Uncle John's 'Dirty' Ride

Guess who crashed again?

P.S. this picture makes it seem like the road rash isn't that bad, but wow it hurts

Of course it was me, but I have a bag of doughnuts next to me so not all is lost.

I mean I really don't know what to do. It seems like every time I am racing recently I'm going down, and today I went down pretty hard. I managed to crack my pink helmet, so I can't wear that one anymore which is too bad. Head is still all intact, no issues, no worries!

It was my first race today since crashing back in July over in Detroit. I honestly had some pretty high hopes; Pedal always does well at this race, I've been feeling very fit lately, and I felt like this would be a pretty good opportunity to get back on my feet (for those counting, it'd really be wheels). The entire race was really sketchy, a lot of people that didn't seem to know how to race, moving back and forth erratically across the dirt roads of Lansing (?) county.

What I can take from this race is a lot of confidence. I was doing very well, feeling very strong, in a position that was good, it just happened again; I crashed. It happens, it needs to stop happening to me so much but it happens and it doesn't hurt that bad and it is a part of racing; not worried about it.

A couple guys I was racing with from Pedal actually stopped and waited for me to get back up and we rode in together. There were a couple times when we thought about trying to bridge back up to the main group, but it wasn't happening. The wind was brutal, the race was fast, and we were hurting.

P.S. bike is super fast, super light, and super pink

Next week begins CX season at Markin-Glen aka local race aka no driving. Pretty excited, pretty don't-know-how-it-will-go, but excited. I don't expect anything, just to get better at dealing with pain and pushing through it and maybe something fantastic will happen and I'll be able to hang. I think I'm at the point where I should probably be racing in the A race now so; less people, more time, more pain.

4/14 Eagle Creek Crit, Indianapolis, IN 12th Cat 4/5 (29)
4/22 Notre Dame Crit, South Bend, IN 12th Cat 4/5 (29)
4/29 Ann Arbor Spring Training Series Ann Arbor, MI 22nd Cat 4/5 (40)
5/6 Kalamazoo Half Marathon Kalamazoo, MI 13th (27) AG (M 19-24) / 249th (1392) Overall
5/7 131 Racing Series, Martin, MI 1st 'B race' (9)
5/12 Tiger Lane Crit, Memphis, TN DNF Cat 3/4 'heat'
5/20 Ann Arbor Spring Training Series Ann Arbor, MI 6th Cat 4/5 (25)
5/28 Waterford Hills Circuit Race, Clarkston, MI 13th Cat 4/5 (38)
6/3 Cobb Park Crit, Kankakee, IL 18th Cat 4/5 (36)
6/4 131 Racing Series, Matin, MI 2nd 'B race' (6)
6/9 BTR Crit, Kalamazoo, MI 8th Cat 4 (16) 20th Cat 3/4 (32) $30
6/10 Race for Wishes, Lawton, MI DNS 'rain'
6/15 Zeeland Crit, Zeeland, MI 26th Cat 3/4 (43)
6/18 131 Racing Series, Martin, MI 1st 'B race' (9)
6/24 131 Racing Series, Martin, MI 1st 'B race' (10)
7/1 Great Lakes State Classic, Marne, MI 4th Cat 4/5 (11)
7/9 131 Racing Series, Martin, MI 1st 'B race' (7)
7/14 Detroit Cycling Championship, Detroit, MI DNF 'crash'
7/15 Corktown Crit, Detroit, MI DNS
9/9 Uncle John's Dirty Ride 30th 24 Mile (90) 'crash'

Almost forgot to mention how PRO I felt riding to the finish after having crashed. Everyone told me when I got back in they were surprised I was able to ride back, the crash looked bad. To be honest, I didn't think it was that bad, and I was ready for some more!

New job is swell for all those keeping score, soccer is going well (although I haven't been as involved as I'd like to be thanks to work, school, bikes, etc.), school is going smoothly, I really have no complaints besides crashing on my bike every other week.

