It’s been an entire year since my last post. I just didn’t have the writing itch or something like that. No excuses, I was lazy. I would like to get back into detailing the trials and tribulations of CX Nation. A lot has changed since last year…and a lot has stayed the same. In a nutshell, we got new kits, we raced hard and best of all…I started a juniors team. CX coach extraordinaire John Haley came to me at the beginning of last year and asked if I wanted to start a juniors team. I had always wanted to do it, but I felt like I just didn’t have the time. John told me he had 4 awesome kids that wanted to try cyclocross and be apart of some sort of team. I was intrigued. John told me all I had to do was support from a logistics side and help out at races. He was going to do all the coaching and practices. I was sold.
I met Ian, Vida, Travis and Galen the following week. What a great group of kids. John really molded these young minds into not only cyclocross racers but respectful little people. Each race they were “required” to thank a volunteer, the race organizer and other racers. They raced hard, fair and always strived to do better. I was very impressed. It was a phenomenal year.
At the beginning of this year I got some bad news that John was being transferred to Arizona for his job. I was seriously bummed. John is not only a great coach, but a great person with a wonderful family. What to do with the team? That’s what the parents were asking. I didn’t hesitate and wanted the show to go on. Yes, I would have to put more of an effort into the kids, but I knew it would be worth it. There will be some adjustments to John’s previous schedule. Change is inevitable. I came up with the idea of having a benefit race to offset some of the costs of running a team. I will also be donating a percentage to other junior racers in the SF Bay Area. I have jumped through almost all the hoops and it looks like the race is a “go”…Sunday, November 26th at Maxwell Park in Sonoma.
There is a ton of racing in between now and then. The juniors just had their first race this weekend. Ian and Travis raced the 15-18 at CCCX down in Fort Ord and finished 4th and 2nd, respectively. Galen did the 12-14 year old race and ended up 3rd. Greta start to the season! The senior team (Sage, myself, Tanya and Kristin) start up in a couple weeks with BASP and the West Sac Gran Prix. I am looking forward to another great season.
Junior 15-18 at CCCX, Fort Ord – Ian and Travis
Junior 12-14 at CCCX, Fort Ord – Galen