Wednesday I dusted off (literally, used a swiffer) my track bike and took it out for a spin to make sure it was still in good working condition. Three weeks ago I was heading out for a casual ride on my extended lunch break when I ran into a track friend before I was able to get going. As we started talking, the thrill of racing and the excitement of powering your body to 40 mph on a single gear came rushing back. There was talk of the upcoming Pro Race Series and my Atlanta friends I haven't seen since last fall. That casual ride ended up having three speed sections in it with an impromptu 4th to ensure I wasn't attacked by a loose dog. I was pretty much hooked. The email a day later from race director and track manager inviting me down for the invitational Keirin field locked it in. I would be returning to the track to start my 2014 racing season off on Friday May 9th for a Sprint Tournament and Saturday May 10th for 'The Keirin'.
It's not so simple though. Two weeks ago as I was preparing to do my first set of intervals for the year, I was frozen with fear. It took me several minutes to press that lap button to start the first interval. I was afraid of not performing, failing to live up to my previous standards. The fear of failure was keeping me from even trying, from doing what I love. Well this weekend I put that aside.
It's an honor to be invited down and included in the program for the Dick Lane Velodrome Pro Race. I'll be lining up next to several strong riders from the Atlanta area, plus guys from Florida, Pennsylvania, and Australia. Just the usual international competition down at DLV. I guess I'll be representing the great state of Tennessee. Go Vols!
This also works out great because for the first time, my girlfriend Laura will get to see me race. She'll get a glimpse of the crazy, obsessive, time consuming world that is bike racing. You couldn't ask for a better stage either. You might see the start and finish of a road race, you could see the riders once a lap in a crit, but on the track? On the track you can see the entire race without ever moving! (Now I have to impress!)
So with minimal rides and zero training, I'm hitting the track tonight for high speed, pedal power. Come out and watch at 7pm Friday night and the main event at 6pm Saturday night.
Friday, May 9, 2014
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
So...An Update
So, I haven't posted in a while and I didn't come out with my January goals/resolutions for the year like I did the past two years. But, this year has been different. I'm closing in on the last few days of my final internship for physical therapy school. After my last day, I will have a week and a half before I sit for my boards exam, a 5.25 hour test that decides whether I can practice or not. Three days later I will be graduating with my Doctorate of Physical Therapy. I've also been interviewing for jobs, contemplating my offers and where I will begin my career, planning trips, and oh yeah, rehabbing another surgery!
I had hand surgery the day after Christmas in 2013. The procedure that was done in the operating room was the last resort that was discussed in the clinic and the recovery process had not been fully discussed. So, I was a little surprised when I was finally able to talk to the doctor and found out I would be in a brace for 8 weeks and not able to ride my bike for a full 10 weeks. This set me back a bit with all things cycling. However, this wasn't the first setback. The first was the burn-out and trudge through the burn-out at the end of the year in the 2013 season. I no longer had the drive and passion to get in the saddle like I did in the beginning of 2013. When you combine that with hand surgery limitations, working 45-50 hours a week (paying to work I should say), studying for boards exam, job hunting, and a few trips out of town, it's hard to get motivated to put in the required time on the bike to be at the level I would be satisfied with. I'm not going to half-ass it. I'm not going to ride just enough to show up to races and hang on. If I do it, I'm going to do it right and really commit to it.
So, that's what I've been doing recently and where my decisions have come from and the stance on racing my bike this year. I'm not giving it up completely, but I am definitely limited in what I will be able to do: because of the start to the year and some stuff going on in the summer, that's another post though.
I do still have some goals/expectations for the year, some I've even already accomplished.
1) Travel more, similar to last year, but I got to keep it going. Places I've never been. Things I've never seen. (Checking places off: Vegas, Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Hoover Dam, Bristol, Asheville)
2) Complete the 'Chattanooga Things To Do' list before I move away (I've been working on it).
3) Graduate PT school and pass my boards exam.
4) Get my first 'real job' with a salary and benefits and all.
5) Watch 'Uncle Sam' take most of my money and understand the plight of the working man.
6) Obtain my Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification. (Done)
7) Move into an apartment by myself; oh the sweet serenity that awaits.
8) Be conversational in Spanish
9) Be a better Man
More to come.
I had hand surgery the day after Christmas in 2013. The procedure that was done in the operating room was the last resort that was discussed in the clinic and the recovery process had not been fully discussed. So, I was a little surprised when I was finally able to talk to the doctor and found out I would be in a brace for 8 weeks and not able to ride my bike for a full 10 weeks. This set me back a bit with all things cycling. However, this wasn't the first setback. The first was the burn-out and trudge through the burn-out at the end of the year in the 2013 season. I no longer had the drive and passion to get in the saddle like I did in the beginning of 2013. When you combine that with hand surgery limitations, working 45-50 hours a week (paying to work I should say), studying for boards exam, job hunting, and a few trips out of town, it's hard to get motivated to put in the required time on the bike to be at the level I would be satisfied with. I'm not going to half-ass it. I'm not going to ride just enough to show up to races and hang on. If I do it, I'm going to do it right and really commit to it.
So, that's what I've been doing recently and where my decisions have come from and the stance on racing my bike this year. I'm not giving it up completely, but I am definitely limited in what I will be able to do: because of the start to the year and some stuff going on in the summer, that's another post though.
I do still have some goals/expectations for the year, some I've even already accomplished.
1) Travel more, similar to last year, but I got to keep it going. Places I've never been. Things I've never seen. (Checking places off: Vegas, Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Hoover Dam, Bristol, Asheville)
2) Complete the 'Chattanooga Things To Do' list before I move away (I've been working on it).
3) Graduate PT school and pass my boards exam.
4) Get my first 'real job' with a salary and benefits and all.
5) Watch 'Uncle Sam' take most of my money and understand the plight of the working man.
6) Obtain my Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification. (Done)
7) Move into an apartment by myself; oh the sweet serenity that awaits.
8) Be conversational in Spanish
9) Be a better Man
More to come.
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| Driving past the Ocoee on the way to Asheville, NC |
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| Basilica of St. Lawrence in Asheville |
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| Another Asheville church and my beautiful travel companion |
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