New member of the Irish mafia

This is a mug shot of my nephew in upstate New York. I'll call him "rumbler" for now. He is a future star of Eastern Seaboard criterium races, if he can stay out of trouble. . .

Preparation

For the first time in 8 or 9 years, I've truly committed myself to a season of bike racing on the road next year. I figure its a great season to re-emerge, as we would like to have another kid in the next few years and opportunities for racing will be a bit more limited after that. I decided to cat back up to a 3 (I downgraded to a 4 several years ago, but I really don't want to get stuck in 4/5s races and catting back up gives me that extra bit of motivation. Also, the majority of my racing life I've raced with 3s, so I know the safety concerns and rhythms of this category).

I've also started to participate in the 5:30 AM Columbia Track Club running events on Tue. and Thur. to work on my aerobic base, in addition to cyclocross and gravel road rides. If anyone has done these runs before, you know how fantastic they are. Nothing like a big group to push you on a run, and my form always improves around other runners, which helps my legs. The routes seem to be varied and include a lot of the Katy trail.

Fish is also setting up some training schedules for me. He's one of the few people around here who have been cycling and racing longer than I have, and I truly think I am going to reach my goals (one of which is a sub 1hr. 40k time trial) with his advice. To be accountable to someone, as well as a team--re-upping with CBC for the next season, is going to be very, very important. Thanks Fish! I'm stoked. . . .



That's the strategy for now.

On the Podium!

Check it out. I was "MuMu Mama" this year. Again, this was my favorite race of the year, hands down. Thanks again greenbeans for putting this on!