Tuck 'N Run

I wish I could report that Mike had the ride of his life because he threw down the gaunlet and let it all hang out for the win in the Masters Cyclocross Worlds final yesterday.  Well, Mike did have the ride of his life and he did let it all hang out, but he finished 17th on the day.

You know, nothing surprises me anymore.  Despite the ups and downs of the season, I thought Mike had a great chance to finish top 5.  He woke up in a great mood.  I got in a run in with some friends.  Cate cooked breakfast.  Ian walked the dogs without arguing.  This was the day the long season was going to end.  I mean the day that Mike was racing in the finals for a World Championship.  He was on task and got a warm-up on the trainer in the morning.  We got packed up and to the venue on time.  Brian got his bikes and wheels ready.  Mike pre-rode the course and was liking the conditions.  Joe talked strategy while Mike jumped back on the trainer.  We headed to the line.

Warming up in the Team CF tent with Joe and Brian.

Racing in the WORLD Championships!  Now THAT is cool!

Everything is done.  It's just time to do it.  Mike was coming from third row so his work was cut out for him from the start.  The start was okay.  With 5 laps in the race, sitting around 8th for the first lap was good.  Mike looked comfortable although I wanted him to move up a bit.  But he felt okay with the technical riding of the conditions while others in his little group were freaking a bit.

Fred had an incredible season.  He is ready to rumble.

The start.

Mike on the 3rd row on the left of the photo.  Already an obstacle to overcome.

Madman Tim Butler takes the holeshot, but crashes hard right after.

The problem with being in a little group with people freaking is that they will make mistakes that will cost you a good finish and that is what happened to Mike on the second lap.  He was moving up well, still sitting around 7th and a guy crashed on a downhill right in front of Mike.  Because it was muddy and slippery, Mike didn't have any choice but to try to ride through him.  He did and went superman down the hill.  It whacked his bike out and he went from 7th to 25th in 30 seconds.

Mike fighting for position in the first lap.

Mike supermans down the hill.

I was so afraid he would just give it up, but ever the warrior, Mike got a pit and started working his way back up through the field.  His third lap was amazing and he got back up to 18th by the run-up.  He was riding things others were running.  The hometown crowd was incredible and were showing him major love.

Fighting back.

Then it happened.  At the top of the run-up, Mike was riding to the inside of a guy who was running the section and the dude came over on Mike, putting him into the wood stakes stopping him dead.  Mike's handlebars grabbed the stitching of his chamois and ripped them off his body.  Of course I didn't know this at the time.  He kept riding and I noticed that he had a hole in his shorts, but no one said anything.  He had a much slower next lap, slipped back a few spots and I was worried.

Peek-a-boo, I see you!

Through the hometown crowd packed run-up section the next lap I noticed there was extra yelling, pointing, laughing and Mike laughing and yelling back at the crowd.  I couldn't figure out what was up so I ran over to the start/finish straight to yell at him.  "Stop talking to the crowd.  You have a group of 4 right in front of you, there's 1 to go.  GO!"  He looked me dead in the eye and yelled "My junk (sic) is hanging out!"

Boz, Mo and Eric giving Mike some love.

The heckles came fast and furious!

Well, that stopped me dead in my tracks.  It all made sense.  I looked over behind me at the crowd. Some were looking at me and when I went over to them, many confirmed his statement.  But of course we're all bike racers and instead of being disgusted, they all thought it was the greatest thing ever.  I just had to smile and laugh, too.

At that moment I knew the real race was over and I just witnessed the love that everyone had for Mike.  Everyone had respect for him staying out there and finishing.  He told me later that he had contemplated quitting the race when the "wardrobe malfunction" happened.  He said all he kept thinking about were all the Red Zone juniors out on the course cheering him on.  It didn't to seem as bad when he was on the bike, but he said that when he got off to run, including all of those sections where the crowd was the largest, he just had to "tuck and run, tuck and run".

