Friday, December 25, 2009

Walmart of Bikes


The scene is Christmas morning at the Green household and my three girls are tearing wildly into their stocking while I watch and hold my own stocking in my hands. As they finish I am given the cue to reach into mine and I find one of the best gifts I will get this year - a brand new bottom bracket tool from Park Tool. How could this simple present from my lovely wife spark a Christmas morning rant? I will explain.

After the kids were done and the presents were all opened, my wife explained to me that she now understood why I never spoke to a person at some bike shops. Being a loving wife she wished to purchase this Park Tool for me based on the list of things I "needed" that I had scribed for her early in the month. As is my usual routine I listed brand, part number, places to buy and what I thought the cost should be. Since no one really understands my obsession this poses the best opportunity for me to get a bike related gift, and I am sure most bike nerds reading this can relate.

As it turns out my wife was at the mall in Kenwood - we do have three girls, so mall trips are a very important piece of her life. She knew that Performance Bike was right down the street and maybe, just maybe, she could get another errand scratched off her list. She fought the traffic on Montgomery Road during the Christmas season and headed into their retail outlet, list in hand with brands and part numbers.


She had no idea what "Park Tool BBT-9 Bottom Bracket Tool" meant on the list that I supplied, so she asked a helper on the floor if they could show her where she might find this item. The salesman showed her to the tool section and explained that they didn't carry that model, but that another one would work.

Not being a bike nerd my wife thanked the salesman and explained that she wasn't going off the list that was provided, she knew I was somewhat particular and while the other item suggested may do the trick, she had no way of confirming that with me without consultation. The salesman kicked it into gear.

"I am sure this one will do the trick and your husband probably doesn't understand what he wants." That may not be an exact quote, it was a few weeks ago, but it is the general idea. The salesman was throwing away any opportunity to attract repeat business or build any sort of relationship over a simple tool - a tool that at high MSRP is $24.99, and in the Performance online catalog is $19.99.

My wife was mad. Not only did she feel insulted, but felt the salesman was insulting to me as well. I may not know everything about cycling and bike repair, but I have been riding and working on bikes since I was 5 years old. For those unaware, that gives me 35 years of experience. She told me very bluntly that she really didn't plan to return to that store and couldn't understand their attitude.

She is a non-cyclist and has these feelings.

This is where bike retail has migrated. The smaller, knowledgeable shops struggle, the behemoth's prosper with their own brands that they make an extra $0.67 on versus a name brand. A few miles from Performance was Jim's Bike Shop, a fully knowledgeable shop that would have provided a better experience.

On this day Performance earned their reputation as the Walmart of bikes - or at least the high pressure used car salesmen of bikes.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Nationals Racing - Masters 40-44 - Holy Mackerel

Freakin Fast - Sasquatch Messes Back

Having started cyclocross racing just two season previous I already knew I wasn't the fastest guy in the staging area, but I didn't know the half of it.

To set the stage my racing experience before last year was mostly road related racing. Lots of road races, time trials, some criteriums, essentially anything with skinny tires and lots of power. The word 'finesse' didn't exist in my cycling vocabulary. I owned a mountain bike, but it was from the late 80's and weighed more than my current collection of road bikes combined.

Anyone I have raced against knows I am more of grass crit races. My best races this year were COlumbus - fast, hard, dry - and Brookside - hard, dry, fast - and Louisville finale - cold, dry, fast, hard. All three of these had long straights with power sections. It didn't take a PHD in course conditions to draw a conclusion on my technical skills.

Fast forward to Oregon. I took a video of the pre-race and then again during the race and you can probably see that the availability of nice, long, grass highways was nearly non-existent. They were replaced with icy corners, wet, rocky s-turns, bumpy ground, and a descent that was making some guys wet their pants during pre-ride. I was not in my element. I probably would have been more comfortable doing a race on the moon, at least there my fat arse wouldn't take me down.

I got ready for the race, lowered my tire pressure to as low as I thought I could handle and set my goals for the race. My goals were very modest:
1) Don't break anything on my body
2) Ride the hill at least once
3) Ride as far as I could without getting lapped
4) Have fun

Goal #1 nearly got destroyed within 10 seconds of turning a crank. I was going to try Joe's theory, but didn't have the eye of the tiger today - which may have actually saved a bone in my body. 192 riders starting at the same time is quite an event. I had just gotten started when I smelled burning brake pads on carbon rims - a scent that doesn't bring happy thoughts. I saw the wreck and slammed my brakes on just in time. Word is paramedics were called and at least one rider never made it to the official start line.

