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Eastern Ontario Cross Action

Sorry that there have not been a lot of updates lately. We ve been busy trying to sort out a bunch of stuff.

First off, wicked race last weekend held by the RWR crew. The venue was great, the competition was intense and the course design was outstanding.

The young guns of the area were in full effect as they were givin' their all to take home the massive trophies. Luckily we were able to take the hardware home and put in some great racing in a low key environment. Not sure if you saw the videos of the race on www.kriswestwood.wordpress.com but he also did an awesome job in recapping the weekend.

The OBC crew didn't lest the Ottawa city ban of cross races get them down, they held the race in Renfrew at the fair grounds, it was great choice. This series is also evolving. I really like the way it has a few tape off sections, a more of a staggered start and the course length is close to what we see at any UCI race. There were a couple really cool elements in the course that I was not expecting. Even Mc Neely put up a great fight and I could actually hear him breathing down my neck. It was great to be able to watch Tasha in the same race as well. Which by the way she won the challenge. My challenge was to try and lap her, her challenge was to stay on the same lap...so I m washing the toilet for a month, and believe me, when you eat as much vegetables as we do that is not fun.

If you are racing in the cold...the glove to get is the LG CX Kevlar, it was the perfect choice, first off it looks cool, cause it's white...secondly no problems shifting, hands stayed warm.

Also rocked the LG Plastron with wind protection, then the LG compression long sleeve thermal under my skin suit, LG Thermal underwear and I was golden racing in -4 degs.

I know it sounds lame, but thanks to all the guys who stood in the cold, to chat to cheer, to race. It was a great few weeks at home, we definitely appreciate all the support from the community.

I didn't think that I went that hard yesterday, but I missed the exit for Cornwall...

We got home and I threw some wood in the wood stove now all our stuff smells peperoni.

DSJ

Hammertime

SO this weekend is the RWR Hammer and Anvil cross race www.ridewithrendall.com.

I expect some stiff competition as some of Canada's best riders will be there.

Come by and race, watch or say hi.

I promise that the race will be entertaining.

After the race, Shawarma Palace Rideau street here we come.

Nationals and then some

So Nationals has come and gone. And as much as Derrick and I thought those Jersey's would change our lives, well they don't. You win some and you loose some. I really did think it was my time to finally be racing and representing Canada as the national champ. I suffered off the bike for 6 months with health issues and took care of everything before I began training again. I'd made sure my body was going to be able to handle it and at the start of my season I wasn't thinking about any National title. I was just happy to be racing, but then it started to happen, my racing got better, I began winning races and getting better results than before. I thought this year was going to be the year and for all my suffering and pain off the bike, not only thinking that I might never ride again but the fact that I might never be healthy and happy again, that this nationals was going to be some magical day. Sure it wasn't a given but leading up to the race I thought my chances were really high.

The day wasn't meant to be for Derrick and I from the moment we woke up. From the rotten soy milk I had purchased the night before and was going to drink it before the race until I smelt it. To forgetting our electric pump charger at the hotel when we arrived at the course. Also to straying from my normal warmup and doing something different. To even changing my training the two weeks before thinking that it would work better to what I had been doing and was working great so far this season. What was I thinking. As that list goes on, so does the list of bad luck events off the start line of our races. I was shocked at the series of bad lucks, and verbal abuse that happened in the first 1 minute of the race. Then the crash in front of me which I somehow in a split section chose to ride over the riders bike and not the rider as she sprawled herself over the corner of the course. Which later lead to my seat post completely snapping in half, I thought something was a little off after it happened and then one little bump and snap. Everything played out in my head for the next 24 hours. But regardless, the mind and the legs weren't working in sync like they usually do.

As much as we both didn't want to race on Sunday, it was the only right thing we could do this weekend. Sure our legs and minds weren't even 100% on day 2 after tossing and turning all night, but it was nice have a little bit better day.

The greatest thing about this nationals was all the lessons I learnt, it's kind of how the season has been going. I think cause maybe my legs havn't fully came back from my illness, that my body is just saying go for it everyday this season and everything you learn in the process will stored away for the rest of this season and even better for next year.

Also the even greater thing about nationals was all the love/hugs and support we got from our fans, family and friends. Even though we complained to them or maybe cried on a few shoulders, it didn't matter, they understood completely. It showed Derrick and I that even though these people knew those Jerseys' were right there for us, they still loved us for having an off day at the office.

So part 2 of the cross season is about to begin. Everything happened for reason and it means for a few changes for the rest of our journey, but most importantly to only change the things that are not working not the ones that are. It's still a long season with Glen's Hammer and Anvil races, then off for the finale of the NACT series is Massachusetts, as well as UCI races in RI, then just a little low key stuff after that, like world cups and world championships.

My horoscope on Sunday said not to regret or get mad at time. Just to move on, don't try and make time stand still or go back as it will get you no where. Forget, move forward and believe in the greatest things to come.