Tim and Marty encouraging Mike to keep riding.

Someone shooting video.  I'm sure we'll see that on YouTube.

I think once he realized he was going to continue, he dug in a little the last lap.  He caught and passed a few guys and ended up crossing the line in 17th.  Luckily Brad Swope had picked up Mike's warmups from the start grid and had pants ready right past the finish line.  Good thing because the media was thick there.

Mike shows the finish line what he's been hiding for 3 laps.

Getting post-race love from our boys.

This is why you should pit.

Local friend Keith Lucas ended up 4th - Great race!

Mike and Brian.  Brian is top-notch!

Marty and the City of Louisville really stepped up - Thanks so much - we had a blast!

The season is OVER!

Since then all I keep thinking of are all the photos and videos we are going to see posted over the next week.  I don't want Mike to be the next "Joey"!  We're going to hear a million of 'em, including Ian's favorite so far about Mike's race down at the "junkyard".  But oh well, such is life.  Many people contemplated afterwards what they would have done in a similar situation.  I heard answers on both sides.  But no question about it, I am proud that Mike just kept going and finished the season with a bang.  Not exactly the kind of bang we were looking for, but a bang nonetheless.

Well that's it for the season folks.  I'll be putting on my RDADMIN hat soon enough.  It has been an incredible season.  I stated in my first post on our way to Sun Prairie, WI back in September that the blog would be a running record when we got to this point and couldn't remember how we got here.  I would never have believed half of the things that have happened to us over the last six months unless I read them written in this blog over the months.

I can't sign off without thanking all the people that have made this season possible, endurable and memorable.  So many names of sponsors, supporters and friends.  Bob's Red Mill, Challenge Tires, Stevens Bikes, Mad Alchemy, Panache Clothing, Sinclair all on the sponsorship front.  And of course, Joe Collins Coaching, Brian Blackwell and Clarksville Schwinn, Mike Purvis and Work It Out, Drew Hartman and On Your Left Cycles, Wayne Simon and Enzo's, Joan Hanscom, Bruce Fina and the best CX series - USGP.  Then of course our own families, as well as our Bob's Red Mill, Red Zone Cycling and Texas Roadhouse cycling families.  To all of our friends that we have made along the way, thank you for making this sport fun for all of us.  And last, but not least, a special shout out to all of our close friends that have supported us all along the way.  There are just too many of you to mention, but my heartfelt thanks for all the love.

Till next season ya'll, I'm tuck'n and run'n.

L

PS - This is what I love about working with juniors.  Professional ice runner, Luke Haley, testing the ice.  See the following series of photos.

Don't do it.

Don't do it.

Awwww....he did it.

Yep, there is water under this ice.

I bet it's cold.  What's your exit strategy?

No sympathy, just lots of laughter.

Every Village Must Have An Idiot

January 12, 2012

Okay, before I get any comments regarding this post, this title was suggested by Mike himself and we have laughed about it.  There, disclaimer made.

The U.S. National Cyclocross Championships have always been the big ending to the race year in cross.  Except for those racing Worlds, it is the last stop of the year.  It's not that way in road. Nationals are a destination during the season, but the season goes on after the big show.  So, there is a lot of pressure to be ready for this big race at the end of the year.  Ending your season on a peak after racing for four and a half months is hard.  You are tired, burned out and ready to take some time off.  Forcing yourself to train through these feelings is extremely hard.  Getting that last 10% out of yourself at these times is what separates us.

It got harder this year with the move of Nationals from mid-December to early January.  I wasn't sure how it would go, but I have to say, I don't like it.  Dragging the family through semester finals, Christmas holiday and New Years while training was a real downer.  But, that's not what this blog is about.  I disgress...

Nationals went just okay this year.  As a family we have been very lucky in the past with Ian on the podium 3 times and Mike near the podium a handful of times.   And Red Zone has made over 12 podium appearances in the last 4 years.  The McShanes went into Nationals with just an okay feeling.  Mike spent the week leading into Nationals doing 12 hour days in a room in Colorado manning the phones of a call center.