Once that cleared I got down to business. The first lap was an expedition. I rode the course previously, but at 7:30am, with a fresh layer of snow on the ground. Now, in race conditions, the course was way different. The snow had melted in most places and everywhere was wet. You couldn't tell what was icy and what was water. Every corner was an experiment, especially for a guy without good technical skills.

I finished the first lap and tried to make the 2nd one better, which was successful. I didn't have to run/walk as much and rode the freakin runup - felt like a stud, stuck out my tonque and then rode down the descent like I was on a big wheel. So much for being a stud. Overall the second lap was pretty clean. I was slow in the corners, but had some power. I hadn't gotten lapped yet and based on the announcer I was still in pretty good shape to keep going.

I put in the 3rd lap, but got a bit slower than the 2nd lap. I was starting to catch and pass some folks, but when you slow down to grab a dollar from Sasquatch you have to readdress your priorities. I tried to grab a dollar the previous lap, but it was a trick and Sasquatch was messin' back as he had a death on the buck. This time through I grabbed the dollar and shoved it in my back pocket. Need to frame that sucker.

I almost rode up the hill the 3rd lap, but was in a poor gear. Got bogged down right at the top. I again rode the hill like a toddler on a big wheel and kept going. I could sense the leaders breathing down my neck. I made one last effort to stay in front of them and made it through the finish line without being lapped, maybe I can get a 4th lap in.

I got about 1/3 of the way through the course and this guy starts yelling "coming through". At first I thought to hell with him, but then I realized it was a leader of the race. Can't hold him back, that wouldn't be fair. The last thing I needed was for someone to be injured by a lard butt from Ohio and take them out of the race. I got over, let them through. Unfortunately there were several officials throughout the course and they started pulling anyone that was lapped.

So I got about 3.5 laps before being lapped and pulled. At first I thought I would be mad if I got pulled, but then I started to realize the quality of rider passing me. I was in a race with guys that weren't just national champions, but world champions. John Tomac was in my age group and in this race - and he lapped me. I was in way over my head.

So, I took my time and let a lot of folks pass getting off the course. They froze results in the order in which you were on the lap you got lapped, so it didn't matter if I kept riding. I stopped to take it all in - this was awesome. The crowd, the scene, the course, the level of competition, everything about it was amazing.

I have a new goal for next year - 4 laps.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Awesome Kids

The kids were awesome today. Their race was at 8am and it was cold. We started our warm up at 7am after getting there at 6:30 to set things up. All of them finished, all of them were awesome.

The girls 13-14 race was like looking at women vs. children. 6 or so of the girls were noticeably larger - one in particular was probably nearly a foot taller than Kenzie. They were immediately intimidated, and got off to slow starts.

The course was extremely slippery. The girls were falling all over the place, but they perservered and hung in there with girls much past them in physical maturity. I was extremely proud of Kenzie and once again emotional.

In the end Kenzie was happy with 10th, though she thought she could have done better. The best part was the comment she made after finishing her race. She was crying at the end, couldn't feel her hands, had blood coming from her knee, and was attempting to tear off her shoes to try to get them warm again. "Dad, we are coming back."

It wasn't a question, it was a statement.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Nationals Day 1 Report

Today was supposed to be my first race. I wanted to race the B race, get an understanding of how the course rode and pass that along to Mackenzie, who would ride the next morning. This never came to be. The Red Zone van pulled into town with our shoes, helmets, wheels, and Mackenzie's bike around 6:30pm this evening, well after racing was finished.

Every thing turned out OK though. We got to spend a lot more time watching the riders on the course today than we would have otherwise. We watched every angle a lot of places and watched where they had success and where they failed. We watched some riders go up the big hill riding, we watched others run, and we watch do both in an unplanned way. We walked on the course and found big rocks and edges of ice and little off-cambers - most of which you wouldn't have really noticed riding the course.

I think this was valuable to the kids. We could discuss it in place and not while trying to ride around the course. Instruction came as we went and not quickly as we tried to ride. We still wish they had their bikes to try to ride a bit, but it wasn't awful to walk around.

One of the more interesting things we learned today was the snow was a 'dry' snow. I don't know how this happens, but the snow was dusty enough due to the cold temps and the dry air that instead of just melting it seemed to disappear. There were several sections of the course that we snow covered when we got there in the morning, but at 4pm were clear. No mud, no wet, no ick, just clear.

