Photo: Smiling because I’m done training for 2024 and I qualified for the 2025 National Senior Games
Straddling my bike, I wait my turn to start the 5K time trail. The race referee sends off a rider every 30 seconds starting with the 50 year olds working up to my 70 to 74 age group. This is day two of the 2024 Minnesota Senior Games. This year’s Minnesota Senior Games are qualifying races for the National Senior Games next year in Des Moines, IA. My goal is to qualify for four cycling events in the 2025 Nationals (top 4 spots in each cycling race qualify).
Tired and still recovering from my two week climbing trip to Wyoming and yesterday’s races, it would have been easy to stay home. Instead, I was up at 4:30 am for the 90 minute drive to St. Cloud. The 5K time trial is a short course in pain: eight minutes sprinting at aerobic capacity. By the time your body warms up, the race is over. In addition, the skies are overcast, the air cool with light rain. I really don’t want to be here. Sometimes just showing up for a competition or life event is the hardest part.
We all make plans and commitments. Often it is easy to find excuses to cancel. It was hard to train this year: a wet and cold spring made riding difficult. The first three bi-weekly practice races put on by my local bike and ski shop, Gear West, were cancelled by storms. My personal training business expanded by over 50 percent leaving less time to train. My training schedule was dominated by training for my mountaineering goals. Excuses were easy to come by, but I showed up anyway.
Showing up is not just about being physically present. It’s also about being mentally and emotionally engaged. Whether it’s a race or relationship, you have to be engaged and connected. You have to pay attention. I have missed my race starting time because my mind was wondering. Not paying attention in a business meeting or to what your significant other is saying can be trouble.
One racer ahead of me as the referee counts down the seconds. Yesterday I took third place in both the 10K time Trial and the 20K road race. I can do better. Even though I didn’t want to be here, I am engaged, focused, and paying attention. My turn at the line; the referee counts 3, 2, 1 and I’m off. Eight minutes of pain and I’m done—good enough for a gold medal. The 40K road race is next. All riders over 60 start together. I am not sure who is in my age group. On the final of four laps, a group accelerates around the final turn. I don’t have the legs to match their speed. It doesn’t matter, they are all younger than me and I take the gold in my age group.
I showed up and paid attention. My effort was good enough to qualify for Nationals. It feels good.