Pic of the Day
Words & Photo: Steve Z
OK I’ve had a couple requests for this picture, apparently this is what comes up first when you Google me. This picture was taken in Nov. 2002 after a snow/mudfest ‘cross race in Colorado Springs. I was training hard for Nationals in what would turn out to be my last season of racing. I had done some really hard 5 min VO2 intervals on the trainer in my garage that Thurs and went really deep. 
I was intentionally overtraining a bit with the intent of achieving overcompensation, where you body adapts to the extreme workload and becomes fitter after you taper and rest for your peak event. Well, race day came with snow that turned the course into leg sapping peanut butter. My legs were like wood and I suffered like a dog en route to my worst finish for the whole season. I was running a single front ring with a 42-27 and this course had a full on climb to a mesa that I had to push in these conditions. All of these factors let to a very intense session hanging out in the pain cave, which is what gives this picture so much power. The spray of mud from the competitor’s tires froze on contact with my face, so much that I was wearing an expressionless mask. My lips will nearly oblivious to the trail of drool running down to my jersey, yet the eyes speak volumes. I posted this picture for the weekly photo contest on Velonews, and won a nice Graham Watson coffee table picture book. Click on the picture to see the full, uncropped version. Cheers.
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