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!

Must. Develop. Thick. Skin.

ADMIN has never raced cyclocross, but has been to many, many local and national races over the last 7 years.  Have I been spectating under a rock?  What is this heckling thing?  I mean, everyone yells at people during a race, but the heckling stakes have been raised this year with everything from heckling contests to heckling machines on the course.  I understand the concept of heckling of course.  I’ve yelled “The money is up the road” at Mike during a crit, but what I don’t understand is total strangers singling people out on the CX course, screaming at them,  “You Suck!”.

The USGP Series has ended and I am happy to report that Mike won the USGP 45+ Series overall.  If you read my last post you’ll understand when I say that he got a ride home from the airport upon return.  ADMIN knew he could do it.  The wounded lion roared back! 

Mike takes the 45+ USGP Series Win in Bend on Sunday

The hardest part of the weekend was not being able to be there to see it.  Last year I didn’t go to the last stop either and spent the entire weekend pacing the house.  This year I decided to go to Verona, Wisconsin with Ian and Ray Smith to scope out the CX Nationals course for Red Zone and the other locals that will be headed that way next month.  But with the help of Joe Collins, Mike’s coach who went with he and Drew Dillman, it was like I was there.

After Ian’s race both days, I was able to go to the car as the 45+ were lining up and Joe texted me updates, experiencing the races in 2-7 word increments.  I can’t tell you the nervous moments I had in that car.  Ray couldn’t believe how nervous I was for my racer.

On Saturday, Joe reported to me that Mike was feeling good, was relaxed and that the warm-up went well.  These words were like music to my ears because all I’ve heard for the last couple of months is how tired he is and the ever-present discussion about hanging it up for the season.

As they headed to the line, I settled myself in the front seat.  They had talked strategy on the west coast and Ray and I had talked strategy in the Midwest.  With Tim only 2 points behind, it was decided that IF Tim took the win on Saturday and Mike finished second that Tim would take the jersey, but that Mike still had the chance to win it back the second day.  I personally didn’t like this strategy and decided it was just best to finish in front of Tim no matter where in the placings.    No matter what, the outcome of this Saturday race was going to be key.

This is how the race read:

Joe:  Mike is feeling good today.  Pre-riding.

Joe:  Mike is on the trainer.

In the Grid with Tim

(Race Starts)

Joe:  Mike Tim and a local off the front.

ADMIN: Sweet.  Just stay in front of Tim.

Joe:  Mike and Tim have dropped the local.  Mike is marking Tim.

ADMIN:  Holy Shit!

Joe:  Still marking.  Riding smart.

ADMIN:  Whew…I’m dying.

Joe:  He looks relaxed.  They have a huge gap over 3^rd.

ADMIN:  I’m freaking.  He better not quit in the sprint!

Joe:  One to go!  Mike tapped Tim on the back and attacked him!

ADMIN:  What?!  Crazy!

Joe:  Tim is fighting back.

ADMIN:  No!!  He must crack!!!

Joe:  Gonna be a sprint.

ADMIN:  Shit!!

Mike leading Tim on Saturday.  Photo Courtesy of Wil Matthews/VeloNews

Then the final text came up.   I have the type of phone that you have to open the text.  I knew it would be the race result.  My heart dropped and I opened it.

Joe:  Mike wins!

ADMIN:  YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!

I literally SCREAMED in excitement!!  Ian and Gavin who were watching a movie and oblivious, took their headsets off and asked if he won then went back to their movie.  ADMIN wanted to do a dance and I think my smile the rest of the day told the story.

When I asked Mike later about the race he was very surprised that it had been just he and Tim off the front.  Mike, ever the roadie, stated that in the first part of the race it was on Tim to attack him.  Tim needed to win and so Mike wasn't willing to sit on the front and give Tim ample opportunities to attack him.  Once they were away, Mike did take his licks and ended up winning on the day.  About the tap, Mike told me it was a sign of good sportsmanship.  It had been a great battle and they were going into the last lap.  It was time for the final duel of the day.  

Mike takes top step on Day One in Bend extending his lead to 12 points.
Photo courtesy of Lasala Images.

Day Two and again the nerves started early for me.  This was for all the marbles.  Again I touched base with Joe and he told me that Mike was on top of it and knew what he needed to do.  Ray and I discussed and it was decided that if Tim wanted to win he needed to keep a group of riders together to stack Mike up, perhaps get him caught behind others in wrecks or technical sections.  Mike needed to finish farther back than 2^nd for Tim to get the points he needed.

