The Best Season Ever

Part 1 of a 3 part story...

I remember the first ride on my new Roark bike, like I remember the ride when the training wheels came off my first two-wheeler, a purple Schwinn. That first day with my Roark I became committed to a sport that would take me beyond the physical boarders of the United States and the mental boundaries of what my body thought it could accomplish.

My first year of racing on the new titanium tri bike was 2001. My season ended with two World Championship races. It was an unusual year in which the long course race was held in Venray, Holland and then one week later Rimini, Italy hosted the short course World Championships. Team USA had great representation, with a number of athletes traveling together for both races. I was eager to take my first trip across the Atlantic. It unfolded into two of the most eventful and memorable weeks of my life. The first week of travel ended with a 3rd place win in my age group in the long course race. Then it was on to Italy with a quick exit after a night of celebration and bike packing. The following day is when we found ourselves in Italy on September 11, 2001. The five days between then and race day were marred with uncertainty about everything - what was happening back home; what about our teammates who were traveling; how long would we be staying in Italy; how safe were we? In whatever manner possible, the race took place the following Sunday.

Certainly, the season ended with more emotions than one can really take in. Over the course of my first season though, every race was a new and exciting experience. The feel and performance of my new bike was nothing I could have anticipated. In the end, I wanted nothing more than to train harder and start planning the next year. What started with a new bike and a purpose turned into the best season ever.