The Season of Hope

It's that time of year, that special season, a time for hope and a time for optimism. The time when gifts are received that can raise your spirit. Yes, its time for off-season training!

Since I don't race cyclocross (although I probably should try it even though that would mean yet another bike), I've been off the bike for a several weeks now. Its time to get back to work and hit the gym for some off-season strength training in preparation for 2009. The hope and optimism I mentioned earlier runs rampant this time of year for me. I begin to think of the races of the next year and of course since it hasn't started, all things are possible. I enjoy the workouts in the gym. They are a nice change of pace for a few months. By February though, I'll be tired of being inside and ready to hit the road again. The work I do now indoors hopefully will set me up for a strong racing season. Last year was the first winter I did any work in the gym and I feel it really helped me get off to a great start to my best ever season this past year.

I also mentioned gifts that can raise your spirit. I'm not talking about a new pair of pedals, or a jersey, or a sexy new pair of carbon wheels. No, I'm talking about something just as hard to wait for as Christmas morning. It's the posting of the racing calendar for the upcoming year on the WSBA website. Once its posted the planning and goal setting can begin. I think about the races I enjoyed last year and the ones I might like to try. I begin to plan which days from work I'll need off and if I can rope any of my friends into joining me at some far away race. Okay, I also think about new pieces of equipment that will make those races and my training all the more enjoyable and memorable.

Lots to think about and hope for in this Season of Hope.

Happy Holidays!