The Iceman May Cometh After All

A few months ago I mentioned the fact that I had decided to forgo entering the lottery for an Iceman spot, because I was hoping to win one through the DINO series. I compared my strategy to a poker game rather than a lottery. The thing is, it's all gambling and it became pretty apparent once the season was underway that I didn't have much of a hand to play.

Well, I'll spare you any more metaphors and say that I have it looks like I have another chance. A few days ago, the Velo Bella pro team manager posted an announcement on the team listserv that he and some of the pro team members were going to be at Iceman and that the race directors had offered him a few spots for non-pro members, as well. I replied within minutes that I was 100% interested, but I haven't got an official reply yet. However, I'm too excited to keep the news to myself any longer.

I'm excited for a number of reasons. The greatest of which is that I now have 14 weeks until my last mountain bike race of the season. As my "reunion tour" post from the other day may indicate, I'm really committed to squeezing as much as I can out of the remaining months of 2008. 'Cross is fun at all, but it's not my strong suit. I'm excited about the opportunity to test myself against a strong field of female mountain bikers and the fact that I actually still have time to get in shape for it.

Also, I'm excited about getting to stay with other Velo Bella members before the race. I'm sure it won't be quite the go-go boot wearing, wine tasting, disco dancing party that imagine all Velo Bella gatherings to be, but it should be fun. Hopefully, it will be the extra boost I need to be bring my "A" game.

So it feels like things are finally starting to fall into place for me in the strangest of ways. I really hope that can fall in with them and make the most of the opportunities that I've been given.