9.20.08
It truly was an experience of a lifetime. Much more so than I ever thought it would be.
But three weeks away from home no matter what your doing is a long time.
I'm happy to be back.
The flight was obviously long but the mood was upbeat. There was members of three different
US teams on board and the conversations throughout the plane was on the Games.
The Captain announced to all the passengers that us Paralympians were on board which
sparked a round of applause. It was a nice way to return home!
After saying goodbye to my teammates, Pamela and I headed home.
Tomorrow, I return to work but in a new position. The daily grind will begin again.
I'm still glad to back home.
- in the next few days I'll be posting the photographs that I was unable make public during the
event.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Chinese media.
Just found this article after a general search for press releases.
I barely remember speaking with the Chinese Press. The press area
was set up so the riders passed through moments after their race.
I was gassed then and suprised now to have China Daily write the article.
I guess finishing last has at least one perk.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/paralympics/2008-09/10/content_7014817.htm
I barely remember speaking with the Chinese Press. The press area
was set up so the riders passed through moments after their race.
I was gassed then and suprised now to have China Daily write the article.
I guess finishing last has at least one perk.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/paralympics/2008-09/10/content_7014817.htm
Monday, September 15, 2008
It's Over!
9.13.08
Since 2003 these past couple of weeks have been the reason for everything I did everyday
of the year. Even on my "day's off" or "off-season" the Games were a focus.
Now that my last race is in the books I can breathe and maybe even drink.
A lot of people have asked me what it took to get here and were all the sacrifices worth it.
Just walking around waving at a fellow cyclist who just happens to live in S. Africa makes all those days in the pissing rain vomiting on myself, by myself just fade away.
The lifestyles that everyone needs to adopt to make it here are ones we all share. Knowing that similarity creates a relationship that goes beyond the geographical, political and whatever other barriers that typically seperate people.
While writing this blog over the past two month's I've tried to explain what I do, how I do it and why I would do such a painful thing. The common thread to all of my entries - to me at least is a desire to improve myself.
I've used this as a personal Mantra for years now.
"compare yourself to your own potential"
Racing and competing is great, winning and losing is the sweet and sour but what really drives me is reaching for what I think is my potential. The bike is part of it. The drive, determination and plain honesty with myself are traits that have only really surfaced since getting on the bike.
The great thing with striving for you potential is that it's boundless! Only the cages that you and I create within ourselves can limit that.
I've always used that philosophy to keep at it. Many days I doubted my abilities and allowed results and performances to dominate my emotions. But here in China I've seen the best in people - People who want it and who truely reach for it.
Since 2003 these past couple of weeks have been the reason for everything I did everyday
of the year. Even on my "day's off" or "off-season" the Games were a focus.
Now that my last race is in the books I can breathe and maybe even drink.
A lot of people have asked me what it took to get here and were all the sacrifices worth it.
Just walking around waving at a fellow cyclist who just happens to live in S. Africa makes all those days in the pissing rain vomiting on myself, by myself just fade away.
The lifestyles that everyone needs to adopt to make it here are ones we all share. Knowing that similarity creates a relationship that goes beyond the geographical, political and whatever other barriers that typically seperate people.
While writing this blog over the past two month's I've tried to explain what I do, how I do it and why I would do such a painful thing. The common thread to all of my entries - to me at least is a desire to improve myself.
I've used this as a personal Mantra for years now.
"compare yourself to your own potential"
Racing and competing is great, winning and losing is the sweet and sour but what really drives me is reaching for what I think is my potential. The bike is part of it. The drive, determination and plain honesty with myself are traits that have only really surfaced since getting on the bike.
The great thing with striving for you potential is that it's boundless! Only the cages that you and I create within ourselves can limit that.
I've always used that philosophy to keep at it. Many days I doubted my abilities and allowed results and performances to dominate my emotions. But here in China I've seen the best in people - People who want it and who truely reach for it.
9.15.08Had to venture off compound to see an old rock wall.
I must say that The Great Wall is
A Wonder to all the World.
Just knowing that it's ancient and 4,000 miles long boggled my mind before I even saw it. The guard posts offers a veiw of a twisting rock formation that that weaves through the beautiful
Chinese Countryside. Standing there It's defies my imagination that such a thing exists. My teammate - Greta and I walked up, almost crawled up sections that are shaped as the hill sides are -Steep!
A 2.5 hour hike yeilded maybe a mile of a trail that would send you clear cross the states and then some. Breathtaking with every step yet painful as well. Worth it - heck Ya!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
The Road Race
9.13.08
The Race consisted of nearly 40 of the greatest Cyclists this planet has to offer,
with one catch - each one of them had some physical impairment.
To make the Event more exciting and with a deeper field, the IPC merged
the fastest three Classes. I ended up riding with below the Knee Amputees
and with Arm Amps along with my CP/nerve damage based class.
6 laps around the lake meant 6 times up a rather painful hill. But the hill wasn't
what dropped me. Instead a S-turn going into the Start/finish area was what set me back.
With my weak side not trustworthy I take a more cautious line through tight corners.
To be honest, A few more times up that climb with the lead pack would have blinded
me with pain and send me into the barriers or kept from finishing.
