Into Reality SIDE Ch. 4.5 / 5 – Marlon's Dream...
Hola, it's that time a day again as it's that random guy again from before... yah, it's me, a brief little part of Into Reality I wanted to get out there after a big AP Biology test today which I feel confident for. But in any case, I should stop talking and let the story take it's toll on your minds... *laughs evily*
This scenario takes place in the past, before I met Latios and Latias... a look into my previous lifestyle...
Date: 11-28-10 (Sunday)
Location: My room
Situation: The following day proceeding last nights events... (read and you'll understand why...)
*RING… RING… RING…*
Its 9:00 in the morning, there's clouds covering every inch of sky, blocking all the warm, inspiring rays of the sun as chilling 75degree headwinds blew by. I rose from my bed and proceeded to the kitchen for a quick refreshing morning breakfast of high-carbohydrate low fattening fruits and an appetizing bowl of cereal. Then, I put on my cycling attire and proceed to dismounting my pride and joy from the grasp of school work. I double checked my cables, adjusting my brakes, added the precious air that would make the difference between first and second in races, checked all the nuts and bolts on cranks and derailleur's, and make sure everything worked in perfect unison. Exiting my working station, I proceeded to the starting line with a bunch of other riders.
Making my way out the front gate I review all of the times I logged in a journal the previous night for areas that I could increase my overall performance. I reviewed how long it should take me to get from point A to point B. I also looked at my average "RotationsPerMinute" and made sure they were at a high 100 for the straight-aways.
The referee comes out with a starter and a blank is fired into the air as I go on a 10 lap criterium sprinting race. Not waiting for anyone, I dashed for the front putting a good amount of my energy into an early attack doing 95rpm. One guy follows and it becomes a one on one. I knew what I was capable of and I knew that attacking early would cost me dearly but playing cat and dog with this guy would hurt me even more as well as my chances of winning the race. The group of riders behind me (the peloton) disappears as I opened an early lead. I now focused on my main goal, playing the game smart and winning. I slowed my pace to 95rpm and allow the guy behind me to take the lead as I dropped behind him and took the easy job of drafting, reducing the amount of work I had to do. I could tell the cyclist had no idea what I was doing but that was the plan, play the game smart. I knew that by dropping behind the main leader all I had to worry was keeping up and remaining behind them to draft, letting the leader take the massive barrage of attacks the wind would throw at him as I remained coolly behind him taking it easy.
It didn't take long before the guy in front "drops" and completely runs out of energy as well as any chance of winning. As he fell behind, I was in the hot seat as the wind was back in my face forcing me back. A quick glace back and I could see the peloton beginning to catch up to me again as I watched the guy that was originally in front of me get swallowed whole and I knew I'd be next. I began to worry as I double checked the speedometer on my handlebars and checked my current RPM, 85. "Not good enough," I said as I made my way back up to 95rpm putting up with a bit of pain, but nothing to worry about, yet. Unfortunately, that wasn't good enough as riders began to pick up the pace as I would glance over my shoulder every so often now. Soon another attack was sent at me as a small group of 5 riders went early and attacked. I quickly matched their pace and joined their group prepared to repeat my earlier tactic. Falling in overall third, and with 3 laps to go, the leading group picked up the pace and we were flying down the road at 110rpm (around 20-25 miles an hour) and now things were getting difficult as it was time to separate the weak from the strong. Not too long afterwards, two more riders were dropped from the leading group as I smiled gladly to myself knowing that training I'd done months ahead of time was paying off.
Our group launched over the finish line with 2 laps to go. I knew the leader wouldn't have enough energy to sprint in the final 200 meters so I was safe. As for the guys in front and behind me, they would put up a good fight. I looked ahead and I noticed that the leader had no water with him and was playing this game very unintelligently. A quick sip from my water bottle and I was wide awake again. Hydration is key in any sport no matter what kind of temperature or situation you're in. Hydration could end a race before it even started as the leader was dropped, sweating profusely.
We rocketed one more time of the finish line and now it was gloves off. Glancing down at my speedometer, we were at a heartbreaking 120rpms (probably around 22-27 miles per hour at this point on the flats). We had 2000 meters to go (1.24 miles) till we crossed that glorious white line and ended our suffering. Our little group of three showed little mercy as we refused to give up ground to the peloton as we launched around each of the corners and attacked on the outsides of the turns. I had to admit that at this point I was on edge, breathing deep trying to keep Cellular respiration supplied with the oxygen it so desperately needed to produce the ATP that would keep my pedals turning for as long as they could.
