Racing and Moms

We are in the middle of racing our buns off here at the Joe Martin Stage Race in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It has been an awesome weekend of racing; it is the most aggressive and active women’s race I have been in all year. There have been a billion attacks in every stage, well, except for the TT of course! I will fill you in with a race post later. But for now, since it is Mother’s Day Weekend, here is a newspaper article featuring my special teammate Sue Palmer-Komar. Oh, and Happy Mother’s Day to my sweet Mom, too! I love you and miss you, Mom!

Palmer-Komar says it can be tough being a cycling mom
By John KernaghanThe Hamilton Spectator
(May 13, 2006)

Now Sue Palmer-Komar gets it.
As the mother of six-year-old Trinity, she is exposed for the first time to the hopes and fears of a parent whose child shows athletic ability.
Palmer-Komar, 38 and in her last competitive cycling season, says she has a ready-made template to follow.
"My dad was a workaholic so my mom was my main supporter when I started competing. She went to everything and still comes out to support me when she can."
That's meant a lot of races over a 20-year-plus career as Phyllis Palmer's youngest child climbed to the top of the competitive heap in Canada.
Palmer-Komar provides a strong pedal pedigree. As well as a long list of international accomplishments, she is the reigning national time-trial champ and enjoyed a blaze of glory in the 2004 Olympics.
When Trinity won an age-group race last weekend, the onus of parenthood, informed by the struggles of amateur sport, came into sharp focus.
"She's been talking about cycling and how if she doesn't win, she at least wants to win second place."
Palmer-Komar is searching for that middle space, the one that stresses having fun and doing one's best while not stifling ambition.
She said her mother set the right tone, listening rather than judging and gently counselling.
Ultimately, she says, motherhood is about letting go, as your child learns to make choices and live with them.
jkernaghan@thespec.com