For being snow covered the course was very fast. It was a grippy snow and very unlike what we have in the Midwest. This again points to the dryness. In the Midwest the air is so damp that any melting becomes wet ick. The kids are going to race and the ground should be solid and mostly grippy.

I think the kids are prepared. Doug and I were up late (and it is 2am EST right now) working on bikes and getting them ready. He will be in the pits tomorrow while I am out on the course watching the kids. We will be conferenced in with each other most of the race communicating and making sure everyone is doing well.

The best part is that I am excited. More excited than when I race myself. Excited for my daughter and her progression this year and her ability to get done what 4 months ago was impossible. Excited that she has been able to see what hard work can do for her, not just in sports, but in her life. Excited that she will be competing and I get to support her.

Simply excited that I am here with her.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Best Laid Plans

On Sunday I had this great idea. The Red Zone folks could get most of the bikes out to Oregon in there trailer - and had room for a lot of wheels and duffle bags, but not my 'bike'. So, I sent my wheels on Kenzie's bike, but my helmet and shoes in a duffle, and then I would only have to ship my frame. I could then use the extra room in the bike case for all my other cycling clothes and related items.

I got my bike all packed up and ready and shipped it on Monday. Immediately it had an 'exception' - turns out the storm that just hit the Midwest put down the same blizzard out west and the exception was a potential weather delay. Immediately my brain raced through all the potential options - from borrowing someone's bike to buying one and reselling immediately on ebay.

Fast forward to today and as I was sitting in the Seattle airport I got an email saying my 'frame' was delivered. The relief spread through my entire body.

After a 35 minute flight over the mountains to Portland we met up with Doug Dobrozsi. All our flights went to schedule and everyone met up to caravan to Bend. Then Doug gave the Red Zone report.

At last contact the Red Zone van and trailer was sitting on the highway somewhere in Wyoming. The recent blizzard had closed the highway with three foot drifts. They were still 800 miles away with 36 hours left to the Juniors race time - less than 24 to my first race.

Now I have an opposite issue. May have to find shoes, wheels and a helmet to race tomorrow - oh, and some tools to put my bike back together.

The big concern is the Juniors. The Red Zone van went 200 miles in the previous 6 hours. At that pace they need another 24 hours to get here.

Hoping for a just in time arrival.

Tension in the Body

As I sit on the plane en route to the largest bike race of the 100's I
have done over the years, the mind is racing.

I was awaken this morning at 4:20 by the strong wind and heavy rain
beating on my window. The mind immediately thought about my flight - I
had no reason to worry yet, but with my bike potentially having issues
getting out there, the blizzard like conditions last weekend out west,
and the normal sensitivity to schedule issues I couldn't get back to
sleep. I did the math in my head and realized that I was up at 1:20 am
PST and likely wouldn't get to the hotel, check in, get dinner and get
settled until close to 9:00 pm PST. This isn't ideal conditions for
rest the day before the biggest race I have ever raced.

Mackenzie seems much more rested and relaxed than me - either due to
relative ignorance of her surroundings, or she could just be enjoying
and soaking it all in like we talked.

Either way, the excitement is building and the days will fly. Pictures
and stories to follow soon.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Last Minute Wacko

It is the last minute. I haven't packed. I leave tomorrow morning. Mackenzie is packed, I haven't started. Foot of snow, cold temperatures, mountains, and I don't know where any of my warm socks are.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

OVCX Last Race Recap


On the drive home I realized something somewhat profound about the experience of the last four months. The focus for the last four months was Mackenzie and getting her to realize how to compete, have fun, and work hard. Build skills in something she would enjoy athletically and take it one day at a time.

The learning was that while she may have come to understand these things, I probably learned more in the last four months than she did - and without really understanding it. All this time spent working with her had developed something in me that I didn't have a great grasp on previously - a better ability to be patient with the kids and a better ability to put their interests before my own.

Mackenzie was ecstatic today after her race, but in a different way than I expected. She couldn't believe she had won - kept asking if it was for real. She knew she had won when she came across the line, but was confused because she didn't expect it. The strongest girl in the field who had been winning all year (and Mackenzie's very good friend) had a bad day. She fell twice, dropped her chain twice and struggled. At some point Mackenzie will learn the opposite end of "racing", but today she learned the up side to racing. You never know...