1000 meters left to go (0.06 miles) before we see that bright sign fly above our heads. I took another quick sip from my camelbak water bottle and jammed it back into its cage as the two guys in front of me attacked. I held my position in the group not budging at all as I was hurting both mentally and physically, but I was prepared for this.
700 meters to go as the two guys in front fell back into their seats after an unsuccessful attack. At this I seized only opportunity and I reached for my drops as I launched myself out of my saddle and attacked around a corner and put as much power as I could into each stroke as I swung my bike side to side putting me in overall third. I'd successfully opened up a gap of five seconds as I put as much power out as I could to stay in front. My decision was a risky one and it would cost me.
Final turn with 500 meters to go and I was killing myself from the inside mentally as my body was demanding energy it couldn't supply fast enough. With a bit over a quarter mile left to go, the guys behind me were desperate to catch up and accelerated again, but I didn't let them catch me. I trained to hard not go down easy as I raised myself out of my seat once more and attacked again, only detrimenting the guys behind me even more as they were forced to work even harder just to catch up. My heart rate was already near its max as I was on the verge of exhaustion.
400 meters to go and I couldn't stop, I worked too hard, I was hurting myself too hard to let go so easily as I mentally yelled to myself, "ATTACK ATTTACK ATTACK!" I did just that attacking for as long as I could maintaining a body-shattering 150 rpms. The pain from my legs only made my job all the more difficult but I refused to give up any ground.
200 meters to go, now was the time to give up every last bit of energy I had left as I directed all my power into the two machines I had that would spin my pedals and my rear wheel propelling me forward. For the final time I picked myself up and reached for the drops…
For a brief moment I reminded myself that what I was doing, others thought was impossible for me but that was the goal of it all, to become the best I could be. I ferociously accelerated for the final time going the hardest and the fastest I could as I had passed the 100 meter mark.
Every stroke was excruciating as I continuously reminded myself, "Stay low for better aerodynamics, check your posture, what gearing am I on, what's my current RPM, how far are those two guys behind me, don't look back, that'll waste energy …" Every stroke brought more and more misery to me.
I looked up and saw the finish line in the distance. I accelerated even more gunning it as I got low on my machine to stay aero swaying my bike side to side with my head down and mouth open wide taking in as much precious air as I could charging headfirst into the oncoming headwind as time seemed to slow around me. Sweat wrapped my entire face drowning me with all the effort I was giving. I saw the two guys from behind now at my sides as I dug deep and used whatever energy I had left as I approached the finish line …
Present time... (with Latios and Latias)
Date: 11-25-12 (Sunday)
Location: My room
*RING…. RING… RING….*
My radio alarm rang as I awoke from a well deserved sleep only to find my face completely covered in sweat from the dream I had.
Its 9:00 in the morning. There are no clouds covering the sky, allowing for warm, inspiring rays of the sun to pass as cool winds blew by. I rose from my bed and proceeded to the kitchen for a quick refreshing morning breakfast joined with Raid and Latias. Then, I put on my cycling attire and proceed to dismounting my bike from the garage ceiling while Raid and Latias warmed up outside for a morning exercise. I double checked my cables, adjusted my brakes, added the precious air that would make the difference between suffering for no reason and training, checked all the nuts and bolts on cranks and derailleur's, and make sure everything worked in perfect unison while Raid and Latias checked their wings and made sure they wouldn't crash for no reason. I put on my helmet and removed my garmin cycling computer for from its charger and attached it to my bike. Exiting my working station, I rejoined with the two invisible lati's. I turned on my little cycling computer and loaded a previous course I had completed in the past and a little digital referee walked into the middle of the screen as a countdown started.
5...4...3...2...1... GO, as my computer made a little gunshot noise and I began another race against the clock… this time, with my friends...
As you can see, my life was, and might be very ... uh, robotic (and crazy)... I guess not much has changed... at least the sun's out so me, Raid and Latias can have some fun rocketing down the streets :)
(note: I don't have a Garmin cycling computer.. I wish I did though and this was an intermediate part in the series)
*coughs* "First *coughs* Encounter" *coughs* is *cough* on *cough* its way...
As always please leave a comment below and have a nice day *cue thumbsup*
I DON'T own the idea/theme of Pokemon. I DO HOWEVER, own the character Marlon and Raid the Latios and their names I also own the Idea and the theme/name of the Eon Squadron. It's all © by me marcturbo1.