Ak-shun.

This weekend's workouts called for 4 hours in the saddle. Instead, it was an awesome Friday night picnic, Saturday morning brunch, a dozen at Pierogi Fest, some team demolition derby madness, and a 6am report time to work the Chicago Crit, and some serious sunburn. Endurance, indeed!

Yesterday's race was the biggest I've worked, but it was for the most part safe and uneventful. Huge fields were a challenge to keep track of, but I was a ref and not a judge so it was more about keeping it safe and legal. I got important practice using a porta potty while having a 5 lb radio and a bunch of other gear strapped to me (ugh) and several times nearly lost my lunch in the lead car. Good times.

There was a bad crash in the last lap of the p/1/2 men, which I think nobody saw because they were all already at the finish line to see the sprint. Called in ambulances, cleared the crowd, rerouted the riders, the whole 9. What really impacted me, though, was how our health care system is so completely screwed up that a rider with a potentially life-threatening injury was afraid to get in an ambulance and was almost ready to sign a release and (try to) walk away. Scary/sad.

After going to bed at 8:30 last night, I was up before 6am. Back in the saddle.