Beer, Bikes, and Snow

I had no plans of racing CX this year.  I have not done any training since Nationals 2017 .  Not only have I lost fitness, I've also lost the desire to race.  But a friend gave me the nudge to get out there again.  I dusted the cobwebs off my CX bike and hit a few of the Wednesday night Otto practices.  I told myself  that I would enter the CX races that mattered - the first being Lucky Charm CX.  I met Michael "Lucky" Lukowiak in 2011 at the MTBNJ 2011 Mooch Madness race. He was a complete goofball and always made me laugh. In the fall of 2017, Lucky was participating in a cross race and had a sudden massive heart attack following the race. Lucky Charm Cyclocross came about as a way to honor Lucky. So figured that if I was going to pin a number this year,  it would be for him. I  registered for the Elite - Cat 1-2 race and knew I was going to get slaughtered. But I didn't care. My goal was to put in a good effort and have ...

"Everyone has a WHY.  Your WHY is the purpose, cause or belief that inspires you" - Simon Sinek Over the summer, I had some time to think about the coach I want to be and my "WHY". I've been listening to  podcasts and reading books  on youth development and coaching to better develop my "WHY".   Why do I do what I do? I think about those who were great coaches and mentors to me - those who gently nudged me to try something new, those who let me express my frustrations but also encouraged me to pick myself up and keep moving forward.  Those who inspire. My "WHY" is to empower others find the same passion I have for riding bikes...any kind of bike.  And as a coach, my "WHY" is to provide experiences that allow my student athletes to focus on the adventure, not the results.