New Years Resolution?

Category: Miscellaneous

New Year’s Revolutions

It really is cliché to say that a new year brings new beginnings. Why is it that everyone wants things to begin on January 1? Most cyclists probably are mixed on this. We all know that the cycling season doesn’t start until February or March (cyclocross notwithstanding), but the preparations often start as early as November. Still, as cliché as it is, a lot is new this year.

First and foremost for me is the birth of a child, though that also occurred in November. It feels new every day, though. Second and third, of pretty much equal importance (again, to me) is the opening of the Giordana Velodrome in Rock Hill and my becoming a cycling coach. These two pretty much go hand-in-hand for me as I’m focusing both my training/racing and coaching on the track this year.

I currently don’t have any client athletes, but I’m hoping things will get going once the track gets going. As far as racing, I have but one real goal or “A” race. The City of Rock Hill, Thad Fischer, and whoever else was involved have had their first big victory by landing the USA Cycling Elite Omnium National Championships in the first year of the velodrome. This is my goal and my training begins now. Well, like everyone else my training really began a few months ago, but the aforementioned birth put a hamper on my December riding log. I could not be happier about losing training time, though.

My omnium preparations present me with an ideal learning experience. The omnium runs the gamut of track events with a kilometer time trial, 4k pursuit, 250 meter flying lap, elimination race, 20k scratch race, and 30k points race with sprints coming every 2.5k. In developing my training plan, I’ll be able to learn what is needed, what works, and what doesn’t work that I can transfer to my athletes.

For my athletes-to-be, I have big plans. I’d like to see the NC/SC track scene grow quickly and start targeting and winning medals at various levels of championship races in the near future. I think a lot of our strong racers will do well on the track. Even more so, racers that haven’t quite excelled on the road or trails will possibly find that they are more suited to the track. These are the things that I most look forward to for cycling in the area.

So, forget the resolutions. Those are made and then forgotten. Revolutions are more exciting.

TotalCyclist Coach Ben Faulk