Remember when you were a kid and you were counting the days to your birthday or maybe Christmas? You’d ask your parents over and over again – “how many more sleeps?”. You would kind of feel sick with excitement when you hear the magical number “2”. Only 2 more sleeps!! Wow – it is almost here. The day after tomorrow.

This is how I’m feeling. I’m ready for it. I’ve had a great week here in Tabor. Lots of time spent on the course today and yesterday. Some quality trainer sessions earlier in the week to flush my legs and body out from the travel. Now I just want race day to be here.

Not because I’m feeling anxious or nervous. Rather the opposite. I’m so excited to be racing in the Cyclo-Cross World Championships. I’ve been thinking about this for two years. And now I’m only two sleeps away from it. Awesome.

Had a solid session out on the course this morning. I decided I wanted to ride in the morning – rather than during the official training time. I find it hard to practice specific sections of the course when there are lots of people about. So Marc was willing to take us out this morning and help us drill the course. He helped myself and Connor break down the key sections – looking at lines, exits, entrances, and offering us lots of confidence. This helped so much. After spending a long time on one lap breaking everything down. I set out for one complete lap with no stops. I had a pretty good lap. I was feeling good about how I rode the lap and then even more so when Marc said “I’d have to say that was a pretty good lap you just rode”. This made me feel fantastic.

Now of course with the warmer temperatures this afternoon, the course has softened and a lot of the ice has melted. I kind of expected this. I’m sure it will change even more between now and Sunday. I’m not sweating this. I’ll get out to the course nice and early on Sunday and get in a few more laps before the race so I can get a feel for the changes.

At least I can go to sleep with an excellent picture of the course in my head. One of the keys to this race course is maintaining momentum. There are so many easy spots where one can loose speed without even realizing it. So I’ve got a good mental image of the course that I can replay so I can remember the key sections. There is nothing worse than “forgetting” about a steep incline or descent and having it surprise you during the race.

I had a pretty chilled out afternoon. Marc went back out to the course in the afternoon with some more of the junior boys to help them ride the course. I settled into the hotel room and basically surfed the WWW. I hopped on the trainer for a light 30 minutes of pedaling just to keep my legs loose. And now I’m just relaxing again. Marc is busy working on the bikes for the racing tomorrow. Everyone except me is racing tomorrow so there is lots of action happening right now.

I’ve got a good opening work out for tomorrow and then I’ll simply relax in my room. Do some stretching. Sleep a bit. Surf the WWW. Read. All the usual stuff.

In my typical fashion, I’ve been doing some planning for the 2010-2011 season. The 2011 World Cup schedule has been announced for the season. Looks like I’ll be making a trip to Switzerland for the first World Cup of the season and then I’ll be back in the Czech Republic for the second World Cup. Busy times. Fast times. Fun times.

I’m feeling your positive vibes and good wishes. Thank-you. Keep them coming!

Hit up the World Championships course this afternoon for a bit of pre-riding. It is as we expected – icy. Most of the corners are glare ice. But with some special ice riding techniques and a boatload of confidence, the course is super fun.

Actually – I really like it. There is nothing “crazy” or “scary” on the course. I think the key is stay relaxed and to really try to maintain speed. There are some steep ups after the start section that get the heart rate up and the pain in the legs. There are some definite leg sucking, lung burning climbs. The two stair sections are challenging because the steps are so big. A tricky off-camber thrown in to rattle the nerves a bit. The fly-over is okay – the entrance is a bit tricky – definitely need to get the post swinging action down. The descent and corner off the fly-over are fast and slippery.

Definitely a course that keeps you on your toes. I’ve watched the video of the Czech National Championships so many times, but the video does not do the course justice. I didn’t realize how much the camera deadens out the steepness of the ground. There is a reason why the guys are running on what “appears” to be “flat ground”. Trust me – that is not flat ground – those are climbs.

All in all, a great day out on the ‘cross bike. I started with the Dugast Pipistrellos – these aren’t bad but I need a bit more traction. So I switched to the Dugast Rhinos with super low pressure – seemed better. But the course will change a lot between now and Sunday – it is supposed to warm-up so that could turn some of the ice into slush. We’ll see on Sunday.

