I especially encourage all readers to consider the question of Adult and Kids race scheduling. If you are affected by this directly like I have been (you race and have kids who race), you need to make suggestions now. I know some adults did not race this year because they couldn't make it work with the scheduling (eg Birds Hill on Saturday for kids, and Brandon on Sunday for adults). I would love to hear from you if that if describes you. Even if you don't care about when the kids race, you must care about the future of the sport. I think the kids benefit from seeing you hulking lycra clad athletes having fun, joking around, and giving it your all on the course time after time. This is their connection to what racing can be. Not just a kids activity, but a venue for fun, friendship, and healthy competition.
I would like to suggest this for a scheduling solution, and if you agree, tell the MCA:
Kids races should combine the Youth Cup with KOM races as they did this year. These races should be combined with the Adult Cup races, either on the same day and same location, or at least the same weekend and same location.
At Tinker Creek this weekend, the only way to make a kids race happen was to create a new kid's course. Some of us buckled down and did it. In most cases it wouldn't take as much to allow kids and adults to race on the same day. Parents - speak up, and also help the organizers!
This year was a real test of resolve, but we made it to every cup race. I hope more families can do it next year!
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