Ben in 'Ten

So a 2010 look back most of the way through February? Hey, better late than never.

Lets look at the most substantial stuff to happen to this guy, shall we?

Early in the year I went on a life/perspective changing trip out to North Carolina. A trip that would carry me mentally on the bike for the rest of the season. I loved every minute of it, the road trip, the fun with good friends, the pain and suffering, and the beautiful scenery. (read more about it? http://howiveben.blogspot.com/2010/04/north-carolina.html) Anxious to go again this year!

As spring was sprung, track season was upon me. For those that don't know, this was my eighth year of coaching track & field for West Bend East high school. A fairly depleted team as it was, I was still there to help coax as much success out of my athletes as I could. Success wasn't always there, attitudes weren't always great, and the reality started to creep in that the spark that always kept me going, got me out of bed after little to no sleep to make it to practice and meets every day, to keep me positive and keep my heart in it, was going away.

A huge amount of thought went into the decision, but the result always came back to this being the end of the line. I waited till the end of the season to drop the bombshell and it wasn't easy. And I know some people weren't (and still probably aren't) very happy with the decision, even I'm not when I think about sometimes, but in the end, I feel it was the right decision, and the right time if I was ever going to let it go. What I will take away are countless memories that will be with me for the rest of my life. Memories that will bring a smile to my face, memories that will encourage me and motivate me, and of course the memories of vicarious accomplishment. I have also gained, what I hope will be, some life long relationships with the great people that were a part of my coaching career. I really couldn't have done it with out them.

On to triathlon season. Very early in the year, at the Multi-Sport Expo, I was able to bundle all of the triathlons I planned on participating in in the upcoming season, pay for them all at once, and even get a nifty discount in the process. Great idea right? Well it was until I took that first fateful maiden voyage on my new 29er mountain bike in North Carolina and got hooked. Problem being, triathlon season and mountain bike season run simultaneously, and unless I was jobless and/or independently wealthy, I wasn't going to be able to do both.

So as it went, I begrudgingly raced all the triathlons I had committed to, and when and where I could, squeaked a mountain bike race in.

And I did say 'begrudgingly raced' just a moment ago, and I did bitch about how I hated the cold ass water, and having to wake up at 3 or 4 in the morning, and probably a few other complaints about how unhappy I was to be triathlon-ing on any given weekend, but the truth is, as soon as the gun fired, it was still game on. And oddly enough, with the fitness I had, the results were there. I was always in the top five of my age group, even grabbing a couple second places. I was getting trophies and medals and other swell stuff. (In a sport I was seemingly abandoning at the end of the year...) In fact, with the Midwest Sporting Events age group point totals throughout the season, I was sitting right in first place until the last race of the year. A race I didn't do... but another dude was able to get by me in the points. So I got second in the series, not to bad hey? I'll take it. (Furthermore, no, not completely abandoning. I'll make an appearance or two)

So my mistress, the mountain bike season. The sport that hath tore me from the swim-bike-run. A sport that has such an incredibly small margin for error, (trees, rocks, cliffs, etc), hurts so incredibly much by the end of the race you think you may actually be dying, but for whatever reason, is so incredibly addicting, has indeed tore me from the silly wet suit wearers.

I was able to fit five races in, and as I look back on it, I would rate my first season as mediocre to above average. I still need to work on the skill-set, but I know I was improving as the season progressed. I loved the festive atmosphere of the races, I loved riding in front of and even with friends. But I believe the biggest thing I'll take away from the season was probably hitting my low at Suamico, dehydrating and bonking to the point of feeling after affects for a solid couple weeks, to the next race, hitting my high point at Sheboygan, getting on the podium, and on my birthday of all days. Looking forward to fully devoting efforts to the off-road season this new year.

2010 also marked a milestone for me that I'm indeed not proud of, and in fact I definitely find pretty pathetic, but as of late summer, it made ten years, a DECADE, since I've had someone that considered me their boyfriend. Yeah, seriously. Years ago I gave myself a mental deadline, a day I said to myself, I at least better have some sort of a steady relationship by this point, or what the hell? That day was 10-10-10. Easy to remember. Birthday, and heck, it's three tens... Obviously that day has come and gone.

What have I seen over the years? -Anger? Oh yeah, originally it upset me, why doesn't anybody like me, what the hell? Why can't I find anybody, what the hell? -Depression? Oh yeah, sure not full blown stick me on medication and put me on suicide watch, but it sure didn't make me happy to always be alone. -Confusion? Heck yeah. Why does he have a girlfriend? Why won't she like me? What's wrong with me? -Anxiety? You bet. Will I ever find someone? Am I going to be alone forever? And finally, where I'm at now, -Acceptance. So be it. I'm not gonna loose sleep over it anymore. And I'm done worrying. I'm not going to stray from my morals, and I'm not going to stray from my standards.

If I find somebody, I find somebody. When I find someone, I find someone. That's it.

God has a plan for everyone.

Unblogged up until this point, cyclocross season. This just in, I love cyclocross. I got in a whopping twelve races this fall/winter, racing my planned to be final season as a category four.

In preseason preparations, along with the better than seasons past fitness, with help, I was finally able to get the hang of a proper cyclocross remount, and was really able to attack the barriers. It's hard to say how much this helped me mentally, but to put it basically, I finally felt like I was real a cyclocross racer.

I had a little better luck than seasons past with only two races ending as a result of catastrophic bicycle failure... And the results were there. I was very consistently finishing in the top ten, and though not generally duking it out for the win, I was at least near the front, duking it out with the lead group.

So many highlights to the season, but definitely traveling to Louisville, Kentucky with Dan and Ben to race in the USGP Derby City Cup ranks at the top. Awesome roadtrip, with awesome friends, topped off with cyclocross? That's a great weekend!

In the end I'd rank the season as 'good.' Simply by comparing results to seasons past I can see how far I've come, but even more, feeling how much stronger I was, and in general, more competitive.

2011 will be my first time 'upgrading' in really any form of cycling. (Technically I skipped Citizen and went straight to Sport in mountain biking.) But otherwise, this will be the first time I'll be stepping it up a level. And I'm trying to take it very seriously. 2011 will be about cyclocross for me. Any mountain bike race I do will be in preparation for cyclocross. Any road race/ criterium I do will be in preparation of the cross season. I can't wait for cross.

Let's see some other miscellaneous, but still worth mentioning items.

At work, I made the move from Module 1 over to Module 2. Essentially same job start to finish, but with many little differences in between... Still working nights, but now following my brother whom I work directly opposite of, as he's on the day shift, which is kinda fun. So far, so good.

Discovered a new love of cooking chili, topped off with the first annual Ben's House Chili Con Carnival, which was, in fact, a pretty great success, despite a Badgers' Rose Bowl loss.

Relishing being 'Uncle Ben.' Pretty awesome seeing my niece growing up, learning to talk, dance, sneak, sing flawless Lady Gaga songs. Unexpectedly sharing food, getting my house trashed, mystery stains showing up on clothing, all kinds of fun, haha!

Did you know the Packers won the Super Bowl? Sans Brett Fav-ray? Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers? Neat.