Many many thanks to Marc. He was awesome today. He rode with me and gave lots of amazing advice and extra confidence. He calmed me down when my nerves were getting a bit rattled. Shouted encouragement and reminded me to keep on pedaling. I even heard a few “that’s it!” and “good job”.

Huge thanks to Alex Sanna of Soigneur Race Services for his outstanding support today. He was in the pits, making sure everything was okay. Also thanks to Matthew Knight from the CCA for standing out there in the pits, ready with a pump and for taking some photos of us all pre-riding. Standing in the pits and being ready as soon as a rider comes in with a problem, is a pretty thankless role and one that is often not appreciated enough. So many thanks to Alex and Matt for standing out there for us this afternoon.

Also thanks to Marc and Alex for taking care of the bikes. I don’t have to do a thing. Marc and Alex are cleaning all of the Team Canada bikes, making sure the bikes are running correctly, and are pretty much available at all times to help us out with technical and mechanical questions.

Really is feeling like a team atmosphere here. Nice. It helps to be surrounded with so many friendly people. I think it helps us racers relax a bit, knowing that all we need to do is pedal our bikes. So many thanks to Marc, Alex, and Matt.

Heading out on the course again tomorrow. Tomorrow the goal of the training will be to break down the key sections of the course and run through them as many times as it takes for me to dial them in and feel confident and fast on them. Probably will try a bunch of different tires and pressure as well.

I’ve got to say it was super awesome to be out there with my Team Canada jacket on. It definitely turned a lot of heads. Nothing quite like the feeling of riding with the maple leaf on your back. Definitely makes the pedals turn a bit more easily.

Alright, it is time for supper. I’ll check in with you tomorrow. Feeling it right now. Loving it. Everything was worth it to get to this point. I just can’t believe it! Today I warmed up on the race course for the Cyclo-Cross World Championships! Amazing!

WE DID IT! THANK-YOU!

Dudes, it is almost time. Almost go time. I couldn’t be more stoked. I’m feeling good. I just want to get out there and race. Soak it all up. Have fun. Smile. Pedal hard and savor racing in the Cyclo-Cross World Championships.

Pretty quiet day here. Especially since we didn’t have Internet access all afternoon and evening… Ah well, I relaxed with my book and magazines.

Frosty out there again so I hopped on the trainer for a 75 minute spin. I watched the women’s World Championships race from a few years ago. Amazing how much can change in a couple of laps. Hanka went from leading the race (and I what I thought was a sure win) to not being on the podium. Bummer for her. But good for the others. See cyclo-cross racing really is just like life!

Many many thanks for the emails and supportive comments from my last post. Your words have truly overwhelmed me. Thanks so much!

In a few hours we are off to the race course to check it out. It is snowy. It is icy. It is slick. There are some steep ups. Some very fast downs. Some tricky corners. But I’m ready for it. It is the same race course for everyone. Marc is going to come out with me and help me dissect the course. He is also going to lead me through some hot laps. If I can stay on Marc’s wheel, I’ll be super happy!

Tomorrow will be more of the same with more time spent practicing specific sections of the course. The key is not to do too much leading up to the race but to also spend enough time and effort to get the body ready for the race effort.

Funny, we were watching the movie Up this morning and I really felt Carl’s spirit as I was sitting here. Don’t know if you’ve watched this movie but it really is an inspiring and beautiful film. Lets just say I feel like I’m in my very own Paradise Falls right now and I’ve definitely got the spirit of adventure.

We made it! After a long and rather snowy drive, we are here. Tabor, Czech Republic. Many thanks to Marc and Alex for handling the logistics and for driving me to Tabor. I was able to chill out and relax for the ride. The bulk of the Canadian team is here now. Had a great team dinner and quick team meeting. Great way to set the tone for the rest of the week and the racing ahead.

I got in a good little trainer ride to spin out my legs from the 10 plus hour long drive. Nothing like riding the trainer, watching the Czech National Cyclo-Cross Championships and listening to a CBC Radio Q podcast at the same time!

