The more and more I get into cyclocross the more I appreciate that it revolves similar to football.
American Football. I for one, love it. I grew up in the 80's a Steelars fan (who wasn't?) and today I love the Colts (who doesn't?). I've always loved (or hated) the Irish and I am hoping the Golden Dome has some luck of the Irish this year for a change. Although I love the roots of college ball, I do enjoy the NFL and I feel pretty lucky to be watching the Peyton Manning legacy play out. He plays smart and I love that, I love combining smarts with athletic talent. Maybe that's why I love cyclocross. Although you got to be able to pull the power, you also need to be able to pick lines and equipment that will give you a slight advantage.
The months leading up to August for football involve lots of personal efforts in the winter and spring, mini training camps; most if them are voluntary, just like cyclocross. In cross, you can choose to put in the boring core workouts or you can not. Its fun to play in the big lights on Sunday night, but its not as cool doing endless workouts in a gym, but those workouts pay off in the end. Right now, mandatory team camps are getting ready to take place for the football teams. Some of the guys are "stalling" with contract agreements and other distractions. Although I don't deal with those things, its time to decide weather my own personal training camps are mandatory and how much I plan on committing to the weekly cross workouts. While cx for the average Joe seems like a long way away, just as football fans think; now is actually the time to make all the details come together that will make a successful cx debut. My camps are mandatory!
(One of the greatest Qb of all time, puts in his share of hard work just like everyone else.)
As I've said before, the only downfall of cx is that it actually is the same time as football. That makes keeping up with the NFL almost impossible, and college ball almost equally as hard. I try to squeeze in what I can on TV, but making it to the games are pretty much out, since the week of football and cross are also similar in structure. Monday rest, Tues review, wed big practice day, thur preview, friday final preps, Sat travel/ race, Sunday= game on! Its go, go, go until the year end for the super bowl and national championships. Every race, like every game is important, some more than others, but each is approached with the same routine. Tony Dungy would tell you the importance of this. He always wanted to keep the week structure and game day prep exactly the same, even for the Superbowl. I find this to be true of myself too, and I actually find comfort in the repetitiveness that cross season brings. So to me; football does equal cross in a lot of ways, and I can feel them both approaching fast!
On the personal update front: I am feeling better everyday. I still find I lack the endurance to pull out my normal daily life and rides just yet, but it improves a little each ride. I plan on starting back with my core workouts this week and I feel pretty lucky that I will be able to do that 3 weeks out from surgery! It's pretty amazing that less than 3 weeks ago I was laying in a hospital bed, and today I plan on doing a fairly organized ride.
I also had my 8 month follow up with the ankle surgeon (DAP) and I made some strong leaps with my ankle testing. I actually doubled my strength numbers from 2 months ago, which wasn't easy to do, but I'm super stoked about! DAP was equally impressed with this and I have full clearance to do anything I need to for cross and it looks like I will finally get to prep for cross season with a little jogging for the first time ever. I still am having some major issues with nerve pain, and although I didn't receive the best news about this, I'm not going to think about it right now as DAP and I both agreed that I didn't need to burden myself with the solution until after nationals. I will cross that bridge later, and pray that I can handle it for a little while longer. The great thing is that my hard work on getting the ankle stronger is paying off after a long battle.
Cross bikes are being built, it's a rainy day... the season is just around the corner. Do you have your Winston's Embro ready? I know I do.
"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn."
Psalm 18:32-36
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