Like most Canadian cyclists, I am getting very well-acquainted with my trainer. I’m doing lots of pedaling in place and watching a lot of television programs and movies to help pass the time. No complaints here – I’m super happy to be back to regular training and most importantly to seeing my fitness come around.

It is amazing what a short break can do to your fitness! We’re still taking things fairly moderately this first month since I’m not 100% recovered from my back injury but I’m making steady progress every week. I had an encouraging appointment with my physiotherapist last week – she said that I am getting stronger and now I’m allowed to stretch. I have missed stretching so much – my hamstrings, calves and quads were starting to get super tight. So now I’m getting super friendly with my foam roller and doing some gentle yoga moves in my basement after each trainer ride.

Really other than this, there isn’t too much to tell you about. I am not going to spend any time commenting on the recent “big news” in the cycling world. What is there to say?

I’m simply looking forward to getting my bike out on the open road again! It is tempting to plan a spring training camp somewhere but I have to remember that my focus is cyclo-cross and I don’t need to go away in the spring to prep for a race season that starts in September. I have taken a good long look at the 2012-2013 cyclo-cross calendar and I’m super excited about the upcoming season.

I’m very happy to be racing in Plzen and Tabor again to kick off my European season. There is also a World Cup in Rome so this will be a new course for me. The North American schedule is chock full of races so it is going to be a busy month and a bit before I take off for Europe.

But for shorter term goals, I’m looking forward to the spring and early summer racing season. I’ll be out at likely all of the local and area racing events. Back out at the Tuesday night crits as well. And something new for this year, I’m going to be helping out with the OBC program set up for younger kids – I think this will be a great experience – I’m sure I’ll learn a thing or two from these young kids as well (hint – I need to learn how to hop a curb!).

If you’re in Ottawa and are looking for something to do on Friday night – how about coming out to Empower Me yoga studio for a free yoga class? This class is sponsored by Lolë and is a great way for you to kick off the weekend. I’ll be there so let me know if you’re coming out.

This video is super powerful. It is 16 minutes long. You have 16 minutes to listen to an athlete and person who is living to the max.

So what are you going to do now?

For cyclo-cross fans everywhere this was a huge weekend. It was the weekend of the World Cyclo-Cross Championships. It doesn’t get any bigger or better than this for our sport – this is our Olympics. The best from each country line-up and lay it all out there in one race.

For some the goal is to get to the line and have the opportunity to represent their country. For others the goal is have a top-20, top-10 or top-3 result. For others the goal is to win. Regardless of the goal and the actuality of this goal – the process of setting this goal and going for it is huge.

The passion on display out there in the sand dune of Koksijde, Belgium these past two days has been remarkable. At times, I felt myself tearing up when I watched the delighted winners cross the line. The punching of the air, the pointing to the sky, the chest slapping, the face grabbing, the ear-to-ear smiles – beyond words really – just pure emotion. Perhaps even better was seeing the elation of young Wout van Aert when he crossed the line taking second in the junior men’s race. I met Wout last season – a very pleasant young guy – it was awesome to see him having such a fantastic race and seeing his joy with his accomplishment. In the women’s race – well Sanne Cant was as equally ecstatic with her third place podium finish.

The fans were incredible. It must have been amazing to race in front of 61,000 people. Really, I can’t even fathom how large and loud this crowd must have been. Definitely a top life experience to get to race your bike in front of such a crowd.

To my friends who raced today – congratulations. I’m proud of you. Regardless of your result, be proud of yourself. You just raced in the World Cyclo-Cross Championships and no one can ever take that away from you. To be honest, I’m jealous. I’ve had this same chance but once in my racing career and it is still my top racing experience. There is nothing quite like wearing your nation’s colours and racing in the biggest race on the calendar. Savour today and remember these emotions. Don’t shoulda coulda woulda – you did it. One race doesn’t define you but it sure can motivate you and encourage others to set some big goals and get busy achieving them.

Counting the days to the first race of the 2012-2013 season and happily planning a very long stay in Europe for 2012-2013. A big thanks to the fast women who raced today and reminded me that there are no limits – only possibilities.

Sorry for my absence of late from this spot on the WWW. I would like to tell you that I’ve been busy with this and that. But really, life has been pretty quiet and uneventful. Since I’m not racing right now or even in a recovery week getting ready for the big show this weekend, it can be hard to come up with blog posts at times.

Now, not to say that I’ve been sitting on my hands here – just that I guess I’m at a bit of a loss for words. I am back on the trainer and in the full-swing of a training program that will see me ready for racing in April, but these 90 minute rides on the trainer aren’t giving much in the way of creativity. It’s funny really. When I’m out riding my bike on the road I have a hard time quieting my brain and just getting into the groove of riding and focusing on the ride/work-out – sometimes I don’t even “hear” the music or podcast in my headphones. But when I’m on the trainer, my brain is quiet – really quiet. I’m focused on the wattage, cadence, stop watch and whatever is happening on the television screen in front of me.

So what this adds up to right now is a whole lot less thinking… Yep, out on the open road I’m thinking, I’m planning, I’m scheming, I’m writing blog posts in my head. On the trainer, I’m simply training. I’m guessing this is a coping mechanism to get through the trainer rides – if I do start thinking I begin to obsess over the time “how much more time do I have left?” and this is never good when riding the trainer. True fact – time slows down when riding the trainer and watching the seconds tick by.

There you have it. While my legs are busy working getting fit and strong – my brain appears to be a bit dormant. I’d also like to chalk this lack of recent brain action to the reality that I’m working more now. I’m writing a lot of different content on a range of topics that sometimes boggles my mind. When I get on that trainer, it really is to take a break and let myself escape.

Hmm, escape. Funny word really – I’m not trying to escape from my writing work – I really do enjoy it. But sometimes, my brain feels full and my fingers seem to get a bit slow and chunky when trying to write a new article for a client. The trainer is detached from all of this and I can be a bike racer again.

Now when I think about the words I’ve just written, I realize I may have written an ode of sorts to the trainer… Admittedly my time on the trainer actually helps me ignore the reality of the situation – that I’m not in Belgium recovering from a race or getting ready for another one. Instead I watch old ‘cross races and cheer on my racing idols or I watch live broadcasts of World Cups and shout at my friends as they do their darndest out on their ‘cross bikes. (And when I’ve exhausted these viewing options I turn to trusty Netflix for movies that Marc doesn’t want to watch…)

Take what you want from this. But suffice it to say things are quiet around here but at least they’re not boring.

(Super excited to watch the fast women duke it out on Sunday in Koksijde. Koksijde is such an awesome race course – the sand is a beast and while it can be cruel and unforgiving there is an amazing feeling of satisfaction to ride through a section or hop on the bike on a rather steep sandy descent and come out on the other side smiling. Oh and the fans – the fans at Koksijde are like none other – with each lap they seem to get louder and closer. There is nothing quite like racing in Koksijde, Belgium – lucky folks those girls and guys who are lining up on Saturday and Sunday to show off their nation’s colours and race around in the big sandbox.) Definitely a moment and experience to savour.)

Take a break and watch this video:

Okay, back to regular day-time activities but keep on dreaming and pushing.