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Am I still out on the course?

Yes, I am. A few weeks back I participated in a cyclocross race in which I was completely fried from the day before. I basically ended up riding at about 8mph for the entire race and walked up the "run up." A few days later a comment was posted on someone's blog asking if I was still out on the course (they obviously saw my spectacular performance).

Figuratively, I am still on the course. I'm fortunate enough to have a boss that recognizes the work/life balance and let us slack most of the summer. Now that summer is over we have to catch up on projects that have been sitting idle, and also try and get as much done by next spring so we can enjoy the summer. My workload is such that it makes it hard to ride to work and find the time to ride outside of work. That's not the way I had hoped it to be since we are now in the midst of cyclocross season. I decided to partake in some races while in my sub-prime cycling state. CX is fun and gives me at least 1 hour every week in which I don't have to think about work.

I have recently decided that it is time for me to begin a new phase in my cycling career. Over the past three years I have not been riding or racing at nearly the level I once did. I have fleeting moments where I pull off a great ride, but those are becoming few and far between. With my 20+ years of racing (I'm not that old, I started racing when I was 12), I feel it is time for me to pursue the coaching side of things. I am in the fortunate position of being involved with and being a part of one of the strongest amateur racing teams in the country.

The whole coaching bug bit me two years ago when we brought on two riders with different abilities but tons of talent. One was an extremely strong rider who's idea of training was mashing the biggest gear as hard as he could for as long as he could. And the other was a young kid who has the talent, but not the physical ability. With help from #2, we guided, suggested, and mentored the pedal masher and the kid into what they are today...a silky smooth pedaling machine that can spin like only one other person I have ever seen (RL)...and a kid that is riding above and beyond what anyone has expected from him.

too many words.

- P

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