is the moment of truth kung magagamay ko ba at masakyan ng maayos ang bike. Dasal at ingat na lang. Sana maganda ulit ang kahinatnan ng alis namin.