How The Grinch Stole Racing:(or at least tried to)

"They came just the same . . ."

Just like every Tuesday, Mrs. SOC and I look forward to the weekly crit races at Rentschler Field.  They're a summer tradition and seeing all the other racers and "support staff" (family) is just as much fun as the races themselves.

Unfortunately, despite great weather all day yesterday, the late afternoon forecast took a turn for the worse and the races were officially canceled.  But Mrs. SOC was already on her way to pick me up - and it didn't look too bad out.  Would anybody else show up to ride/train anyway?

We called Mr. & Mrs. SDC and they were game to try.  A quick call to Team Mullaly confirmed that they were already on their way too.  We figured it'd just be the few of us and that we'd get in a few intervals/laps around the parking lot before the rain started.

But imagine our surprise when LOTS of folks started showing up!  Granted, many of them may not have seen the late cancellation - but we got the distinct impression that they had the same idea we did.  Weather be dipped, we're riding!

Seeing all the cars rolling in and the racers kitting up made us think of that line from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" - despite the Grinch's dirty tricks, "Christmas came just the same."  And despite the forecast, the racers came - they came just the same.

 

Mrs. SOC, being the inimitable writer and creative thinker she is, with a little help from Dr. Seuss, set the mood for the evening:

 

Every Rent' racer, the tall and the small

Was racing! Without cones, or marshals at all!

 

 

The rain hadn't stopped the racers from coming!

They came!

Somehow or other, they came just the same!

 

 

And Mrs. SOC, her camera in tow

Stood puzzling and puzzling, "How could it be so?"

They came with their bikes, they came with their kits

They put on their helmets, their cleats, and their mitts!

And she walked the course for hours; her feet were so sore,

Then Mrs. SOC thought of something she hadn't before

"Maybe racing," she thought, "doesn't stop if it pours"

"Maybe racing...perhaps...means a little bit more."

 

And what happened then?

Well, in East Hartford they say,

The racers' heart rates pushed three zones on that day!

 

And the minute the coach had set small groups to going

They whizzed through the laps, and their faces were glowing

 

 

And it brought back the agony! The laughter and fun!

But they, the Rent racers

Hope next week for SUN!

 

 
 

Comments

[Jim Nichols]

I love it!

[Laura Mullaly]

Very Fun!
To Read
To Be
To Share
To Be Part of Something Fun!
Thanks for your commitment!

[Dennis Desmarais]

I was all packed up & ready to go to the Rent, and then as I was shutting the computer down I saw your re-tweet indicating that the races were canceled. Because of you, I ended up doing hill repeats and mowing the lawn instead of having fun at the Rent, so from my vantage point, you're the Grinch who stole my racing! ;->

[suitcaseofcourage]

(shuffles feet uncomfortably...)

Um, sorry. But hopefully its some consolation that youre even stronger now (and dont have to cut the grass this weekend)?

FWIW, Deb was looking forward to seeing your Mrs and the rest of the cheering squad - maybe next week? But we really just thought itd be a couple of us Tuesday- and that it would downpour any minute.

Guess Ill have to be more careful with my retweets!

[Dennis Desmarais]

Just having fun giving you a hard time. As a result of me not going to the Rent, I decided to sign-up for the KB Crit on Sunday so the Grinch didn't steal any racing from me -- just pushed it out by 5 days.

[suitcaseofcourage]

Looks like youll have a virtual two-day stage race this weekend. BION, I may too(!)

[suitcaseofcourage]

Thanks Jim!

[Aki]

Awesome!