End of Summer/Fall Arrives

Sunset behind the clouds at Coquina Beach, Florida

Beach walk, Coquina Beach, Florida

Wow. Is it really OCTOBER?? Hard to believe how quickly the last month has flown -- although so much has happened in the last 4 weeks, it's easy to see how I lost track of time. I headed down to Bradenton, Florida in mid-September to hang out with my father-in-law, Fred, recovering from heart surgery. We spent our days being active and walking, as he worked to rebuild his strength for the upcoming winter softball league. (Go, Fred!) I managed a few interval runs while I was there, although the heat and humidity killed me.

Rebecca Gross, Day One of KMC Cross Fest

Ben Gomez Villafane, Day Two KMC Cross Fest

Returning home for the first weekend in October, I discovered Fall had arrived while I was gone (!), and cyclocross season was upon us!! We were set to host former Vanderkitten CX racer Rebecca Gross for KMC Cross Fest, and made arrangements for Caro's younger brother, Ben Gomez Villafane (racing as a UCI Elite Junior) to stay with friends for the weekend. Plans shifted a bit when I returned from Florida -- with Rebecca opting to stay closer to the venue, and Ben needing transportation to Connecticut each day -- but it all worked out perfectly and I got to spend the weekend watching both of them race. Really fun! It was awesome to see Rebecca again, (she is returning to stay with us for GP Gloucester), as well as spend some time with Ben as we drove to/from the Thompson Motor Speedway each day. (Love him. Such a terrific young man.)

Fall has arrived!

Finally, this past weekend I was able to take advantage of my first free Saturday in a month to get out for a Cyclopath ride with the breakfast gang! There were only four of us for the ride on Saturday -- a consistent turnout this year. Our rides this season are coming to an end, the leaves are just starting to change and the air is crisp and cold -- my favorite time of year, although that sentiment is not shared on a chilly morning. Hopefully we'll squeeze in one or two more breakfast rides before wrapping up for the year.

Andddd.... Coffeeneuring started this weekend! If I get out there today, I'M IN for 5-7 more weeks. Better get on that.

Spectating at Gran Prix of Gloucester

On the heels of hosting Tiffany Pezzulo over the weekend, we had planned to have VKCX rider Caro Gomez-Villafane, (now with Specialized/Muscle Milk), move in during the Holy Week of Cross, but last minute funding issues forced her to pull out. I didn't tell the boys she wasn't coming until the last minute... because I wanted them to keep their bathroom clean for her visit, (hahaha)... and I'm sad she couldn't make it out here. Hopefully it will work out another time.

Still, there was a lot of racing to catch at Gran Prix Gloucester this year! Chip's friend, George Piepgras, is doing terrific in the U14 junior category, so we went up to Gloucester to watch him race. Chip is still intent on becoming a road pro -- (and thank you Tiffany, AKA "If you're going to go pro, you're going to need pro socks", for giving him your DNA racing socks! He looooves them!) -- George and Chip are good training buddies for their pro ambitions, and George did great in Gloucester.

Other people to watch in Gloucester included VKVIP teammie Olivia Lord and her young daughter Poppy, Strava friend Karen Lynn, some of the girls from NEBC, and of course my coach, Shayne Gaffney. Shayne had a horrific injury this summer and was off the bike for a long time -- so it's really inspiring to watch his comeback.

Caro, Rebecca, and Zane were missed a ton -- but it was a fun weekend of spectating in Gloucester.

Weekend Championship Fun

It's World Championship weekend, with both CX Worlds and the Super Bowl. Yesterday I watched our girl Carolina Gomez Villafane race for her home country Argentina in the Cyclocross World Championships in Tabor. We were thrilled to be one of Caro's sponsors as she headed to Tabor, and sooooo proud of her finish. World Cup points placement put her at the back of the pack to start, but she moved up to 25th place during the race until another rider's crash held her back. She finished the race in 39th place -- sooooo happy for her! (Also competing at the World Cup was Vanderkitten's Elle Anderson (now on the BMW p/b Happy Tooth Dental Group team) finishing 40th, (I could hear Jono cheering from California); and local racer Crystal Anthony placing 25th. (GREAT finish for her. She should be thrilled.)

The women's race was really exciting. Edge-of-your-seat racing. OMG. Pauline Ferrand-Prevot getting past Sanne Cant for the win. OMG. Really exciting race. Why women's cycling doesn't get more attention is a mystery. It's so rad.

The men's race earlier today was not nearly as exciting to watch. Perhaps because I have a less vested interest in the men? Let's face it, women rock. But I was cheering for Jonathan Page today, and felt a tug in my heart seeing him cross the finish line at 23rd. He had a heartbreaking week.

We're on to the Super Bowl. Cheering for the New England Patriots, of course. I bundled up for my ride in Patriots gear today, (nineteen degrees), and set off to look for the Snowy owls down at Goldthwaite Reservation. Sadly I didn't find any... but I'll keep looking.

Go Patriots!

Strava - Prove it

A bunch of weeks ago, at the Rapha Supercross in Gloucester, I was sitting next to a lovely lady and her husband, while waiting for the next race to start. Caro and Rebecca had just finished their Elite Women's race, and the Elite Men were soon to follow. Pro racer Ted King walked by and stopped to say hello to the woman beside me -- and when he left a few minutes later, I mentioned I had a friend who had a mad crush on him. She chuckled and said, "Who doesn't?" Hahaha. She was great!

