October 2025
Hello, we are at three quarters through October and I’m enjoying one more week of active rest before I start getting back into the full-time grind of training. I’m riding my bike three times per week for an hour or so procession and lifting weights two to three times per week right now. I got out to play wheelchair rugby, which I miss a lot, two times so far and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I think I’m going to, and I said this last year, get a new rugby chair to compete next year. It’s just an idea but I also thoroughly enjoy the workout of pushing the chair as it’s great cross training for cycling. Being back in the gym it’s definitely nice that my strength has not deteriorated at all. I started back strength training pretty much where I left off. Although, my brachioradialis and brachialis are stronger. Those are two of a few muscles that help with pulling. Pulling is my power in hand cycling.
The 2026 season is still a few months away. Only 2 months to 2026 but the first race of the season is in mid-February. After that, we’re not sure yet what’s going to happen for qualification events to the World Cups. Two World Cups have been announced for 2026. The first is in Chiang Mai, Thailand which is surprising but very cool at the same time! I love thailand, the people, the food, the culture. This town is a few hours north of Bangkok and much more traditional. The second is about an hour east of Rome. I can’t remember the name of the city but will fill you in next time on that. And we only have a rumor that Belgium will have the Third World Cup again. I don’t mind racing in Belgium as long as it’s warm.
Other than this, I just continued teaching that class on exercise prescription assessment here at the university. Been a weird past month and a half coming off the intensity of the racing season and focus. I went and saw Maroon 5 which was a nice break but social life definitely needs to be better. I had three shirts made. The first says maximize your abilities on the front. The second says health is wealth, and the third basically has my username handle with Team USA and hand cycling beneath it. I had these shirts made more as an experiment than anything. Take it lots of compliments. Literally every time I wear the health is wealth and the maximize your abilities shirts people always see it and say something. A great conversation starter and to share two things I’m very passionate about. The last ones mostly just to catch some attention and and start some conversation with my username and Team USA hand cycling on it.
Let’s reconnect next month. I’ll give you an update on training, the classes I’m teaching in the spring, any new information I know about the racing season in 2026, and anything else I found important to share.