We set up in the car and this is what I got from Joe at the race:

Joe:  Mike headed to staging.  How was Ian’s race?

ADMIN:  …5^th, but don’t tell Mike unless you think it will motivate him.

Joe:  They’re off.  Tim on the front.  Mike on his wheel.

ADMIN:  Keep it coming.

Joe:  Front group of 5. 

ADMIN:  omg…

The battle royale!

Joe:  Mike and Tim gapping the others.

Bend was dusty this year.  No snow.  No ice.

Joe:  3 to go

ADMIN:  Mike and Tim off front?

Joe:  They are 20 seconds off the front.

Joe:  5 Chasers

Joe:  Mike on the front.

ADMIN:  Cool.  Stay away from chasers!!!

At this point Ray and I look at each other and know the series is won if they can stay away from those chasers and if he stays up.

Joe:  Mike attacked Tim.  Tim struggling to get his wheel.

ADMIN:  omg…

Joe:  Tim fighting back.  

ADMIN:  Ride boy ride!!!

Joe:  Tim hanging.  One to go.

ADMIN:  How close are chasers?

Joe:  Not close.  Tim takes over on front.  Mike on his wheel.

Joe:  Mike down.  Tim attacks.

ADMIN:  Shit!

ADMIN:  Riding????

Joe:  Mike almost back to Tim.

ADMIN:  Deep breaths.

Joe:  They are together for sprint.

Joe:  Mike 2^nd.

ADMIN:  That is so awesome!  Thank you Joe!!!  Everybody wins.  Congrats to my boy!!!

Relief set in for ADMIN and disappointment that I wasn’t there to share the moment with my racer, but I was so happy for him. 

When I talked to Mike later that day he was very happy and relieved as well to be feeling more like himself again.  He let me know that Tim was bummed, but happy too, with his win.  Class Act that Tim Butler.  I know he reads ADMIN’s blog, but I would say that regardless.  Do you hear me Tim?  You and Sue are CLASS ACT!!  As you stated, you and Mike are 4 and 4 now.  Only you could put the pressure back on to fire us up for Natz!

Tim takes the win on Day 2

I will say that the only thing that Mike was upset about was the incredible amount of negative heckling that he endured.  He didn’t know these people and he said they were extremely nasty to him the whole weekend.  I won't repeat some of the things said, but this is where I wonder, is negative heckling necessary?  The only thing that it accomplished was to fire Mike up more to make sure that he won.  Maybe it's just me.  Maybe I'm just getting old.  Maybe everyone else thinks it's totally acceptable.  If so, in addition to hard training for Mike and ADMIN tasks for me, it's time to grow some thick skin.

Nationals are still a question for Mike.  He is trying to stiff-arm work right now so that he can be there.  Worlds aren’t even in discussion yet.  He is registered, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.  All we want to do right now is celebrate.  Goal #1 for the season is complete and Mike's luck continues.

Thank you Joe Collins.

Layers of Lucky - The Last Stop of the USGP

Mike is headed to Bend, Oregon this afternoon to compete in the last stop of the USGP of Cyclocross this weekend.  He is in the lead of the 45+ Category by a mere 2 points over Tim Butler.  Real life sometimes just gets in the way of the things we do for fun - We've all seen Mike's results and riding recently and we know he'll be lucky to pull out the series win. 

But Mike was lucky already.  Mike was lucky to hold onto that 2 point lead going into Bend.  Mike is lucky that he is able to get off a few days work to even go to Bend.  Mike is lucky that he has an understanding wife that will let him jet off to Oregon to race his bike.  Mike is lucky to have had a really successful early season to set him up with enough points to be competing at the end.  Mike is lucky enough to race for a great team that has set him up with equipment and support.  Mike is lucky enough to have had 6 great moments on the podium this season putting that leaders jersey on.  Mike's luck goes on and on and in my heart and mind, he has won already.

As you've read several times this season, our family has been in major transition.  After 10 months on the market, we sold our house in June and moved into an apartment for what we thought would be a short time.  We were primed and ready to pull the trigger on our next dream house.  Well the months went by and nothing.  It was an adventure at first and we thought it wouldn't be hard because we had done it before when the kids were 3 and 5.  Not so much. 

I'll spare you the gory details, but 4 grown people, 2 dogs and 5 cyclocross bikes, 2 mountain bikes and 3 road bikes in 1000 square feet that was also serving as Mike's office was either going to make us or break us.  And it nearly has broken us a few times, I will admit.