We chatted for a bit before the race started, and I asked if she was cheering for anyone in particular. She replied, "Tim. I'm his mom." She was quite proud -- you could hear it in her voice -- and I knew just how she felt. I love watching my boys play their sports as well. I didn't know who "Tim" was... and asked "Tim who?",  and she politely answered, "Tim Johnson."

"Oh." I laughed, "He's a big deal, isn't he?" She laughed with me -- and what a great smile she had. She was just as sweet as can be.

I thought of her today when I read the above quote from her son -- part of the Strava Prove It campaign. Those words actually hit home for me. Maybe this past year fell flat for lack of a true goal.

I've met several pro riders, (a few through Vanderkitten, of course), but Tim Johnson isn't one of them. (He's actually from nearby Middleton). I have to say, with a mom like his, though, he must be a terrific guy. So, three cheers to Tim Johnson's mom and well-thought-out goals.

Easy Spin with the VKCX Team

Just another day left before the VKCX gang departs for Rochester, (so sad). After the weekend's challenging races in Providence, (and a late night on Sunday), Monday was a low key day for all of us. Rebecca and Caro had a hard weekend of racing, and an easy recovery spin was on the day's agenda. The four of us took a casual ride through Marblehead, down the streets I grew up on, stopping along the way at Old Burial Hill, (where Zane looked for the oldest gravestone), and Grace Oliver's Beach, (to check out the rocks and seaweed?).

Riding with the three of them was fun, as they each took turns riding the gnarly sidewalks down West Shore Drive, jumping the curbs and tree roots bulging up through the asphalt. Zane took a bloody wipeout on one of the jumps, which wasn't much fun, though he brushed it off. (His arm is sporting some gross road rash today.) We took the trail home, where Caro spotted a large PVC drainage pipe to ride through. (Wish I got a photo of that!)

It was a short ride, but a typical recovery spin for them. Lots of fun.

KMC Cyclocross Festival, Providence

Cold, rainy, muddy Saturday.

I'm told it was perfect cyclocross weather for

Rebecca, Caro and Zane. Brrrrrr.....

Catching up. Is it Tuesday already?

The past few days have gone quickly as the Vanderkitten CX team has settled in. The weekend's cyclocross races at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester were a blast, and now I'm totally itching to try cyclocross. Being a VanderkittenVIP has opened up so many new opportunities for me in such a short year -- first RAAM and now cyclocross! I love, love, love having Rebecca, Caro and Zane in the house. It's been ah-maaaa-zing.

The Rapha Super Cross Gloucester was... WOW. I don't think I'll ever look at Stage Fort Park the same way again. It was actually a little overwhelming to watch all of the races, (though I missed Shayne's early race as the girls didn't need to be up in Gloucester so early. It's a long day.) I saw and met riders I've only read about and admired but never met before, and that was kinda cool -- (Rebecca and Caro are my faves, though) -- and ran into a few friends while I was there, but missed a bunch, too. It was a lot to take in. Mostly I just chilled out and absorbed it all -- which means it will all hit me later like a shot of adrenaline. Ohmigosh, I need a cross bike!

Up next is the KMC Cyclo-Cross Festival in Providence this weekend. Yaaay! The fun continues!

Rapha Super Cross Gloucester

Great weekend of cyclocross in Gloucester!

Vanderkitten CX

An active weekend of cyclocross as the Vanderkitten CX team competes at the Rapha Super Cross Gloucester. Next mission: Add cyclocross to my 2015 goals. (Thanks, Rebecca, Caro, and Zane for the endless advice and encouragement!)

Day 24: 30 Days of Biking, VKCX

Another short ride today as I had some last minute house prep to do before the Vanderkitten pro team arrived. (Excuses, excuses... I know). It's been hard getting in miles lately, and I've resigned myself to knowing that September is a low mileage month -- but at least I'm still riding! P2 (or Pure Power Cycling, the indoor training program at B&S Fitness) starts next week, (alas, without Shayne), so I'll kick it up a notch and get a head start on a winter training plan.

Mondo kudos go out to #30DaysOfBiking (and Strava) pal John Phillips, who completed 365 Days of Biking tonight. So amazing. Congrats, John!

And welcome to the VKCX gang!! We're so excited you're here!

The last time Caro was in my hood

It's Official! VKCX 2015

As the racing season winds down at Vanderkitten, VK founder Dave Verrecchia is announcing a return to Cyclocross this fall with a small development team. Vanderkittens Elle Anderson and Emily Kachorek are racing with other sponsors during CX season, (as VK has not fielded a team for many years), but two new riders have signed on to Vanderkitten for VKCX 2015 -- Rebecca Gross from Boulder, Colorado, and Caro Gomez Villafañe from Argentina. (Sweetheart VKVIP/Development rider Kennedy Hill, a phenom at 13, will also be competing this fall. Go, Kennedy!)

The CX team will lean on VKVIP help for host housing, team support, race events, and clinics, etc. around the country. (The racing schedule, which includes US UCI events, has not yet been released).  It's a very exciting direction for Vanderkitten! For me, I have a small dilemma. One of the biggest cyclocross events in New England, the Gran Prix of Gloucester, happens to take place the same weekend as the Canary Challenge. Errgghhhh. Decisions, decisions. I want to be a part of both! I really do need a clone!

(I'm liking the new colors too!! Can't wait for my new jersey to arrive in September!) Go, Vanderkitten! #kittenlove