The Bronze Age is 70

2017 was going to be my year. In 2014, I accidentally won the PA State Cyclocross Championship, discovered I was competitive nationally in the 65-69 age group, and realized that in 2016-2017, I would be the youngest in the Nationals 70-74 race. I seized this once-in-lifetime opportunity (maybe twice if I can still race at 75), bought a high-end bike and started training and racing seriously. I finished 2nd in PA in 2015 (Nunzio!), and raced in the 2015-2016 Nationals just as a dress rehearsal for 2016-2017. So here's 2016-2017's story...

From late winter through early summer, I trained like a fiend. In July, we took a couple of weeks off to travel to France (we saw the start of the Tour de France at Mont St. Michel! but I missed the Jeremy Powers clinic at Sly Fox). While we were there, my 94-year old Mom had a minor stroke. This was the wake-up call to move her from her own house to assisted living, but this meant we had to sell her house. Providentially, my niece was looking for a house and had the vision to see what her grandmother's house could become. I assumed the role of Accidental General Contractor to oversee replacing the roof, the heating system, refurbishing the basement, wiring, plumbing, etc.  In the midst of this, we decided it would be a good idea to have the aforementioned niece's wedding in our Meadow. It was a glorious wedding, but a LOT of work. Oh, yeah, we also were in the middle of a remodeling project on our own house.

Something had to give. I backed off training and only raced five times in 2016 (but I beat Nunzio twice!). Then on November 4th, I did an endo and landed hard on my shoulder. I raced two days later - Nunzio beat me, but not because of the shoulder - but two days after than, I reinjured the shoulder pretty badly, so I shut down indefinitely.

In December, the State Championship was looming and my shoulder was no better, so I got an x-Ray. I took one look at the x-Ray and it was obvious - my collarbone was broken! But the orthopedist respectfully disagreed - I had no break, just an AC joint sprain, and no career prospects as a radiologist. He said using my shoulder might set my recovery back, but wouldn't make the injury more serious. I decided to take my chances and enter the State Championship race.

There were four of us in the 65+ class this season - Nunzio, Don, Frank and I. Everyone knows Nunzio, Don owns a running store local to me, Frank's from Philly but comes to ALL the races. I was the only one whose racing age was 70, so even though I hadn't really trained for a month, as long as my bike and I crossed the finish line 45 minutes after the start, riding, walking or crawling, I'd be 70+ State Champ.

Trigger warning - here our story takes an unfortunate turn. After the warmup, Nunzio, Don and I were waiting to start when we heard someone say something about CPR. Then we saw an ambulance. Then we heard someone mention Frank's name.

Frank must have had a heart attack and died instantly on the bike. He had run up some steps, remounted, pedaled a few strokes then just collapsed. Our race was cancelled. We did a ceremonial lap in Frank's honor, but that was it for me for the day, maybe for the season.

The next week, we went to Frank's viewing. The clichés are actually true - "he died doing what he loved", "that's the way to go out", but it's still sad. Don couldn't attend, so the next day we told him stories from the viewing, then the conversation drifted to the Nationals. Don had entered in 65-69, and had looked over the 70-74 field. He claimed that even though I hadn't really trained for two months and still had a bad shoulder, I could get off the couch and make the podium. One cannot turn down such a challenge! And, speaking of clichés, "it's what Frank would have wanted".

So, we went to Hartford CT on January 3rd to race on the 4th. It wasn't as cold up north as I had feared, but it rained all afternoon. The main feature of the course is a 40 foot high "levee" that the pros can barely ride up when it's dry, and we mortals can barely "run" up when it's muddy. From the top of the levee, the course goes back down, back up, back and forth off-camber, etc. On the 4th, none of this was rideable ("Newton's Law" is the best illustration). I pre-rode the "slip-and-slide" (I made it twice!) but then the officials deemed it too absurd and roped it off. Even with the course shortened, laps were taking 15 minutes (~10 is normal), and people were carrying their bikes as much as riding them.

There were 10 of us in 70-74, I was on the front row, and I pulled ahead at the start!

J2M ahead running up to the levee

I had never led a race in my life, even ones I eventually won, so I gave it all I had. I stayed in front until the top of the levee, when the eventual winner passed me and never looked back. Last year's champion also passed me at some point, but that was it. I, J2M, the skinny asthmatic geeky kid, now athlete-by-attrition, slogged through the mud to finish third in the Nationals.

I am the bronze medalist. Who woulda thought?

Cyclocross magazine has great coverage of the event (here's my race plus the old guys' races). Check out the 84-year old guy, he is awesome (literally). Rick Abbott won my race, and his interview is also worth listening to. It almost makes me wish I had grandchildren (if any nieces or nephews are listening and want to give 'cross a shot, I've got the course). Sunday's races will be "televised" (Elite women 1:15, elite men 3:00); it will be better than football, trust me on this one.

So, that's it, probably for 5 years until I'm once again the youngest in my class. And RIP Frank.