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!