It’s that time of the year again.  Yes, yes you guessed it – back to school.

Right about now, I’m wishing I had actually done all of those things I meant to do over the summer, but didn’t.

1. Research and write my Master’s thesis.

2. Win 10 Olympic gold medals.

3. Remodel the kitchen.

4. Teach Hayduke new tricks.

5. Grow a fabulous garden in my backyard.

Here is what I actually did manage to do this summer:

1. Nothing in regards to my Master’s thesis, but I did publish a journal.

2. Won a few local races, but I did get to spend one incredible week at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, and then daydreamed for three weeks in August in front of the local NBC channel.

3. Kyle fixed the roof, which leaked just in time for monsoon season, but we now have a massive yard full of 4 foot tall weeds and the kitchen looks the same.

4. Hayduke still only knows how to sit, and he will stay when there is a treat involved, but he’s mostly just cute and crazy.

5. I have one tiny little tomato sprouting on my tomato plant.

Otherwise, I got to do a few great mountain bike rides in Flagstaff.

With of my favorite riding buddies aka Dad.

And saw some great views with a good brew in hand.

On the racing front, the most important race of my season is now over.  Yes, the famous Fairwheel Bikes employee competition up Mt. Lemmon.  The race is a 12.5 uphill TT on Mt. Lemmon in Tucson.

The competitors consisted of myself and four lucky fellas – Brian, Dan, Chris, and Richard.  Brian registered us in an order in which he thought we would have the most opportunity to pass each other and do some heckling.  I was placed in the middle with Richard starting, Dan next, me, then Brian, and finally Chris.  The previous year, I beat Brian solidly, but Chris beat me by 26 seconds.  This year, I was out to win.

I completely destroyed myself for 59:03 minutes.  In fact, it was such a great TT, that I had the infamous TT tight ass for three days afterwards, and I couldn’t even sit on my saddle to ride down the mountain because I was cramping so badly.  I should race that hard on a regular basis.

In the end, Brian passed me with about 1 mile to go.  I passed Richard and Dan, but Chris never passed me.  However, he did gain some time on me, and finished 27 seconds faster!!!!  That’s one second faster than last year, but I should mention that my time from this year was 3.5 minutes faster than last year.  Geez, I’m never going to live that one down after all the crap I talked at work.

Up next: cyclocross season!  I am building up my fancy new cross bike and will be ready to rock, AZ style.  Yes, we do the anti-cross cross racing here since the weather is nice and dry.  No mud or freezing temps to contend.  Also, Collegiate MTB Nationals in NC at the end of October.  Since Collegiate MTB Nats is pretty much the best race of the season no matter what your discipline, there is no way I’m going to miss it in what is possibly my last year of school.

Possibly.