Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Coming Attractions, and, “Real Life”

I'd like to start by saying hi to the two whole readers I probably have left after not updating this blog for the last six months. I had every intention of posting semi-regularly during the off season, but life intervened (more on that below...). But now it's less than two months until race season, schedules are coming out every day, and it looks to be a jam-packed fall. Not sure yet of what our plans will be, there's been some talk about maybe traveling to more races outside MABRA/MAC-land this year, maybe Nats again, and maybe even Worlds, since we have unused airfare on Brussels Air that needs to be used by the end of January.

Unfortunately, I'm not going to be racing after all this year. Which is not all bad, since I do love just going and hanging out and watching my friends race. As much fun as you racers have,I probably have even more because I don't have the stress and exhaustion of actually racing! But the reasons for me not being able to race, well, suck. This blog isn't about my personal life so I won't harp on too much, but in late 2009 I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Right after cross season ended I had major surgery to remove the tumor, and then underwent several months of intense chemo. I was all clear, went back to work, started this blog, went to Nats, had a blast. Then in February we found out that my cancer had returned, on the eve of our long-planned (and subsequently cancelled) trip to Europe to see Paris-Roubaix and Flanders. More chemo, didn't work, so I did a clinical trial at NIH instead. The early results are very promising, and I'm feeling really good, but needless to say, there has been no bike riding by me.

But enough about me! I'm going to try to start ramping the ol' blog up over the next couple weeks to get back in the habit. And I'm hoping to get off my lazy butt and at least start riding my bike inside on the trainer. Thanks to everyone who is still reading after the long layoff, and more to come...soon!