Visiting my hometown for a cycling race
It has been two years since the last time I went to my hometown. I haven’t been able to visit because work and being a new parent. Every year I go because there’s a MTB race that I enjoy doing. It is a 100 km race in the desert, the race is called the Chupacabras, and it is quite a challenge. This race is iconic in Mexico, as it is one of the oldest mtb marathon races, and is a race that lots of people from the US and Mexico participate.
However, I’m still on my bad luck… Two months ago, I got an injury in my wrist the day before a race that I had been looking forward the whole year. I didn’t stop training as I could do indoor cycling, and as soon as I recovered from my injury, I started to cycle doing hard training so I could get ready for the race. But then my skin had other plans, I started with a severe rash on my arms, went to the doctor, and they gave me a specific medicine, and it turned out I’m allergic to it… Long story short, I got a really crazy rash all over my body and needed another type of medication, plus I was not allowed to sweat and being in the sun (Hardest thing to avoid in the north of Mexico). I had already 30 days, and I was still far from full recovery. Speaking to the dermatologist, she advised me to not participate in the race.
My heart was already in pieces from the previous injury, so I managed not to stress myself more and thought about the trip as therapy and a holiday, and an opportunity to document whatever I could do from the race, which actually was the 30th anniversary.
Finally, I actually enjoyed being from the other side of the race as an spectator, I woke up early but I didn’t had that felling before a race. I didn’t need to get stressed about my nutrition, hydratation, my gear. I arrive to the event, I saw an amazing sunrise, and I could start documenting what I should be feeling as if I was actually taking part of the race. I got surprised because I actually saw some friends that I had like 20 years without seeing them, and just I got the opportunity to enjoy the event without the competition feeling. I wanted to stay for a long time, but I started to feel the effects of the sun with my skin, so once I saw the last competitor leave I decided to get back and have a rest. I wanted to come back later to watch the end of the race, but my skin went really reactive again from just that short period of time I was exposed straight to the sun (even that I had long sleeve, suncream, big hat).
A week has passed, my skin is almost getting back to normal, and even my doctor said that probably stress was one of the factors in my skin problem… I don’t understand what happened but I’m trying to be positive about this. Next year I will be there as a competitor again.