I found a chase group to finish with.
On the last lap I sat up, looked around and breathed in the moment. In front of Thousands
racing in China against the Worlds best I just had to laugh. What a moment!!
The Race consisted of nearly 40 of the greatest Cyclists this planet has to offer,
with one catch - each one of them had some physical impairment.
To make the Event more exciting and with a deeper field, the IPC merged
the fastest three Classes. I ended up riding with below the Knee Amputees
and with Arm Amps along with my CP/nerve damage based class.
6 laps around the lake meant 6 times up a rather painful hill. But the hill wasn't
what dropped me. Instead a S-turn going into the Start/finish area was what set me back.
With my weak side not trustworthy I take a more cautious line through tight corners.
To be honest, A few more times up that climb with the lead pack would have blinded
me with pain and send me into the barriers or kept from finishing.
I found a chase group to finish with.
On the last lap I sat up, looked around and breathed in the moment. In front of Thousands
racing in China against the Worlds best I just had to laugh. What a moment!!
Friday, September 12, 2008
The Race of Truth.
9.12.08
A solid and steady effort kept me from cracking and allowed me to
overtaken my main Rival and earn my highest placing in the
2008 Paralympic Games.
http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRMP/ENG/Schedule/index.shtml
The course was hilly, hot and breezy - conditions that made suffering out
on the Chinese Countryside that much more grueling.
This Time Trial, I was not alone. Following me in two support vehicles were
my coaches Jim and Craig. Shouts of wisdom like "keep your Cadence"
reminded me not to overcook myself on the many false flats.
With 5 km to go I was pushing every watt I had out of my legs. The pain
of breathing so rapidly was eclipsed only by each muscle tissue tearing apart
and loading with lactic acid. Reminding myself where I was kept me from
listening to my more rational side, the one that pleaded with me to stop the pain.
Crossing the line I was finished, nearly crashing into the barrier and falling off the bike.
I was shaking, trying desperately to dump enough water over my head and down my throat
to come back to life.
That Time Trialing! Now it's time to recover and ready myself for the carnage of
the Paralympic Road Race.
A solid and steady effort kept me from cracking and allowed me to
overtaken my main Rival and earn my highest placing in the
2008 Paralympic Games.
http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRMP/ENG/Schedule/index.shtml
The course was hilly, hot and breezy - conditions that made suffering out
on the Chinese Countryside that much more grueling.
This Time Trial, I was not alone. Following me in two support vehicles were
my coaches Jim and Craig. Shouts of wisdom like "keep your Cadence"
reminded me not to overcook myself on the many false flats.
With 5 km to go I was pushing every watt I had out of my legs. The pain
of breathing so rapidly was eclipsed only by each muscle tissue tearing apart
and loading with lactic acid. Reminding myself where I was kept me from
listening to my more rational side, the one that pleaded with me to stop the pain.
Crossing the line I was finished, nearly crashing into the barrier and falling off the bike.
I was shaking, trying desperately to dump enough water over my head and down my throat
to come back to life.
That Time Trialing! Now it's time to recover and ready myself for the carnage of
the Paralympic Road Race.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Ants in the Pants!
Sept 11
We all seem to have them. The Time Trial is fast approaching
and the entire team will be racing. For almost everyone of us this
is our prefered disicipline.
As I write, the team is preparing for the big day. Massages, tune ups
and naps are the afternoon plan for us all. But some are up writing on their blogs
to get the nervous energy out!!
Ants in thy pants.
But rest assured I am ready. My legs feel good, my health is intact and right now
I cannot be more motivated.
For those who know cycling is not just the horse power that can be produced.
The race course requires patience and the correct dosage of watts over the 25 km race. Dosing the effort so that speed can be held and the power can run out with just meters to go is a mental science within itself. Each time trial I do reminds me of how alone
I am as I blow apart my muscle tissues with every pedal stroke. The team and I have ridden the
course enough to visualize what needs to be done. Tonight I will visualize riding each bump and dip on the course.
The excitement is here whirling around the first floor of Team USA's Village compound.
What's needed is a focus for that energy and I believe it will come as the United States Paralympic Cycling Team Lines up for tomorrow's Time Trial!
We all seem to have them. The Time Trial is fast approaching
and the entire team will be racing. For almost everyone of us this
is our prefered disicipline.
As I write, the team is preparing for the big day. Massages, tune ups
and naps are the afternoon plan for us all. But some are up writing on their blogs
to get the nervous energy out!!
Ants in thy pants.
But rest assured I am ready. My legs feel good, my health is intact and right now
I cannot be more motivated.
For those who know cycling is not just the horse power that can be produced.
The race course requires patience and the correct dosage of watts over the 25 km race. Dosing the effort so that speed can be held and the power can run out with just meters to go is a mental science within itself. Each time trial I do reminds me of how alone
I am as I blow apart my muscle tissues with every pedal stroke. The team and I have ridden the
course enough to visualize what needs to be done. Tonight I will visualize riding each bump and dip on the course.
The excitement is here whirling around the first floor of Team USA's Village compound.
What's needed is a focus for that energy and I believe it will come as the United States Paralympic Cycling Team Lines up for tomorrow's Time Trial!
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