The Most Interesting Man in the…Part2

Over the years the bike has come and gone.  I have raced bikes at different points throughout the years, BMX as a kid, some Mountain bike racing out west in the early 90's but it wasn't until a friend dared me to do a Triathlon in 2006 that I reconnected with the bike.  That Tri was pretty much a FAIL!  At that time I was strictly a runner.

I was really fit and was fairly fast 17:305k, 36-37:00 10k, 1:23 Half.  The Tri was a sprint at Lake Lure.  If I recall it was a 750 meter swim, 25k bike and 5k run.  I did ZERO bike or swim training, and I rented a bike as I didn't own one at the time.  This is what I was thinking...I was a good swimmer as a kid and I know I can ride a bike and so Ill kill the run.  Ha! can't believe how naive that thinking was.  I don't really remember how I placed just that I buried myself on the swim and bike and could barley run the run…I was so Humbled! and Pissed!  I bought a bike started riding and swimming and competing in tri's.  I had no idea what I was doing on the bike and swim,  my training was totally unstructured unlike my running.  I got faster and results got better.  I was pretty decent as an age grouper, always in the top ten…I often think back and wonder what I could have accomplished if I understood how to train! but I have no regrets.

My Triathlon career ended after shoulder surgery in the fall of  2010 old lacrosse injuries finally caught up with me.  After surgery I got on the bike asap.  I didn't do much racing in 2011 and 2012, my Mom was pretty sick, she was in a fight for life. She was diagnosed with stage 3 inoperable Lung Cancer (She beat it ) and was in remission when the cancer metastasized as Brain Cancer (terminal diagnosis)..she lost that battle but never gave up and never complained, and always carried a smile.  She is my inspiration! (I will blog about that experience later).

I made a decision in January of 2013 that I would take my bike racing to a different level.  I had decent results as a weekend warrior but I did not want to look back and wonder what could have been.  Mom was my biggest fan.  I couldn't imagine not putting it all out there given what she went through fighting Cancer.  I talked to my good friend Chad Andrews with Total Cyclist and told him of my plans.  Chad was pumped! I think Chad knew the potential I had even if I didn't.  Chad put me together with one of his coaches Jackie Crowell.  Jackie is an amazing cyclist, coach and a great person.  We hit it off right from the beginning.  I began working with Jackie in March.  I had a great season! I quickly moved up to a Cat3 on the road.  I had a lot of success this year, lots of podiums top fives and top tens even as the competition got stiffer.  Jackie pushed me all along the way and made me realize I had a lot more ability that I thought.  For example I never thought I was a sprinter…Jackie changed that…I'm actually pretty quick in a sprint.   When It comes to racing I'm kinda of a jack of all trades.  On the road I race Crits, Road Race, TT. I do some track racing on the velodrome and plan to race Mountain bikes in 2014 for the Total Cyclist Mountain Bike Team.

End Part 2…Part 3 coming…more unique randomness

The Most Interesting Man in The…..Part 1

So, I have decided to give blogging a try.  I have some friends that blog regularly, so when I mentioned to Jenny Leiser that I was thinking about starting a blog she was quick to encourage and offer help.  I think I debated over some of the same things most people do when starting a blog..what will I blog about…will it be interesting or entertaining and does anybody want to hear what I have to say? Jenny said to just write, keep it positive so thats what I'm gonna do.

I figured I'd start with a little bit about me.

My story is unique!  I know!, we are all unique, but there are not very many people in this world that grew up the way I did.

I was born in Bangkok, Thailand.  My dad was an Officer in the CIA Directorate of Operations from 1957-1992, my mother was an Adventure Journalist before there was such a thing.  By the age of 10 I spoke 3 languages and had lived in Thailand, Cambodia, Tanzania, Indonesia, The Philippines and the U.S.

Dad Cambodia 1959

                                                         

Mom Trekking Nepal 1980

I am a bike rider. ok thats not so unique.  I'm a bike racer…maybe just a little unique.  The bike and I have had a special relationship.  So, I grew up in third world countries.  What is the single biggest mode of transportation in the third world?…right Bikes!  As you can imagine there wasn't much stability in my childhood.  My parents where loving and supportive but older and because of their careers not very present.  There was always a bike. To most kids a bike means freedom, and the ability to explore further than afoot.  To me it was sooo much more! To me A bike was like a passport.  A bike meant acceptance.  I didn't have to be able to speak the language to ride a bike.  It became my social network, it was how I would "fit in".  Being a white kid in Asia and Africa in the 70's and 80's wasn't easy.  i'm in NO way comparing that to what real minorities deal with. But I was DIFFERENT and DIFFERENT isn't fun as kid.

I played ball sports like most kids but also did a lot of surfing and skiing.  Skiing you say? where does one ski in SE Asia and Africa?  You don't.

Jackson Hole 1994

 Mom teaching me to ski Davos Switzerland 1973

Mom & Dad 

  My parents loved to ski. I am just as passionate about skiing as I am about bikes.  I was decent at ball sports but always had to work harder but was never big enough for the main stream sports.  I focused on soccer in my younger years and picked up lacrosse when we were in Langley VA.   My big advantage was No one was going to outwork me.  I finally settled on lacrosse and lettered at Hobart College.


End Part 1