This week we were lucky enough to find our next house.  Working out of this apartment while dealing with all of the issues, weather and bikes involved with cyclocross has been hard.  Our life has been like that sliding piece game where you have 9 slots with one empty and you have to slide the pieces around until you get them all in the right order.  You have to move this bike to open the front door, you have to move this bike to open the sliding glass door, you have to climb over this bike to get to the table, etc.   It has added an extra layer of stress on the season.

But again, layers of lucky.  We were lucky to have a roof over our heads these past few months.  I know our problems in comparison to so many others are miniscule, so I am not complaining at all, but am very thankful for the outcome.

So, here we are back at the series finale.  And it doesn't matter how it all comes out in the wash, Mike has been very lucky this season.  Please don't tell him that I am proud of him already.  I can type it here because I know Mike doesn't read my blog.  And you can't tell him yet because I am Mike's biggest critic as well as biggest fan.  On the one hand, I very proud of him.  On the other, I expect the most out of him (and Ian) every time they get on the bike.  Some may perceive this as anger as I'm yelling at them in the race, but I know what they are both capable of and I expect 100% effort every time.  If I just told them "Oh, it's okay.  Just go out there and see how it goes", it's like giving them permission to go at 70%.  And that wouldn't be fair to them.  When I expect 100% out of them, I in turn give them 100%.  This includes being hard on them when it is needed.  So what I'll tell Mike when he leaves today is that I expect him to come home the USGP series winner.  I know he can do it!!  That if he doesn't win he'll have to find another ride home from the airport...Just Kidding!!

After the USGP finale I can't say what will happen for my racer.  Right now he is fighting for days off from work for Nationals.  It may happen for him, it may not.  And if it doesn't happen, Worlds may not happen either.  A major deadline at work and thus a paycheck and health insurance ranks above cycling.  Some may think this is sad, but how lucky are we?  A job!  A paycheck!  Health Insurance!

Predicting Mike's work schedule has been like listening to the weather 10 days in advance, we won't count him out until he's out.  If his luck continues, we'll see him on the start line for both!

NOTE:  Ian and I are headed to Wisconsin with Ray Smith for Badger Cross.  I'm itching to get my eyes and Ian's tires on that Natz venue.  I'm breaking the winter coat and heavy boots for the first time this season.  It's put up or shut up time!

It's Always Darkest Before The Dawn

November 15, 2011

Things can't go right or smooth all the time because then you wouldn't appreciate when it is going smooth or right.  Adversity is what makes us stronger, to force us to think outside of the box, to really let us know what we're made of.

We entered a dark period around here when we got back from Fort Collins.  I certainly won't go into the gritty details, but it involved unsuccessful house searches, lots of sickness and too much work and stress for proper training.  And the stress involved has shown it's ugly head in the rides and results.  Mike has always had the unique ability to "fake it", but cyclocross is different.  I dare you to try to fake it in cyclocross.  Good luck with that.

It's been hard to watch Mike suffer so much because I know what he is capable of, but I honestly don't know how he even does as well as he does with all of the travel and work.  So...we work a plan.  If Plan A isn't working, we switch to Plan B.  If Plan B doesn't work, then we formulate a Plan C.  Well, we're about at Plan M and we're going to see how this goes.

Mike flew home the night before the Cincy 3 weekend after a no training week due to the snow storm they had in Denver that week.  We trucked off to Java Johnny's on Saturday to give it a go.  After an awesome breakthrough 13th place ride for Ian in the 2/3, Mike took to the course.  He hung tough and by the skin of his fingernails stayed with the front group of 8 and took 5th.  He was tired, but looked like the form was still hanging on.  But then Harbin Park.  That course is just a killer.  If you haven't been riding, it shows.  And it did.

Ian heading to 13th place in the 2/3 at Java Johnny's

Mike hangs onto the lead group at Java Johnny's

Mike sprints to 5th place at Java Johnny's

Mike suffers like a dog at Harbin Park

USGP week brought snot, phlegm and coughing.  Pushing the body too hard tends to accelerate any illness you may have and Mike had it.  He had a decent point lead going into the weekend, but we knew that Tim Butler would be putting the pressure on because the last stop of the series is in his home state and he yearns for that jersey.  It was another week of easy riding, the older body just not able to push any kind of intervals.

