There are another 135 miles ahead of me. It is still raining. I’ve relinquished my lead and lost a huge amount of time to my competitors. Besides being completely checked out mentally, I’m hurt, wet, and physically drained. I take a deep breath, let it out. I close my eyes. The chatter and noise around me seem to fade, recede, and then altogether disappear. Silence. Just my heartbeat and the long, long road in front of me. I do what I have to do. I turn off that voice in my head urging me to quit. And I get back on the bike. My race, it seems, is only just beginning.