So I was just zooming through my emails and I came across the following comment that was posted on this web site:

“watched you race in holland with my friend johnny fokkema and was wondering why you do not compete at the master worlds instead of the world cup. would it not be better for you to finish in the top 10 at a the world masters championships then dead last at a world cup race. i applaud your competivice drive just think when representing canada you should be up there in the result list. Von who won came across the finish line seconds after you crossed it to do your bell lap.” (I’ve deleted his email address from this post, but if you want to find it – I’m sure you know how)

Now, I don’t know about you but this comment was pretty surprising. Surprising because I’m shocked that someone would take the time to write such a negative comment on my web site. I also found this comment disappointing. Disappointing because this person clearly does not have dreams and goals.

I’ll be honest, the first time I read this comment I was angry. Then after rereading it, I was hurt. Devastated is probably the better word. If you know me or have been reading my blog for a while, you know that I struggle with self-confidence. Let’s just say this comment didn’t do much for my self-confidence.

Luckily, Marc came to the rescue. He read the comment. Smoke started to come out of his ears and then he reminded me of the following:
– I’ve already raced the Masters World Cyclo-Cross Championships – three years ago – I was 4th – and in fact I’m ineligible for Masters Worlds (I have 160 UCI points and am ranked 48th in the World UCI Ranking)
– that Johnathan Page was multiple laps down in his first World Cups – he went on to finish second in the World Championships – and was 8th on Sunday in Hoogerheide
– how else are we supposed to get better as a nation at cyclo-cross if we don’t start at the bottom?
– that Vos hit the finish line as I was already past the pits
– that this guy really isn’t on the “same lap” as the rest of us

I can do two things with this comment: let it drag me into a pit of despair and zero confidence or I can use it to fuel my fire and desire. The old me would have wallowed in the pit of despair. Well, I’m not letting this guy put in that pit.

I’m going to use this comment to fuel me. To make me push on the pedals even harder. To attack every corner. To rip through the snow and ice. To rail the corners. To race so hard I can’t breathe and my legs are screaming at me to stop.

Deep down inside I’ll be laughing at this guy. Because I’m out here doing it. Mixing it up with the best in the world. Where is he? Sitting somewhere safe – not chasing his dreams? Watching the race on television? Settling for mediocrity?

Luckily on the same blog post I received this awesome comment:

“Thanks for all the reports and the great efforts that have put you on that same lap!
Sweet to sit in cubicle land here and get a few minutes of enjoying your adventure.
Tales from the big ring. Good luck next week.”

This comment was from a Canadian cycling legend (John Large). I have to say that his comments and emails hold much more value and weight than the other guy. John is a guy who has been there, done it, seen it all, and is now helping to inspire and guide cyclists such as myself who have hopes and dreams. Thanks John for the awesome comment. It means a lot.

Okay, time to switch gears here…

Lets just say, I’m super stoked to be here. This is a massive step forward for me in my bike racing career. This is not my last World Championships. This is my first. I’m looking forward to taking it all in. Learning as much as I can and having fun while doing it.

Looks like I’ll stick to the trainer tomorrow as well. It is supposed to hit a low of minus 12 tonight so I think the trainer indoors is preferable for me. I’ll get out on the course on Thursday and Friday to pre-ride and learn the course. I’ve watched the race video so many times, that I feel like I have it memorized. But as I’ve learned, you can’t believe everything you read/see on the Internet… Might get out and check out Tabor a bit tomorrow as well. Definitely going to visit the bike store and the grocery store.

Alright, I’m out. Time to zone out with some WWW surfing. Thanks again for the amazing support. The emails and comments are greatly appreciated. You will all be out there with me on Sunday.

The road trip to Tabor, Czech Republic starts in a few hours. We are driving through the night. Well, I’m not driving, I’m sleeping and chillaxing – Marc and Alex of Soigneur Race Services are driving.

I’m looking forward to getting to Tabor and settling into the hotel. Will be an interesting week – really don’t want to do too much. Rest. Train on the course. Get it dialed in technically. Have fun. Hang out with the other races. Put the legs up. Read my books. Relax with some magazine. Watch movies on the laptop. Then get out there and race on Sunday.

A pretty good week. Then we’ll be back here for a bit and then either home or to London, England for some relaxation.

Check in tomorrow – hopefully I have Internet access…

Many many thanks to my sponsors for their support in this journey:

– KingsBridge Disaster Recovery
– The Cyclery
– Bell Lap Coaching
– Clif Bar
– Outdoor Gear Canada