And now we are off to Nationals. Ship my bike tomorrow via 2nd day air (that's gonna cost some $$$) and fly out on Wednesday. Bend is expecting 5 inches of snow and cold temps. Will definitely lead to a challenge. Mackenzie is overjoyed to be going and can't wait. She had no expectations of a placing, just wants to go, experience it, and ride.

I also can't wait, but not because of my racing. I am excited to spend five straight days (and 7 out of 9 including this weekend) with Mackenzie. It is a bonding that will be remembered for a life time. Mackenzie may not remember the lessons that I learned from her, but we will both remember the time spent.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Season's End


OVCX wraps up this weekend, and with Nationals next week, the end is in sight for 2009 cyclocross. I seem to be having the same withdrawal symptoms as last year, as well as the same bitter sweet feelings. While I do enjoy cyclocross and would love for more to the season, my body is telling me it is time to stop.

Before cyclocross for me there was dead air between about September and March, there are no real road races in that time frame. Cyclocross has filled a gap and keeps the brain moving forward through the end of the year, delivering me almost to January without the unpleasant lack of motivation that used to be experienced in that same time frame. By January one can see the horizon of road racing coming in March and realize that those races are won in January, before the holidays plant themselves firmly around one's mid-section.

This year the bitter extends itself further into my inner psyche. The last cross races means the end of the weekly planned time with Mackenzie and to a lesser degree Madeleine. In the beginning of the season it was weird to rotate my schedule to a different tune and get my own training in, but the last half of the season I really started to enjoy it. I already miss the days at Kingswood where it would be dark, but both the girls would come to me and say they wanted to keep riding despite not being able to see.

My hope for the winter/spring is no longer that I stay in shape enough to do spring races, but instead that my daughter(s) continues the interest in the sport. Sure, it it is very convenient that I like the same sport, but her ability is way better than mine. Her technical handling is already better than mine and with some power development she would be hard to handle.

Even if she shows no more interest in the sport after this season, I will always remember the fall of 2009. The trip to Louisville, the many, many nights spent at Kingswood, the driving to and fro the different venues, and after next week, Nationals and Bend, Oregon. The early forced conversations about technique and equipment that turned later to questions from her on how to get better.

Wishing next season started tomorrow.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Maddie Joins the Fray



(Yes, this is long - sort of turned into a journal entry and not a blog post)

Any dad with girls will tell you that the drama of raising girls can be overwhelming at times, and some of that drama was chronicled last week with Mackenzie and her progression throughout the season. This week I turned my attention to Maddie and prodding her to finish her first real Juniors race.

Maddie has a very verbal approach to things that approaches a stream of consciousness commentary of what is happening at the moment. From a father perspective you get a very clear picture of what is going through her mind almost the entire time she is doing something. However, from a coaching perspective it becomes hard to convince her to try new things – as the running commentary is typically “I can’t do this daddy”, followed by grunting and general noises of discontent.

Getting her into cyclocross started several months ago at the same time as Mackenzie with inclusion in Kids On Bikes. At the time the approach was “since Kenzie is going, why not try it…” She agreed, but was grumbly at many points along the way. Similar to Mackenzie she had different points of epiphany.

Maddie started on a 20” multi-geared bike. The bike was very functional, but also VERY heavy – notable heavy. The fork alone on the bike was over 6 lbs – I had lightened Mackenzie’s entire bike to 21 lbs from a start of 30 lbs earlier, and I am sure that Maddie’s bike was at least 35 lbs. When rolling on flat ground and doing general riding this doesn’t come into play too much, but throw a hill and a cyclocross barrier in the way and suddenly you have a 9 year old trying to hoist half her weight over a 40cm barrier – and for a 9 year old to hoist 35 lbs it quite a chore.

The first epiphany was when I inherited a 24” Specialized from a good friend. It had served his boys well – and it showed that service – and was perfect to test whether Maddie really wanted to keep going. She was overjoyed when she realized she got to ride a faster, lighter bike. Not only did she like riding at Kids On Bikes, but now she wanted to ride her bike at home and worked out a route that she could do on her own. She would come home from school and want to ride it right away, and the improvement in her riding was noticeable. She wanted to continue riding at Kingswood after practice was over – many times until it was almost impossible to see.

