Next UP--Crank the Kanc!

I'm racing on Saturday. It's not a Triathlon. It's not a road race. It's not a swim meet.
It's my First Bike TT. I have no idea what I'm doing.
This is Crank the Kanc.. in other words Crank your gears UP the Kancamagus Highway. It's a 22 mile hillclimb that apparently ends with 6 miles that make you beg for mercy.
Talk about climbing out of my comfort zone. I couldn't be more out of my comfort zone with this one. But I can promise you that I'll put it all out there and Push these legs until they're burning.
If anyone has any thoughts...shoot 'em my way. I am all ears.
One thing that is nice--I have no expectations. I feel no pressure. It's all new and it's an open book. I'll gain nothing but mental toughness and experience pushing myself to a new place on the bike.
All I need to do, as my friends continue to tell me, is keep my tires inflated.

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I'm a proud Mom.
Do you all remember those Presidential Physical Fitness tests we had when we were kids? I always had fun moving my way through those challenges.
Ok--it's my son's turn. He's in 4th grade. He has been active and involved with sports for years. However, he's been growing inches in his sleep and his running form has lacked finesse until recently. He is at that 10 year old awkward stage. He's long and lanky and trying to find his place in the social world. He has friends that are cool and fast and seem to know just what to say and how to move. Without laying too many personal details about my son out for the world, let's just say that 4th grade hasnt' been smooth as butter. I admire him and how he knows right from wrong. But in the end, he's a kid who just wants to be accepted and liked.
Now, back to running. Last year he ran track. He did this strange thing with his arm where it would swing behind him when he ran. This year, it stopped. His form is good. And he is getting faster.
Last Friday was his day to run the Mile at school for the physical fitness test. Parents were invited to come to the HS Track to watch their kids. Sadly, I was out of town this day. I was enjoying myself at the USAT coaching certification course in Orlando but I was disappointed I was unable to watch Cam run. He was fired up. The two of us had gone for a few 2 mile runs together. I warned him about pacing. I encouraged him to take it out with control and try to go faster and faster with each lap. As frustrated as I can get as a Mom with 3 boys, because they seem to 'never listen,' I will say that Cameron listens Very carefully to me with this type of thing.
Mark went to the track to watch.
I called him during my 15 minute break that morning.
I stood in the parking lot with tears in my eyes. Not because of Cam's good run...but because of what happened at the end of it.
The grade was split into two groups. Imagine running on a track with Half a Grade!! That's 40 or 50 kids per heat! Cameron went in group 1 and was separate from his friends.
1st 400 1:51
2nd 400 1:47
3rd 400 1:50
final lap 1:37
Mile time 7:05 !!!!!
Cam won his heat, overtaking someone else during the final lap.
As he rounded the final corners all his friends in the 2nd group, the kids he tries so so hard to be accepted by (yes, friend is a tricky word at this age) and who sometimes laugh when he is teased, began Chanting, "Cameron Cameron Cameron Cameron." His teacher was beside herself with happiness for him. They high fived him. They 'belly slammed' him. (whatever that is...remember, 4th grade boys.) It was a happy moment for him. Only one other child in the entire 4th grade ran faster than him!
Tears of pride ran down my face. I shut my phone off and went back into my classroom.
That's my boy.