Wonder if I will regret it?
I received an email message this morning from the Greenville Spinners list serve. It was an alert to everyone that the Assault on Mount Mitchell will be held May 24, 2010. I hadn’t thought about the ride in months. Now that I have, it is with mixed emotions.
Those who have been reading the blog for some time might remember that after the 2009 ride I declared I would not participate in the 2010 event. I haven’t changed my mind. However, I do wonder now if I might regret it later on. The troubles of last year have faded a bit in my mind and the positive memories of that event and the previous attempt are more prominent.
However, it remains that the excitement of the ride oozed out of me in the crowd of riders between Spartanburg and Marion. Any positive memories just aren’t enough to bring me back in 2010. Who knows… maybe 2011 will see me return.
If YOU want to ride, you had better get busy. The first thing you will need to do is make sure you are a member of the Spartanburg Freewheelers before December 31st. The chances of you getting a number for the ride are much greater if you are a member. Even if you aren’t able to get a Mitchell number for 2010, plan on doing the Marion ride. Doing the upcoming Marion ride will get you in the que for the 2011 Assault on Mount Mitchell. Unless you completely drop the ball, the combination of having completed Marion and a Freewheeler membership should land you a number.
That is one of the reasons why I wonder if I’ll regret not riding this year. Not participating will cause me to lose my “preferred” status of a returning rider. Should I wish to return to the ride in the future, I’ll have to work a little harder to land my spot.
Yes, pride enters into it as well. You hear stories of people who have completed the sufferfest each year for over a decade. Part of me wants to be a part of that tradition. In my mind, that really is an accomplishment.
However, my plans for 2010 have me working on my speed and improving on the race distances. Even last year was much more race focused than endurance centered. It hurt me in my goal of obtaining a 6:30 Assault on Mount Mitchell. My training plan between now and May is even more limited in focus.
Finally, call me a wimp. Tell me I’m a quiter, but I simply don’t want to do it. I need a break.
Having said that… If you have never ridden the Assault on Mount Mitchell and you are an avid cyclist, it is something you should do at least once in your life. To say, “I’ve ridden the Assault on Mount Mitchell” is a claim that lives up to everything you expect. One thing for sure, I will never regret the two times I have claimed the top.
You know, riding Mt. Mitchell is also like training for any long distance sport (marathon, triathlon…) the TRAINING takes much more out of you (physically, mentally, then, of course, the TIME factor) and if anyone is like me, I really HATE to participate in any sport unless I know I’m prepared… uh, the choices we make…
I understand your reluctance to sign up for the assault again. I did the assault many years ago and list it as one of my great cycling accomplishments. However, I have not done it again for many of the same reasons you are probably contemplating right now. I will do it again one day and so will you. If you are reading this and you have never done the Assault on Mt. Mitchell, put it on your wish list. It’s a great accomplishment and one you will share for years to come.
Jonathan,
I remember well reading about your frustrations from 2009′s assault. It was my first time and I hadn’t really done specific training for it. I survived and gained the summit so I brought back the excitement of completing it – and of course the desire to improve on my time.
After all the riding I’ve done this year (nearly 5000 miles for the year), I’m even more stoked about doing the assault next year. I have a new goal and I’ll actually do some event specific training (imagine that!).
I wrote my own blog about my experience and I’ll share that with others who might want to get a sense of the ride.
http://windinmyhairbugsinmyteeth.blogspot.com/2009/05/who-conquered-who-man-or-mt-mitchell.html