The second epiphany came with yet a different bike. Early in November I upgraded Mackenzie to a real cyclocross bike, a really cool Redline 44cm, and Madeleine got another hand me down as a result. Now she had 26” wheels and about 5 fewer lbs to lug around. More things that were previously “impossible” in her mind became more possible. As an example we discussed riding up hills and the need to down shift to an easier gear – staying on the bike is faster than getting off. My comments were met with immediate resistance “Dad, I don’t like the easy gears. They are boring and you don’t go fast!”

About three weeks ago I told her I thought she should do a real Juniors race. She had been doing the kids race – and taking home hardware from those races – but was old enough to do real Junior races by about 5 months. I told her I thought John Bryan would be a great time to start – typically flat course, typically no huge obstacles, and good chance of success. This was met with the typical “I can’t do it Daddy, it is too hard” resistance, but we had enough time to keep working on her.

Last weekend she did the kids race at Southeastway Park and showed some real spunk. She had a great start and from the outside line she cut off the kid on the inside line and took the hole shot. She was leading the race, but got hung up in the tape a couple of places and lost her mojo. She finished, and was the first girl, but was dejected because of the tape incident.

We continued to encourage during the week and made sure she knew that there were no expectations of her race finish, except for simply completing the race. All that mattered to us was a race finish, no matter what place she came in. It took some bartering and a Graeter’s reward was required to seal the deal.

Saturday night before the big day it all started to hit her – what had she signed herself up for? She was obviously nervous and was having trouble getting to sleep – still awake at 10:45 when I went up to make sure her covers were on. I feared the worst.

Sunday morning came and we were all up early. The approach I had taken with Mackenzie was to get to the course early to ride and instruct on lines, etc, so I felt it wise to do the same with Madeleine. We left the house before eight with Maddie obviously tired and dragging a bit. Upon arrival we all got on our bikes and rode the course together. Maddie was quick to pick up on the length of the John Bryan course, which was almost 2 miles in length, long for a cyclocross course, and about a quarter of the way through asked me if we were almost to the end.

When we had ridden the course I sent Maddie back to the car to rest and get ready. After a warm up lap and a guarantee that she would ride 2 laps in the race, it was going to be 3 laps (6 miles) of riding for her. This was definitely going to test her dedication.

Mackenzie got warmed up and I got dressed and started warming up while Maddie was curled up with a book in the car. Every fifteen minutes or so I would stop and check in on her and make sure she was doing fine – and have her do something else to get ready – pin on her number, eat a GU, have some trail mix. About 30 minutes before her race we started to get everything ready.

We met at the start line for the Lionhearts team photo, which included Maddie. Then the nerves set in and the stream of consciousness commentary started as well. “I don’t think I can finish Daddy” “What if I don’t get on the podium Daddy?” “How many girls are registered Daddy?”

All the kids lined up for the start, about 40 Juniors, and they were off. Maddie got an amazing start and was with the main group of her age class through the first 1/8th of a mile, something I wasn’t expecting. She came out of the first singletrack clean and kept riding – and at this point seemed determined. As she wound around the course the first time she was doing well, but about three quarters of the way through the first lap she started to tire. I grabbed my bike and start riding outside the course the best I could to encourage her. She dropped her chain at one point and burst into tears, she knew that finishing was what was important and a dropped chain jeopardized that. I ignored the outside assistance rule of cyclocross, jumped onto the course and fixed the chain and she was back on her way. (Note to self, install a chain keeper…)

This time I tried to stay with her the entire way through the second lap. She was going to start getting lapped by the 17-18 and 15-16 year olds and I didn’t want that to spook. I rode close behind keeping her focused and riding the best I could.

Then I got called to staging for my race – and I wouldn’t be able to be there for her. I left to go line up, hoping that nothing else happened that would prevent a finish for her. Betsy was at the finish line, but it was hard to see that from the course.

I suited up, raced my race pretty undramatically, and then went to find Betsy. Maddie did finish and claimed third in the state for her efforts. When we handed the medal to her she lit up light a Christmas tree, not wanting to believe what she had earned. She had finished something that just yesterday she didn’t even think could be done. All the drama, all the emotion, all the worry had left her now and she knew she was capable.

After all this effort to get it completed, it makes you wonder if she will want to do it again? It was difficult to get to here from a parenting perspective. A lot of coaching, a lot of crying, a lot of things that dad’s just aren’t naturally good at. On the way home we were all talking and she let rip a statement that made me realize that she may be hooked on this after all:

“Daddy, I think I can go faster. I think I could have gone faster today.”

Monday, November 23, 2009

Kenzie's Big Weekend (or Dad's...)