We all just seemed to be misfiring all week.  Ian wasn't quite with it, the bikes weren't quite with it and Mike didn't fly in until Thursday night and when he did get there, he left his brain in Colorado.

Ian's race on Friday was just okay.  He didn't race terrible, but was probably about a minute off what we would have thought to be a good race.  He did still finish 17th overall and 3rd 15 year old which puts him in a great position going into next year.  And he was satisfied, which makes me happy.  Not to mention the fact that he was interviewed by Colt of CyclingDirt, which made his day. 

Link Here:  http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/247673-USA-Cyclocross-National-Championships-2012/video/559946-Ian-Mcshane-Cyclocross-National-Championships-Junior-15-16

A lot of Red Zoners had some funky luck with crashes, bloody noses, bad tire pressure, etc.  Frances Haley saved us with an incredible podium performance in the 13-14 women's race.

KK Santos with blood covering her jersey

Ian races to 17th place

Frances Haley represents with a 4th place finish in the 13-14 Women's race

Of course, nothing could stop us from celebrating with all of the kids and parents on Friday night at a local watering hole.  We had 50 people join our celebration and it put all the air back in the day.  What fun people to hang out with!  But some still had to race, Mike and all the 17-18 year old men.

Red Zone Cycling and friends celebrate

With Mike flying in late the night before and most of the kids racing on Friday, Mike was supposed to pick up his numbers Friday afternoon.  Well, back at the hotel after dinner, during bike prep, it dawned on him.  He had not picked up his numbers.  He was to race at 9am the next morning.  We didn't even know if it was possible to pick up numbers the next morning.  We jumped on the computer and found that luckily they were opening registration at 8am, but not at the venue.  So the tone for the next day was set.

We were up very, very early.  The course had gotten sloppy the day before and Mike had chosen NOT to pre-ride because his conditions were going to be very different.  So he had to pre-ride (after the sun had come up), get to registration and then warm up on the trainer all before getting to staging by 8:45am.  Anyone else who hadn't dealt with such situations may fold under this pressure, but they aren't the McShanes.  We are the ones that have regularly dressed for a race in the car, jumped out, signed a waiver and gone straight to the line.  It's how we roll.

We got to the course at 7:45 and Mike pre-rode a couple laps.  We jumped in the car at 8:15 to go to registration.  I had called Larry Martin who was working the table, so he was aware we were on the way.  Mike was in and out of registration and we were back to the course by 8:22.  He was going to have a solid 15 minutes to blow it out before heading to the grid.  We were going to make it.

Arriving at the outbuilding where Mike was to warm up he started looking for his gloves.  He found one, but we tore the car apart and the other was missing.  I called Larry and yes, he had dropped his glove on the way out the door of the hotel.  Numbers had to be pinned, warmup had to be done, WHO was going to drive back to the hotel to get the glove?  Input suspenseful music here.

Heaven forbid anyone volunteer to help out where needed because our angel, Sherri Thompson was there and volunteered to go get the glove.  Brian Blackwell got Mike's bikes ready and tires pumped.  Joe Collins got Mike calmed down and ran through a warm up.  I pinned his numbers.  Barb Saive, John Haley and others all picked something up and got it to the pit.  It sincerely took a village that morning and as I was pinning Mike's number and people were running around us I told him "It really does take a village." Mike came back with, "and a village idiot."  We laughed.  It was funny.

He made it to the line in plenty of time.  The start went great and I heard over the loud speaker that "McShane" was second in the holeshot.  I was so excited, but it was short-lived.  Mike crashed early and had some bike and steering problems that others were able to overcome.  He ended up 20th.  It just wasn't his day.  They can't all be your day and that's what we all realize.

