WARNING--this post does not contain cute pictures of Abby.
Alex has entered into a series of bike races this month, two every weekend. You may be thinking (like I did) that's a lot of races. Runners spend most of their time training for races and only ever do 4 or 5 races a year (unless you're crazy, rich, or both). Turns out bike racing is more complicated than running. In running races, people are split into different sub-categories based on their age. Well, in bike races there are similar sub-categories but you're split up based on your ability rather than your age. Everybody starts out as a Category 5 racer and has to work their way up to Category 1 and, if you're insanely good, finally Pro. In order to advance from Category 5 to Category 4 you have to compete in 10 approved races. 10!!! Then in order to advance from Category 4 on up you have to get a certain number of points, points which are based on how you place in the races you compete in. Anyway, Alex is trying to get into Category 4 this summer (and maybe further up). So, he has to compete in at least 10 bike races. I'm glad I'm a runner.
This morning was Alex's first race. A seven and a half mile criterium (a criterium is a race where you do laps, like on a track except on the streets). The weather was rainy and cold, but he went anyway. And of course, he came in third place (this with the disadvantage that he pulled practically the whole time). Next weekend he'll tick off his second and third races and I'm sure he'll place equally well. Too bad there are no money prizes involved in these races!
In other exercise related news, I have been running with Abby in the Chariot. It's been going so well that I decided to enter us in the Dexter-Ann Arbor Half Marathon. I figured I probably wouldn't be posting my best time ever anyway, so why not just have fun and take Abby along for the ride (plus, the grad school sponsors runners so it only cost $7 to enter!). Alex entered it too, but he'll actually be running fast.
Other than that, the ony other notable news is that my six weeks of maternity leave are officially up. I can't believe it's already been 6 weeks! And what's more, I can't believe some mom's have to go back to work full time after only 6 weeks! It's times like these I'm glad I'm not yet a member of the real world. Grad school really IS a good time to have babies. I'm planning to start working on my research at home this week. We'll see how that goes...
So there you have it. Alex is winning bike races and I'm...well, thinking about getting back to work.
3 comments:
I'm glad you warned me there were no Abby pictures....
Tell Alex congratulations on third place! And please explain to us non-biking people what pulling is.
Also tell him good luck in his next race!
Whoa. Wait just a minute here. You mean to tell me that graduate students at Michigan have MATERNITY LEAVE? Holy cripes. We've had a couple of students have babies here and there was no compensation or allowance whatsoever. Only because other grad students covered their teaching responsibilities were the new mothers able to keep their positions and salaries. It's inhumane to me that a university treats its employees that way, but there you go. And we actually have a grad student union? But kudos for UM. Can't believe they actually support people having children.
What I'd like to know is when Abby's parents find the time for all these other activities. And congratulations to Alex!
Post a Comment