Months ago there was crying, negativity, and general disdain for athletics and even the thought of doing anything that was "hard". The process of getting Mackenzie, and subsequently Madeleine, involved in cyclocross started almost as a mandate. It wasn't because I was forcing her to ride because I rode, WE were forcing her to do something athletic for fitness.

Mackenzie wanted to do Cross Country, we both approved. Then she didn't want to run...at all...and while on vacation in Florida there were gigantic dinosaur size tears as mom and dad were "forcing" her to do something on her vacation. She was to have been doing this for a month already, but we both knew if she didn't start then the first week of practice would be awful.

Finally she came clean and said "I was only doing Cross Country because my friend was doing it and I knew I HAD to do something...but I really don't like to run..."

I suggested cyclocross - no pressure. Let's just go to kids on bikes, try it and see what happens. Over the next several months there were moments of elation and moments of emotion - one day she LOVED it, next day she HATED it. But we persevered.

At the Middletown race she made the podium, finishing in 3rd place, and got a trophy. The light bulb started to go on, but there was still a lot of concern and feelings of inadequacy - sure she wasn't really good enough. But, she kept working at it and each week got a little better. This was her first real athletic adventure, so she wasn't used to this progression.

One of the biggest battles was feeling like she had to WIN everything. "What if I don't get on the podium?" Constant reminders that we don't expect wins, only effort, followed by reassurance after the races.

In the last couple weeks everything started to click. I started working with her on flying remounts to speed up her pace over the barriers. After giving some instruction, she finished it all by herself. Over the period of a week she had trained herself to get back on so smoothly that friends who have ridden for several years were jealous of how smoothly she could remount and ride off.

Everything was building nicely into the two day Indianapolis weekend. She is stronger, mentally tougher, and way more confident than she was 3 months ago. This was her weekend to show what progress she had made.

On Saturday there were four girls in the 13-14 girls race - only one of which she had beaten previously. We talked about strategy and what to do - just ride hard and go for the full time period. She got off to a slow start, but by the time she hit the first hill had already passed two of the three girls. After the next segment she was behind the two girls, but it was because she had fallen and had to get back up - but she was right on their wheel. She followed them down the descent and then on the next section put them away - a sizeable gap after the first lap, and a gap that grew.

The result was great, but the difference was in the attitude and the approach. She had learned many things and put them to practice. She didn't panic at any time. She rode hard the entire way. She maintained focus the entire race - no way that happened back in September.

The next day was a different challenge. Rachel, a girl who has been doing this for 6+ years and way ahead of Kenzie mechanically and physically as a result, was not going to be there. Kenzie had gone from a beginner just hoping to finish in September to the favorite. She suddenly realized this and the nerves set in.

I finished my race, which was right before hers, and came back to find her in tears. She didn't feel good and wasn't sure what to do. I worked to calm her and keep her mentally in the game, and then the community of cyclocross happened - Mr Haley from Red Zone overheard and gave her the same advice - "just have fun". Pre-teens tend to listen to people other than their parents and while she wasn't ecstatic, she seemed better. I topped things off with the token "Take Luck!", a quote from Brian Regan that she and I joked about all season long, and finally a smile came to her face.

I left the start/finish to give her some time to calm herself and wait for the start. She was off and got a pretty good start. The first lap she traced the steps of her main competition, but at the end of the first lap she took off. She put some power into it and rode away from her competition. So much so that she had to complete 3 laps for the first time this year. Usually the leader of one of the races had lapped her and she would get pulled a lap earlier.

She finished the 3rd lap and dad was way more excited than she was. I ran from the start finish to where she came to a rest and gave her a big hug. She had just won a race for the first time. Instead of getting engrossed in the win, she stopped to have a nice conversation with Eden Webb, daughter of Morgan Webb and an excellent rider to boot (winner of girls 10-12). Kenzie was excited she won, but was more interested in stopping and talking with a fellow competitor.

Whether it had anything to do with Betsy and I's discussion with her or not Kenzie was displaying what sportsmanship is about. She knew she had won for the first time and chose not to display that emotion immediately, but to save it for when the time was right.

When the call for podiums came, she hitched up her socks (quite the fashion trend in cross these days), was the first one onto the podium, and raised her hands with a smile and excitement I had never seen before. She knew she had accomplished something and knowing that and being able to display it in a simple way with hands raised was enough for her.

Dad was way more emotional.