I feel strong. I feel tired. I feel like I should be doing something else. I feel happy.

Cheers! CE

Best Summer Ever!

As I sit in my room hectically trying to get ready for the first day of class tomorrow, I can't help but look back at a fabulous summer. I've raced bikes close to every weekend these last 5 months or so, and I feel much better for it. I've gone on a few trips, made many new friends, started a new job, and matured in so many great ways.

Let's talk about bike races first (: It was a solid road season, I never really got that super great result I was looking for at the beginning of the year, but I did win some money. I learned a ton and I feel like I have a really good grasp on how to win crit races now, I'm hoping that will pay off next year! I have a pretty full Fall season of cyclocross races, the first two: next Saturday in Alma and Sunday in St. John's, both of which I'm very much looking forward to. I think my fitness is at a pretty good point, what will hurt me is my mental game. Will I be able to fight through the pain or will I crack as soon as the pace gets high? Ryan told me last week I need to find 'the eye of the tiger', I'm not sure if I have yet, but it can be something good to work on (:

I've been through my first crash that I can remember (haha) and I feel better for it. I now know that crashes can (and will) happen, they hurt pretty bad but it is not the end of the world. Sometimes nothing can be done to avoid crashes, they just come out of nowhere, but it is a part of racing and something I can recover from. I have a whole cabinet drawer full of first aid supplies now, so I'm very well prepared to go down again. I think cyclocross races this Fall will be even better to help me get over crashing since I haven't raced since I went down in Detroit in July, and cyclocross racing is more or less just one big crash after another (;

I've gone on a couple trips down to Ohio to see Betsy and friends and it has been a great time every time. I am so glad Betsy moved away (not because I was sick of her or anything but she has made a whole new best friend group), met a wonderful guy (Mason for King), and it has opened up many new experiences for my family and myself. It is wonderful having a place to go a few hours away and a nice little vacation (party) spot just a short drive away (long enough to get bored while driving and go through a few playlists).

I went down to Tennessee at the beginning of summer and saw some great friends and did some new things, which was totally rad (always looking for a reason to go down to TN).

Most everyone must know by now; I left Advia around the beginning of August (thanks for everything, I miss everyone so dearly) and started a new job with Tibble & Wesler, CPA on August 27. I've worked full-time now for a week and I absolutely love it. I've prepared a few tax returns, worked on some bankruptcy stuff, and have done some bookkeeping; I don't think I'll ever get enough. I love having my own desk and my own phone extension, I've decorated my desk with some of my favorite things (Manchester United, bikes, and family, not necessarily in that order (; ), and I really enjoy the new people I work with/for. It is life changing having two computer monitors to work with, I don't think I'll ever be able to go back to just one.

I feel very happy with myself. Coaching the boy's soccer team at Parchment has been amazing, Jerod and I are working very well together with the boys and I feel as if we will start to turn a corner just as conference play starts. I am very much looking forward to the rest of the season, even though I will take more of a back seat role now that school is starting and work has already started. I feel very motivated to have a strict schedule and get all my shit (stuff) done, still have a social life, and be able to be fast on a bike as well as my other extra curricular activities.

P.S. have you seen my new bike? (it's acid pink) (go see my friends down at Pedal)

I am figuring out what I want in life, what I want in a relationship (still don't know), and what fills my cup (it's not always alcohol). It'll be a very crazy next few months, I'll write when I can (hopefully after most race weekends), and I'll continue to make myself happy. Let's hope for a fantastic cross and gravel season, a successful first semester at Davenport, learning more at work and becoming a tax pro, continued fun with friends and potential suitors (suitors? what is this, the 1700's), and forever more reasons to put off doing homework (;

P.P.S. (I think that's right) It has been four years since I knocked my head and almost didn't make it, extremely blessed/thankful/fortunate/lucky/grateful to be able to live my life however I want it to be and not feel as if anything is holding me back (I wish people would stop coming up to me on my right side (; )

I better start reading some syllabi.

Cheers! CE