2011 Blogs
I’ve been on all sides – thinking I deserve a spot on the Worlds team and not receiving it, thinking there’s no way I’d make the team and earning a spot, and earning an automatic unsure if I actually wanted to race. This year I planned the end of my mtb season and my entire ‘cross season around ‘planning’ to be on form at Worlds. Sometimes, a lot of times, things don’t unfold according to plan, and my ‘cross season was no aberration. It was plagued with ups and downs: when it was good it was very good, but when it was bad it was a lemon wedge. After an extremely disappointing Nationals I went back to Boulder and enjoyed a lovely Christmas with my family and even had some turns in the amazingly good early Colorado snow. We even touched on our Polish roots for Christmas dinner and made pierogies. It was a great couple weeks and I stayed motivated with the happiness of my season still continuing. Heading over to Europe 2 days after Christmas however, I knew I had to prove myself at the 3 races prior to the Worlds selection. My prior race reports tell the story of these races.
As the Europeans will be racing their National Championships this weekend, I have until Jan 16th until my next race. So Dan Ellmore invited me to his home, Lincoln, England for the break away from racing to enjoy some dogs (dogs make life better), a training partner, and a comfortable house to vegetate in. The Worlds Team selection was due yesterday, Jan 7th, but as England’s day begins 7 hours ahead of Colorado’s day, I knew I’d probably be hearing near my bedtime. Last night 9pm was fast approaching with no news. Dave Towle asked me to be his inaugural guest on The Winner’s Circle, his new interview podcast on his website www.davetowle.com. Just as he clicked the record button CX Magazine tweeted the selections and I think I stopped breathing until I saw my name in bold letters. I made it. Along with a stellar crew of Compton, Sue Butler, Mer Miller, and Kaitlyn Antonneau.
Phew…the pubs would have been littered with a belligerent American if I hadn’t been selected. It would have been a rough blow after having planned the trip and the season around it. However, ‘what if’ is fact now, and I’ve set my season, training, breaks, and racing up well. My motivation is still burning bright (unlike last year where I buried all my riding attire and hid my bikes) and I have two important World Cups on tap, Jan 16th and 23rd, Pontchateau and Hoogerheide. Thank you all for your support through the lulls and highs of this season; it is your belief in the lows that keeps me digging. I look forward to racing the US flag for the next few weeks with all of you an ember in the fire.