When you're not used to....

.....seeing your name somewhere small in an article in a national cycling publication, you can't help but think it's kind of cool to have happened -- cyclingnews has a write up on this past years Iceman http://www.cyclingnews.com/mtb.php?id=mtb/2007/nov07/iceman07 and actually included all the results. So hidden somewhere near the relative top I find myself listed...... along with the 2,000 participants. 18th overall in the 35-39 Expert Category -- to save time looking.
Nice to see a write up & press time on Midwest MTB'ing. WI's has the largest participant series in the country -- just how much bigger? Give Google or Ask.com a whirl and see what other parts of the country get for participant rates in their MTB/Off-Road Series. I think a person used to seeing WORS sized events could feel pretty proud of what's in our backyard after seeing turnouts in other parts of the country. Also you toss in these Triple Crown Races, the Ore to Shore, Chequamegon 40 and Iceman with their monster sized participation (2000+ racers) and you see the Midwest has alot of reasons to get it's share of notoriety. My coach & pro racer, Josh P, has said plenty of times if you're racing in the Midwest you've got plenty of competition to know where you would stand on a National level.
Passed on the MN CX championship race last weekend. My lingering cough failed to improve sufficiently to allow me to endulge in yet one more race this year. That said I've however gotten on the bike for some nice long easy training miles -- now fellow blogger/racer Charlie Farrow, makes some reference of "feeding the rat" in what I can only assume would be his training. But, hmmm... think about this "feeding the rat"? Do you suppose Charlie has a pet rat? Maybe one he feeds after comes back from a long bike ride? What's it's name? I somehow think should Charlie read this I suspect (& expect) a17th century history dissertation delivered with a Paul Harvey rest of the story panache from the One that produces a scholarly synthesis to pupils on a daily basis. So what I'm saying is Charlie appears to be able to rattle off a mean piece of history at will. The man must read books like cows eat grass. It's all good.
Now that Turkey day is soon upon us -- get out for a big ride and then gobble up. I may just try and join the 'ole Turkey day ride in the Twin Cities when Kate & I go down there to visit her family for the holidays.
Travel safe, ride hard & keep the wheels down,