Happy Birthday to You...

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BY: Rob Smith

Published: 13th March, 2012

I will not be forgiven for this and it might be a blatant abuse of my limited position as a blogger on here but this blog is all about my wife and the unsung support I receive from her that allows me to go out and act like big kid riding bikes and coming home filthy wet and cold.  I'm sure I'm not alone and it's  as applicable to so many other wives, girlfriends, husbands, partners, parents.

As I wrote back when I started writing on XC racer ,I never intend to take racing MTB seriously, I definitely never envisaged that I would be giving up alcohol, training on Christmas day and arranging our life around how much training I would have to do that week.

 

A rare break from training

 

Throughout all this, Jane, whose birthday it happens to be today. has been there, and I do know how lucky I am.  I was speaking to a fellow RNRMCA member some time ago and he said his wife hadn't accompanied him to an event for several years; and this is a guy who competes nationally and has a cabinet full of trophy. I know that if I didn't have the support from Jane I wouldn't be on the start line at so many races and more importantly, I wouldn't be anywhere as near the front end come the chequered flag as I currently am.  I definitely wouldn't be planning my holiday around competing in the European Solo Championships in 4 weeks time.

And I'm not the only one to benefit from Jane's support; she's been the un-official "bottler" for Shred Racing, Southfolk, and more regularly, the guys from Certini-McCaulay's.  She's wrangled Royal Marines and Sailors into some semblance of a team at OS Mayhem; a task she likened to herding cats or attempting to nail Jelly to a wall. She has also supported me through 3 twelve hour solo efforts as well as varied team and pair events.

Her skills aren't limited to holding out and not dropping bottles, her cakes are legendary in the SW and have helped fuel various teams to 24hr victory.

When Jay and Maddie decided to stick their head above the parapet and give race organisation ago, it was a given that we would end up involved. Not only is Jane the friendly face the guys see at registration but also the voice you hear shouting out the race number.  She has walked most of the courses either tapping and stapling or removing tape and clearing up used gel wrappers and discarded bottles.

 

The Three Amigos'

I've not even mentioned the turbo trainer in the kitchen and an almost continual Lyrca washing.

Since 2010 Jane has also had to deal with being diagnosed with breast cancer which involved surgery and both chemo and Radio therapy; little over 2 yrs down the line things are still unresolved so not only has she been there supporting me, she has also been dealing with the ongoing legacy of the cancer treatment.

You'd think thatall that would be enough but this year things might change as, after years of standing by the side, it's Jane's turn to zip tie a number board to her bike and give racing a go, her debut will be the Stilettos on Wheels event in Sept followed in 2013 with a debut in the 12hr mixed pairs at Newnham 12hr!

And my none cycling friends ask me how I can ride my bike 12hrs, it easy when you have a wife like mine for inspiration.

Happy Birthday Jane,