On a chilly and damp morning in Brighton, Colorado, Schoolyard Cross was the flavor of the day with very challenging conditions, in particular for the juniors who had to race first and early. Pictures below are from their pre-ride lap which was hosted by one of their mentors and coaches, Greg Keller, of the well known Cyclocross Blog Mud and Cowbells. With this said, I would like to ad my three cents worth after observing all of the junior racing on the front range this season.
It's probably pretty easy as a coach or mentor of these kids to get caught up in making them better riders, faster riders, kids that will turn into champs on the podium....but I gotta tell you from the "outside", where I get to observe these kids every week for the most part, there have been some huge changes in these kids, when you are around it all the time you may not see it as clear as it actually is. For one thing, these kids are indeed getting really good. But there is a much bigger picture, these kids are learning very valuable life lessons during the coaching and competition portion of their programs. From BJC/Curve, Alpha, Black Sheep and the new Dawson youth clubs, it's been very fulfilling to call their efforts out on course each week. These kids show an amazing amount of character and sportsmanship out there every week. What they go through is incredibly difficult, we all know that as adults, but they take the challenges on squared up and head on, and they compete, and then play like kids when it's over, and have fun, and there are no losers. The coaches and mentors and adults who support these efforts are to be commended, you have created a generation of future adults that are sure to pass on the good word and ethic, because you do not line it up in a CX race, no matter if you are 8 or 88, without staring straight down a huge mound of adversity, and to conquer it at the finish line is a great life lesson, and all while suffering and in the name of fun. It's really good shit to see. Well done.
I would have run away from home at this age if something like this, this early in the day, was even suggested....
Keller making sure the future of Cross is solid....
The unforgiving mud of Schoolyard CX, which the kids had to race on first.
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