The schedule for the Louisville USGP changed just a bit and Ian, Mike and Cate were racing back to back to back.  Whoever said that racing in your own town is easier is just plain crazy.  As hard as ADMIN tried, my troops were a total mess.  Mike missed his callup the first day and went to the line with no number. (Thanks to Bill Marshall for saving the day!)  Cate forgot her shoes on Saturday and Ian lost his shoes and helmet before Sunday's race.  ADMIN was so very close to just giving up, but somehow all of the problems solved themselves and things moved forward.

Ian had another breakthrough weekend finishing 22nd and 20th in the very competitive 2/3 category.  He seems to be the only one on track at the moment, but as he gets older, I am working harder and harder to make him more responsible for his own race day and it is painful to say the least.  I look at the 17-18 year olds and know he will mentally get there, but going to the race knowing you don't have your shoes and helmet and that you have to solve your own problem is very important lesson.  And these lessons have to happen so that he can have those all important "A-HA" moments.  3 more hairs turned gray Sunday morning.

Ian riding to a 22nd place in the 2/3 category at Day 1 USGP - Derby City Cup

Mike had just an okay race on Saturday.  Winning a race at home is important, but for us, it is the big picture/end game that we are focusing on.  So with that in mind and with Mike's fitness being what it is, he knew that he just had to stay with Tim.  And he did until he had to dismount in the uphill sand and lost contact.  He chased and didn't make headway, but Tim bridged to Fred Rose who had been riding at the front with Jon Card.  Tim ended up 2nd and Mike 4th.  It put Tim within 12 points of equaling Mike's points and taking the jersey.  And Tim, who I adore, knew the point spread and told me exactly what he needed to do to take that jersey on Sunday.  He was very aware of what it was going to take to snatch it.

The start of Saturday's Elite 45+ from the top of the World on Larry's Camper

Mike passing Waldeck at the front of the race early

Mike staying with Tim.  Jon would end up winning the race, Fred 2nd.

Gulp!  My sister went into labor and I had to go to Lexington on Sunday to be with her.  So with everything on the line, I wasn't able to be there to watch the race on Sunday.  Mike had not been positive that morning, so I was really not sure how it would go.  Luckily my friend Marcia Seiler knew of my predicament in a hospital in Lexington and hooked me up with update calls and texts throughout the entire race.  I quickly explained to her the point spread and passed on words of encouragement to yell out to Mike.  Messages were he was 4th, he was 6th, Tim is up the road, he's catching up, he's dropping back.   It was pure torture!!  Jon, Tim and Fred were on the front and Mike had dropped back to the next group on the last lap.  When I heard he was 6th, I knew the jersey was gone.  I literally told Marcia "It's Over" and knew he had to do something miraculous to pull this out of his ass.

And then comes Wayne Simon.  Mike was in a group with Wayne a big handful of seconds back.  At some point in the last lap Wayne laid it down to bridge to the front.  Mike went with him and hung on.  When they hit the technical section in the woods, Mike went around him and gave it one last dig.  Out of the depths of his bowels, Mike crossed the line 4th.  Jon had outsprinted Tim for the win.  With the final point tally, Mike was still in the jersey by 2 points.  I was spent by the end of the race and nearly asked my sister to move over in the hospital bed so that I could lay down.

Ian rides to 20th place on Sunday in the 2/3s

.

The start of Sunday's 45+ Elite    Photo: Marcia Seiler

Pulling it out of his backside    Photo: Marcia Seiler

Mike holds onto the Exergy 45+ Elite Jersey going into Bend

So, now we have time to get Plan M moving, get Mike well and get some decent training in the legs before Bend next month.  And we have even more time to get all cylinders firing by Nationals and Masters Worlds.  But first, we're going on vacation.  A week on the beach in North Carolina to "sharpen the saw" as it were.  On vacation, ADMIN will be able to get the next phase of planning under way.  We had held back on registering for Masters Worlds because Mike had seriously considered over the last few weeks to hang it up for the season, but would that really be an option?  No, not really.  This is a big part of who we are as a family unit.  We love it.  It's what we do and we know he won't be able to do it forever.  You have to grab these opportunities when you can because when they're gone, they're gone.

So with that decision to continue and with the USGP jersey going into the final stop in Bend, we are renewed and can see the sun rising on the rest of the season.  Hopefully the dark days are over.

L

Special notes:

USGP Louisville is special.  Despite our personal struggles, I had so much fun with all of our friends locally and from around the country.  We weren't able to host anyone this year due to our living situation, but thankfully the Seilers took over our duties and took care of Danny Summerhill for us.

