Thursday, November 21, 2013

"Congratulations" is sometimes the scariest word...

November 21, 2013

We had been waiting for it.  Since 2007.  But most immediately, most furiously in the last week.  And then there it was...

"Ian, Congratulations! You've been selected for EuroCrossCamp XI. The camp now has a decade-long history of providing developmental experience and world's preparation for top American cyclocross riders. Your selection is the result of your hard work, strong character, and good results this season."

It's a feeling of excitement that bubbles from your chest to your throat and then makes you heady.  You read it again.  Yep.  There it is.

Oh Shit.  There it is.

Ian is still heady.  He is honored and excited because it is quite a comeback after his disappointing result at Cyclocross Nationals last year.  I know he is looking forward to returning to Belgium where he spent a few successful weeks this summer.  He has quietly been working on his fitness, his technique, staying in the shadows of all that has been going on around him and putting his own mark on the UCI Junior Podium at the Mudfund Derby City Cup.  The best part has been seeing him enjoy the company of all those he is racing against.  Growing up.

As for me, you want the absolute best for your kids and an email saying he wasn't selected would have been devastating, but an email saying that he has been selected opens up a whole new reality.  Now we've got to get him there and that will be no small feat.  I've been raising money for years to get the likes of Drew Dillman, Luke Haley and John Francisco to EuroCrossCamp, but this is different.  Asking for donations for other people is not always hard.  Asking people for donations for your own kid is.  It just is.

Luckily, we have wonderful sponsors in Sophisticated Living and Bob's Red Mill that are lending a financial hand as well as a scholarship from Tim Johnson's Mudfund and a split from the #endoftheworlds party that my partner in crime, Marcia Seiler and I put together last February.  Drew Dillman and Gavin Haley will also be benefiting from that most awesome and incredible fundraising effort.

But we have a bit more to go and so I racked my brain on a productive way to raise funds that benefit more than just Ian.  I am all about local and so starting tomorrow, we will be selling 36 oz tubs of frozen Kizito Cookie Dough of all flavors through December 6th.  The cost of each tub is $12 and a dollar from each sale will be donated back to the Salvation Army in their time of fundraising this Christmas season.  I call this a win - win - win scenario.  Orders for cookie dough will be taken in person or via a paypal link that we will be posting tomorrow morning.

Our goal is to sell 250 tubs (or more) to be delivered the week of December 16th.  While I expect most sales will come from the Louisville area, I am planning to make a delivery run to the Cincinnati area and to the Frankfort area as well.  Shipping orders will not be possible at this time.

In addition, The McShane family will be doling out Bob's Red Mill oatmeal and fixings for donations at the last two OVCX races - Promotion Cross in Lexington and the Brookside OVCX finale.  Again, a win for everyone.

It has truly been an incredible cyclocross season so far.  EuroCrossCamp is but another experience that will help shape who Ian is becoming as a bike racer and as a man.  And beyond that, it is not outside the realm of possibility that a World Championship selection could fall on him.  All I can tell him is to "GO FOR IT".  When and if it happens we'll cross that bridge.  For now, "HUP HUP" boy!

For all things EuroCrossCamp, visit www.eurocrosscamp.com.  The official announcement and roster should be forthcoming next week.  Congrats also to Ian's former teammates Drew Dillman and Gavin Haley for receiving ECC invites as well.  The benefit of the seeds sown so long ago never ceases to amaze me.




1 comment:

  1. YIPPEE!!!!! Fantastic news. Very happy to see this for Ian.

    ReplyDelete