You are cordially invited…

To the house warming party that could change your life. Voted by myself as potentially the best house-warming event…EVER.
-Where: My House
-When: September 29th, 2007 4:00-Sunday Morning Sunrise
-Large quantities of Cowboy Pop provided but bring a dish to pass.

DON’T LIVE A LIFE OF REGRET…BE THERE.

A Champion’s Gift from the Heart: Planting Seeds of Domination

This Saturday marks the 4th celebration of my youngest nephew’s birthday. I racked my brain for hours searching for the perfect gift. Suddenly a light bulb popped in my head. Start them young…train them right…teach them the respect of the game…watch them grow…watch their skills flourish…and then, on their 18th birthday, watch the world cower in fear as a life-long groomed kickball machine starts on a path of WAKA (World Adult Kickball Association) domination.

TDL: May the 2007 Season Rest In Peace

This is not a detailed race report. If you are looking for one, consult the WSC team blog.
I am not going to talk about positioning, crashes, attacks, or KOMs.
I’m not going to talk about the immense feeling of intimidation I had as I glared at the start list.
I am not going to talk about how I got dropped on the second climb of the day at Tour de Leelanau.
I will not address my feeling of sincere panic at the thought that my race I sacrificed so much for and came so far for was over so quickly.
Likewise, I am not going to address how I worked my A@# off for the next five miles to bridge back into the peloton.
I’m not here to talk about how much the Tower road climb hurt or how the cheering on it was like none other I have ever experienced in a race.
I’m not going to second guess myself about groups I should or should not of followed.
I’m not even going to address that I ended up 36th for the day or how good the beer from Mackinac Brewing Company tasted afterward.

What I would like to talk about is the bittersweet feeling I had as I buried the 2007 season.
What do normal people do on the weekends? It’s now time to find out.
I’ve found that cycling burn out can lead to cycling resentment given time.
I do not want that for myself.
Why do I ride a bike? Why do I race? I used to think I knew the answer to it. Lately, I’m not so sure I do. My most simple and understandable reason I can present myself is: It’s just what I do, I race a bike. Why do I feel guilt when I miss a race? Because racing a bike is what I do, it’s my lifestyle and a major defining factor of who I am and have become. Why would I want to resent this?…I don’t. This is why the next few months are going to be spent recharging my batteries. It’s time for priorities to shift to friends, family, loving, and laughing first and foremost, all the while being race anxiety-free.

Do I regret my decision to miss my High School reunion and race instead? In simplest terms, I don’t know any better…racing is what I do.