So, it has taken a while but I’ve got the photos up. Sort of… Couldn’t find a very elegant way to manage the photos. So for now there is a new widget in the sidebar. This will link you to my Flickr page.

On my Flickr page, click 2008 Cyclo-Cross Nationals and 2008 Jim Horner.

Sorry that there aren’t any descriptions. Also, the order is completely random. But for nationals, there are photos from the Masters B, Elite Women, and Junior races. For the Jim Horner race, there are photos from the Masters B, Elite Women, Junior, and Elite Men races.

Thanks to my dad for the photos.

If you’d like a copy of a photo, drop me an email.

The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy…It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed.
–Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon champ

As most of you know, my dad made the trip out to Edmonton to watch the ‘cross races and generally help us out in all manners possible. Well, this was also his first time ever seeing a cyclo-cross race. I asked him to write a post for the site about his impressions of the weekend:

Confessions of a Neophyte Cyclo-Cross spectator – by Paul Thomas

Seven days ago, if you had asked me about rolling a tubular, I would have thought that I was being offered an illegal smoke! If I’d been introduced to a commissaire, I’d have expected to meet a commissionaire-wanna-be. How perspectives change…

My first exposure to cyclo-cross racing was in Edmonton at the Cross Nationals and the Jim Horner races held over the Thanksgiving weekend. And what a weekend it turned out to be. Aside from being able to spend it with Vicki and Marc, I got to meet Fearless Leader (from the Victoria’s Island blog), and several other cycling friends of theirs, and, most importantly, I garnered an understanding – albeit probably most superficial – of what it means to be a member of that particular community.

How did I do this? Let me count the ways: Not to suggest that it was a love-in, but I was struck first by the camaraderie. In the staging area, at the start, and again at the races’ conclusions, there was obvious bonhomie, a willingness to help, and an enormous amount of genuinely delivered congratulatory comments. Second, the spectators seemed to be there for all the riders, not just their own family/team members. One would call out encouragement to a rider, by name, and then others would pick up the name and attach it to their shout comments. I’m told by racers how much this means to them. Third, and possibly most telling, was the generosity of the spectators and non-participating racers: in all of the races that I watched, there were one or two riders who were having problems keeping up. Bluntly, they were very clearly out-classed. Yet there were no derisive comments, no jeers, no snide asides. Only words of praise; words geared (excuse the pun) to promote sustained effort and self-worth! Wow! That is the way confidence grows and participants stay the course.

But what about the races? Sorry, but they became almost incidental to this spectator. I appreciated the skill, the strength, even the fancy bikes and skinsuits, but mainly I learned that having fun, developing and growing do not depend on winning. It’s the people who count.

Thanks Dad for the great weekend summary. P.S. – my dad took a whole lot of photos during the weekend. I’m currently trying to get them up on the site. I’ll post when they are up.

Thanks again Dad for helping us all out so much. The Ottawa race crew is indebted to you. Hmm, maybe next year my dad should pull on a skinsuit and do some cyclo-cross racing? What do you think?

We are home. Made it safe and sound on an uneventful but full-of-crying-children flight. Thank goodness for the in-flight entertainment system and headphones.

Had a little bit of time to think about the weekend. Wow – what a difference a year makes. Perspective is so important. Especially when things don’t go exactly to plan. Last year I was racing in the masters category. I didn’t even think about racing elite – in fact I would have been lapped if I’d tried. Last year I was third at ‘cross nationals – in the masters category. This year I was 8th in the elite category.

A lot can happen in a year.

So, I didn’t meet my initial goal. But I came a long way. In a short period of time. And I’m not done yet. I’ve got some more fitness to gain, more skills to learn, and a few more bullets left. This past weekend does one big thing for me – reinforces all the hard work I’ve done. Proves that determination and focus does pay off. For some not meeting the goal might be a failure.

In fact on Saturday and on Sunday, it felt like failure to me. But now it feels different. Yes, it is still disappointing. But my results this weekend prove that I’m making many strides in the right direction. I’d say this weekend is a bold checkmark in the “win” column.

This only “fuels my fire”. I’ve got lots more races in me. And I have a feeling there are a lot more good results to come.

I’m working on some new season goals. When I have them worked out, I’ll post them here for you to read.

I’ve posted a few photos on the photos page. Thanks to Mike Johns for the pics.

I’ve got a bunch of photos from my dad to post later as well. Stay tuned.