A special thank you to John and Lois Haley for hosting an incredible night and meal for a lot of the 17-18 year old competitors and their families, as well as Mitch Hoke, Brady Kappius and Danny.  It was nice to get to meet the boys and their parents - so many lessons to learn from parents whose kids are at the next level.

Thank you also to JoAnn and Dan Santos for hosting all of the Red Zone girls and Georgia Gould at their house for dinner Saturday night.  Our girls love Georgia (despite all the heckling) and set up their Georgia Gould fan club on the river again this year.

And then despite the on course rivalry between Tim and Mike, we have really been blessed to get to know him and his wife Sue.  Sunday night we had dinner with them and "On Your Left Drew" as we call him, and got to talk lots of smack and compare scars. 

Big continued thanks to Mike's team, Bob's Red Mill and Ian and Cate's team, Red Zone Cycling abd all of their teammates for all their help and keeping them all grounded.   And then of course all of our sponsors!!

But the most important of all:  My niece, Ella Catherine, was born on Sunday at 3:55pm in perfect health.  Brighter days indeed!!

Love those little hands.  Future CX racer??

Till next time...

Okay...enough rain

October 12, 2011

Well, the long weekend is over and we are halfway into the next week and are just now finally getting the wheels back on the tracks.  Travel is hard.  Even easy travel is hard.  All best laid plans require effort.  

We arrived at DIA to the wonderful news that Cate's field hockey team had beaten Noe #2 in the Buckeye tournament semi-final 1-0 with Cate scoring that winning goal.  If ever I was glad that a hard decision worked out, it was at that moment.  They now will be playing in the tournament final this Friday evening.

We were able to zip on up to Ft. Collins to the second half of the number presentation, but had missed most of the people we know.  Except for Kaitie Anntoneau.  We run into her everywhere because her flights from Indy pretty much mirror ours from Louisville.

Saturday morning started gloomily.  We got Mike and Ian to the course early to pre-ride before the rain started.  It was a good thing, because the rain started shortly after that and it didn't stop all day.  40 degree weather, cold rain and a 10-15 mph wind.  We left 85 degree weather in Louisville the day before.  It was a shock to say the least.  And while we were prepared, can you really be mentally?

Mike was a nervous wreck.  And I mean a nervous wreck.  It was bad.  And that's all I have to say about that.  The 45+ guys lined up and started the race.  It was a mud fest by this time and the race past 6th place was blown out of the water.  We only had 2 bikes, one of Mike's and one of Ian's.  I had to work the pit with Ian's bike because we didn't know what the conditions would do to Mike's bike.  This meant no warm-up for Ian who was racing right after.  

The slog started and Mike sat third pretty much the whole race.  The people who were racing 1-2 eventually crapped out or had mechanicals and Mike ended up in second when a local zipped past Mike to take the top spot.  The conditions were definitely a factor as Mike's technical ability in mud helped secure the 2nd podium spot and with it, the overall jersey.

Podium Day 1

In the jersey

Ian's race was a mess.  He didn't get to warm up and the cold rain was almost unbearable.  He was cold to start and didn't ever warm up.  The race passed him by and he finished 8th.  We were all so tired, wet and cold that the die-hard McShanes left the venue before the elite races, warmed up and went to the movies.  Moneyball...3 thumbs up.

Sunday we woke to much more favorable weather and the flags outside the hotel weren't standing on end.  We went to the course and the boys pre-rode and we found warm-up space in the Challenge tent, thanks to our friends Tom and Bill.  It was a much more laid back day as Mike was tired.  He wanted to do well, but knows he's a better first day finisher.  It got down-right hot as the race started.  Because of the drier conditions, we knew that there would be people flying off the line, especially the locals.  And we were right.  

Off they went and Mike did his best to maintain decent position.  The guy who had won the race the day before just rode away and Mike and Tim hung with 4 other locals for a few laps before they dropped a couple of them and tried to hang onto a podium position.  The sea-level dwellers were no match against the altitude-bred locals as they went 1-2-3 and Tim and Mike came in 4th and 5th.  Mike was spent and bummed that he nearly had his worst finish ever in the 45+ USGP races, but was glad that he salvaged what he could and that he will be bringing the overall jersey in Louisville next month.

The start line of the 45+.  Sue Butler giving Mike crap.

Tim and Mike battling for 3rd

Gutting it out

Curse those locals!

In the jersey heading into Louisville next month!

