February 10, 2012 (Los Angeles, CA) – Brian and I have struggled a bit the last few weeks getting our groove on at this California training camp. We came together as a team late last year and had some success on the track winning the National Championship in the 4km Pursuit. With no practice on the track leading up to the event, and with me being a brand new pilot on the track with no race experience, the two of us came together on race day and had the race of our lives in Bromont, QC, winning the gold. This training camp has gone nothing like that race.

We are here competing at Worlds because of that result, not because we have done anything since that event to prove we are worthy to be here. The National Champs should be here, of course – but how do you know if you’re prepared? We found out we could have been more prepared. Brian lives in B.C. and I live in Ontario. We keep in touch quite a bit over the phone and computer, but have done no riding or training together since last summer.

Two guys going to the Track Worlds without riding the track together until two weeks before the event = uncertainty. I have no complaints about the camp. It has been amazing and helped get us into as good of form as possible in two short weeks. I’m amazed at how far we came in such little time. There is nothing better than some structured training with your coach watching over you with a stop watch. I have enjoyed being a coach along with operating a coaching business the last few years, but I think I have enjoyed being coached just as much. It is my first experience having a coach, and man does it bring out the best in me. The para Head Coach, Eric Van Den Eynde, just seems to have seen it all and always knows the right thing to say.

I have always thought I was un-coachable but some good luck has brought me to him and opened up my mind. I now think there is someone for everyone, because he really has the style I need and enjoy.

I woke up on race day happy this morning before my alarm. That normally is a sign that I have had enough sleep and it makes me happy, because it really doesn’t happen too often. Before a big event, sometimes your mind can really sap you of good sleep and last night I can honestly say the race didn’t enter my mind once. I think this only happens when you are prepared and have done everything right leading up to the big event. I have been feeling very strong the last few days and kinda knew today was going to be my day. As we got to the track I looked around and just soaked up the atmosphere.

I love how some of the teams warm up on the track and how some are just motoring along on their trainers. I get up for this stuff. I feel the energy around me and it is such a high. I always feel like I was meant to do this. Then after going to the bathroom for the 6th time I wonder who am I kidding…? I’m really nervous.

Brian and I do our warm-up and then go and sit and wait for the race to start. Right before the start we go over everything – relax off the start, first lap 23, second try for 17 seconds, and the go with the flow, no panicking and both agree never ever do we quit on each other no matter what happens. We hit knuckles and then get on the bike.

The start is crazy. Two men twisting a steel frame apart going from 0 to 60kms and hour as fast as we can. The back tire doesn’t squeal but the grunts and groans from every pedal stroke are heard around the track. It really is impressive to watch and I think could be one of my favourite parts of the whole sport. We get up to speed and settle into the drops. First lap is a bit slow, but the second is right on target. We start better than we have all camp and the first four laps are perfect. On race day you can do some crazy stuff and we were banking on this to happen.

At the halfway mark our lap times are creeping up, but we are still doing better than I thought. After 12 laps (3/4 mark), the pace starts to get outside of 17 seconds and that’s a problem. We had reached our limit and now we were holding on for dear life. Our track cadence was hitting a road cadence and the speed was dropping big time. When you go by the coach and he doesn’t yell the time anymore you know you’re in trouble. I was breathing like a fat kid and in a world of pain those last few laps, but I did everything I possibly could. As we crossed the line I gave my lions roar because I was extremely proud of the effort.
We didn’t quit, even when things weren’t going our way.

I was proud of Brian because he gave everything he had – he kept his word. As we both walked on Jell-o legs to some chairs, I looked up to see our time. It wasn’t so good. A 4:39 wasn’t going to cut it at the Worlds. A 4:39 got us 9th place out of 12 tandems. I cried a bit trying to hide my face and then realized the time didn’t matter. I looked over at Brian and saw the state he was in too. He gave his all and I was happy to have done the same. I put my arm around him and made sure he knew I appreciated him.

It was one of those moments where you do your best and can be proud of your efforts even when you are nowhere near the podium. It doesn’t happen that way too often, but today was one of those days.

Our teammates Daniel Chalifour and Alex Cloutier were incredible today, capturing the bronze, and Marie Claude Molnar also took bronze in the 500 metre TT.

Next up…..the Kilo – tomorrow (Feb. 10) around 4pm.

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