Mike was also interviewed by Colt and his interview is here:

http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/247673-USA-Cyclocross-National-Championships-2012/video/560383-Mike-McShane-Cyclocross-National-Championsips-45-49

The start line of the 45-49 race.

Mike negotiating the snotty course

Mike races in the heats of the Masters Cyclocross World Championships today right here in Louisville, KY.  It is almost surreal because it is here.  Real life is going on around us.  Mike worked Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and didn't get today's PTO approved until yesterday.  He has to work again tomorrow before he races in the final on Saturday.  It's just all been weird, but we haven't regretted a moment.  Like I have said many, many times, it is more about the memory of being there, the comraderie of like-minded individuals, the little things that all added up that make it an experience like none other.  Even for village idiots.

Spencer Petrov, Ian and Ethan Reynolds after the 15-16 race

Ian, Gavin Haley and Josey Weik after the 15-16 race

Morgan Webb, Mike and Tim Butler enjoying some Great Dane beer post-race

A race in Wisconsin is not complete without some Polka Music

Time to pop this Cross Pimple!

January 3, 2011

Well, here we are.  The cross season has been festering since September.  It been one of those deep under the skin types of affairs.  It comes and goes, it gains in intensity, it's popped, but then comes back.  Over Christmas I thought this season would go on forever, but on the day of our Madison departure, I know it's time to get this thing lanced for good.  No turning back now.

The next two weeks will be insane.  Mike has flown out to Denver to work this week.  Ian and I are flying solo for the first half of the week in Madison and Mike is flying to meet us Thursday night.  Ian races Natz Friday, Mike Saturday.  Ian takes all of his semester finals next Monday.  Masters Worlds comes to Louisville next week.  Mike races in the Worlds heats next Thursday, we close on our new house next Friday and then Mike will hopefully race in the final next Saturday.  Oh wow, is that it?

Like I said, there is a one great big whitehead on the top of this Cross pimple!  It has been a huge learning experience this year and after so many years of racing Cross, it's amazing what we can still learn.  We have learned a lot about ourselves this year and hope to capitalize on that next year.

It has been the year of a-ha moments including a senior co-worker telling Mike that because of his involvement in cycling - his racing, as well as Ian and Red Zone's, that she would consider cycling a second job and that the employer frowns on employees having a second job.  He was instructed to rethink his priorities moving forward.  Happy 2012!  This is the World we live in now. 

My own a-ha moment deals with puberty.  I thought that dealing with some of the other RZ teenagers the last few years had prepared me for when my own hit that icy patch, but again, best laid plans.  I should have known that all teenagers are different and mine definitely is.  Figuring him out has been like dodging raindrops.  It's impossible.  You never know which Ian you are going to get on a given day.  Who knows who I'm taking to Madison.  He could be brilliant or he could fall apart.  Nothing I can do will change whatever will happen.  It's all up to him.  Regardless, he has done his best, has worked hard and I am super proud of him.  He and Gavin Haley have been 2 of the 3 top 15 year olds in the country all season.  Their rankings have been very consistent all season and the possibilities for them over the next few years is very exciting, especially since we just saw three of our young men just return from EuroCrossCamp.

In addition to what the McShanes have going on, this Madison trip isn't like any normal trip, there are National Titles on the line for 15 of our (present and former) Red Zone Cycling boys and girls. They have all worked really hard all season and are ready to take on the best of the best in the country.  But we all know that preparation is only part of the equation.  It takes lots of luck to find yourself on a podium spot.  It will be very cold and as of right now, very icy, so an incident-free ride will be key to success.  Regardless, we are all staying together and I look forward to seeing all the kids hanging out, laughing, playing and competing.  I look forward to touching base with other parents who are in the same boat as me.  I draw strength from all of them.

The bags are packed, the bikes tuned and the possibilities are endless.  Wish us luck!  I wish all of you headed to the competitions the next couple of weeks all the best of luck in popping your own Cross pimple!