Side note:  For those that think that altitude at Fort Collins can't be that bad, Mike's average heart rate was 149 on Sunday, when his normal average in a race is 165.  Like I said, he was just glad to salvage what he could.

The conditions were much better for Ian even as the altitude was bothering him a bit.  He was hot off the line and battled for podium position through the whole race.  In the end he finished 4th behind 3 locals.  He was happy to end the weekend on a better note.

The start with the mountains in the background

Ian battling with locals

Finishing 4th on the day

We were able to hang out and enjoy the elite races the rest of the day and enjoy the wonderful New Belgium beer.  The men's elite race was CRAZY and so much fun to watch and cheer, as a lot of people witnessed when they saw us on the live feed from cycling dirt.  We had no idea about the cameras until our phones started buzzing with texts from friends from home that they could see us.  How funny that was! 

New Belgium!

Mike and Ian

Tom Price working on KCCX bikes

Hurrah - a picture of me - I WAS there!

Ray Smith getting ready to do battle in the Elite race

So it was quite the experience as usual and I was able to add 3 more pint glasses to my collection - thanks to the Fort Collins Brewery in FOCO and to the Fish House in Denver that suggested that my glass fall into my purse when I asked if I could buy one.  uhhh...

But the trip was not complete without some drama.  First, our friend Tracy was involved in a bike crash (which ended up involving even more friends) and was transported to the hospital.  Then I found out my boss was in the ICU with some unknown infection which has turned out to be Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.  Last, before we left on Tuesday, we got a call from my mom that Cate's temperature at the Immediate Care Center was 104 degrees and that she had strep.  She had been complaining of not feeling well the entire time we were gone, but it wasn't until my mom came over to take her shopping that we realized how sick she was.  Guilt. Guilt. Guilt.  But there was nothing I could do so far from home and luckily we got her all on the road to recovery right away.

And then I got sick...

Bloomingcross next weekend.  Ahhh, so good to be back in the Ville.

L

Epic Fail

October 7, 2011

After my last blog, Christy Llewellyn made the comment that her term for admin is “mom”.  And she is right.   The word admin in any home is a supped up version of mom.   And every mom’s job can get hairy.  I was driving down Brownsboro Road the other day and the license plate on the back of a silver Mercedes said “1 MOM”.  Did that mean that she was the first mom to get a vanity plate or was she telling everyone that she was #1 mom.  I thought it quite presumptuous. 

All moms are undervalued.   The amount of admin that they complete for their families through the years is unfathomable.  And THIS is why their kids wave and mouth “Hi Mom” when they are interviewed after the winning touchdown in the National Championship game.  The kids know and are trying to pay admin back for starting them in the sport, for all the rides to practice, for making sure their uniforms were clean, for sitting and cheering them on at every game through heat, rain and snow.

So I think we ALL need license plates that say “1 MOM”. 

Well, this admin experienced epic fail this past week.  I wonder where that fine line is between taking care of your racers and having them just a little too reliant on you. 

Last Sunday, I had to stay back with Cate because she had play day for field hockey.  When the boys returned from the race at John Bryan, there was a big secret.  Ian started to tell me something and Mike shushed him up.  Of course, my kids are pushovers when it comes to secrets and soon it came out.  Ian raced without a number.  You know, while some people think that the admin’s job is easy, how hard is it to get a number pinned on before a race?  Ian lost the number in the car and Mike spent good quality time hurriedly looking for it everywhere.  It wasn’t found until after they got home and unloaded.  So, for all of you who think that admin is easy – is it really?

Anyway, I’m on the plane in full on admin role for the USGP New Belgian Cup.  It was supposed to be a family trip since the kids are out of school Monday and Tuesday, but whereas Cycling is KING in our house, Field Hockey is QUEEN and the 7^th grade Buckeye Tournament schedule got changed.  Cate is playing in the semi-finals as I type this.  It is killing admin not to be there for her, but she is surrounded with Cub-loving fans.

Mike left for Denver on Monday and I’ve been playing the single parent role with school, work, sports and getting us ready for this trip.  And it wasn’t complete without a few epic fails of my own.

But, now that the week’s heavy lifting is over, it is time for me to let others do the work.  I’m getting them here, now they have to deliver in their results.  The weather went from predicted 70 degrees and sunny last week to 40s rain/snow mix for both days.  It will be epic to say the least.  Life is good.

Updates on the plane-ride home!  Thank you Sherri Jane and the other person that reads this!

:-)