After the necessary break caused by a knee injury of 2012 December, I was a bit lost. I became much too careful about the left knee (although, thanks god, it was “just”a hemathomy, nothing broken etc.). It was the third time I had hit it, and I didn’t want to play with my luck.

But there was one “problem”: the Cyclocross National Champs was coming. Without proper preparation (actually no cycling for three weeks), on a similarly icey and slippery course like the one I had hit that trunk…

On the day of the champs I wasn’t optimitic at all…My head was full of expectations – my own, my coach’s, people’s… The big mistake I made is that I wanted to meet all those expectations ,to be as good as everyone thought I was. But deep in my heart I felt I was not. Not that day…

Then I had an argument with my coach, which ended up with the fact that he did not allow me to enter the race. At that time I was furious as I wanted to prove… prove what? That I was the most stubborn stupid idiot that had ever lived… With a brain like that racing on such an icey track would have been suicide…

I am very grateful for him to do what he did and prevented me from a possible crash. But still it is on my conscience… what I regret is not that I didn’t start, but the fact that I let myself defeated by all those stupid ideas. I think this must be the most important to improve in, that is, to develop mentally, psychologically. I feel I could fly if I didn’t have this barrier in me…

So the next couple of weeks were about resting and thinking over my aims, attitudes, sport, life…

Until the 27th January, when I got back on the saddle again, as the closing stage of the SuperCross cyclocross series came to an end…

All is well that ends well, as the saying goes, so I registered. If I hadn’t done it, I would have lost the leading position in the overall ranking. Besides, I told myself: I am stronger than the girl who became national champion and I WILL be the one who crosses the finish line first. It is no question, it is a FACT.

Oh my god, I was so eager to start the race. This time I decided to start with my beloved Scottie (Scott Spark RC) as the organisers had advised to use MTB due to the quality of the course (frozen ruts).

Even though it was not so easy to hold the bike while running up and skipping the planks, it was worth to start with it – the ruts were nothing and the mud did not affect it at all: I could climb really steep sections, no dismounting! That was pure enjoyment, as the picture might suggest:

The guys there must have thought I had gone crazy as I was talking to my bike al the time I passed that steep section. I wanted to convince both my bike and myself that we would do it, there was no need to get off. It worked!

But what is micu more important: I was riding in focus throughout the whole race – there was no place for outer indeas or thoughts in my head.

So when the chanmpion girl made a mistake, I was there and made use of the sudden opportunity. I overtook her at a speed that I didn’t believe. 😉

From that point there  was no looking back but pushing the pedal and being very careful to avoid mistakes. Furthermore, I managed to jump, not just slip on the saddle – first time in life. Good! If you are OK mentally, everything works! Great revelation.

That made me  win the last stage, and keep the overall leader’s position. As my teammates also did it fine, we managed to stand on the podiom in the team ranking as well as runner-ups. (There was a mistake at the ceremony, that’s why we are on the wrong side of the picture 😉 ).

SuperCross overall results.

Video of the event by SteveStudio:

Photos by János Tirszin

As the cyclocross season came to an end for me, I sat on my trainer and begin the long indoor cycling sessions. I simply love sitting on my bike and travel to new places, even it is only virtuality (thanks to my Tacks Fortius).

Then I got the chance of going to a training camp – first in my life! – in Spain. But more in the next post.