Four years ago I swore off racing, well truth be told my body swore off racing. Six years of riding the the Ontario and Canadian mountain bike circuit and thinking I was invincible lead to a brick wall. A brick wall made of repeated sickness, emotional burn out and adrenal fatigue. 2004 was supposed to be the year that I ranked within the top 20 in Canada, instead I fell off the map mid season.

I tried to fight it.

I tried to fight the physical exhaustion, but everytime I got back on my bike to train I got sick. A cold here, a migraine there, the flu, waking up at 28 unable to move with seized back, the list goes on.

I tried to tell myself I still loved to ride. Training rides where monotonous. Pre-rides provided no excitement of what was to come the next day. One lap into a race in the blazing sun and I was wondering what I was doing there. What I missed was the love of the ride.

I lost the fight and swore off racing, for what I thought was forever…

and then…..

Today I find myself sitting here writing this blog with aching glutes and quads, and a familiar welcome fatigue, that I haven’t felt for 4 years.

Yesterday, I picked up our first sponsor/trail product.

Three days ago I was working out a contra deal with a personal trainer to kick our butts.

A week ago I was designing our team logo and setting up this blog.

A week and a half ago I found myself setting up Phase I of our training schedule.

And two weeks ago I found myself sitting in a room with someone I barely know signing up for the BC Bike Race! And I really didn’t know if we shared much more than an addiction to adrenaline…

I guess only time will tell!