"Homer" - I'm out to Sinnissippi to check out the new snowfall and to see if there has been some grooming for the Nordic skiers. I pull into the lot and notice and old van parked there. As I step out of my car and older gentelman get out of the van. He's wearing work boots and a camo hoodie. As he approaches me he's shaking his head. "No good" he says. "Just some four-wheeler tracks but no grooming." So who is this ol' guy I think. Shouldn't you be out hunting wabbits. Turns out after we talk a bit he's a xc skier of many many years. He doesn't tell me much about it but turns out he knows Geoff F. and Johnny H. I text Geoff to let him know the course is a no go 'caus I figured he was probably on his way. He calls bac and proceeds to tell me Ol' Homer has done the Birkie 14 times and is in the 4th wave AND he's 70 years old. A mild mannered xc rock star! I love that someone who really knows there shit so theres no need to brag. He does it and is good at it...nough said. Hope to be that guy some day.

As much as it pains me to say this that is one thing I do like about this God for saken town. It's a Rockford thing that there seems to be this 3 degrees of seperation here. Doesn't take much before you find a connection with just about anyone here. BTW once Homer heard my last name he of course knew my brother. Homer is a retired teacher from Boylan High School. The chances are had I run into an old guy in Colorado there either wouldn't have been much talk, or he would have had a onesided conversation about how good he was and all the races he's done.

In Rockford there is a core group of athletes cycling, xc skiers and runners and in one way or another we seem to all know eachother. The midwest produces some serious athletes. Most are a real step above the weekend warrior. We've got guys in Belguim hopefully competing in the CX World Cup this month, CXers competing in the pro's, Pro roadies, Birki skiiers in the elite wave, serious marathon runners and I'm sure a whole lot more. I used to say there's nothing to do in Rockford but eat and drink but I guess I should change that to eat drink and train.

Cycling - good week this week. Lots of variety. Weights, running, trainer, swimming and xc skiing with Geoff tomorrow made up this week. I'll get in touch w/ Brian Conant hopefully for a training schedule to begin in Feb.