A few days ago I spoke to my coach regarding Nationals, the race that qualifies one for Elite status and grants them the ability to race Internationally for the U.S. Team, and it looks like it is going to be held in Bend, Oregon this year. Bend is a few hours, maybe 1 or 2, car drive from Portland, Oregon. I’m assuming the airport we’ll be meeting at (we, as in U.S. Paralympic Cycling) is PDX (Portland International).

I would presume that the race for qualifications for the U.S. National team is going to be the Time Trial held on Friday, July 31st. I have to achieve, in time per Kilometer, above that of what the average of the last 2 International races plus the 2008 Paralympics, divided by 3, is to qualify for the U.S. International racing team (atleast, that’s what I think it is). That time should be something in the upper 1:40s or lower 1:50s, I would think.

Who can say for sure if the minimal amount that I’ve had to seriously train this year will allow me to be fast enough to qualify this year for Nationals, even if I do get the chance to concentrate on this as much as I would like, which I currently don’t. This year I’ll be competing against Aaron Baker, former pro-level Motocross racer whom I donated my recumbant trike to and Stuart Flaks, 2000 and 2004 Paralympic Games Silver Medalist.

The competition is getting better, year-by-year. Meaning, I have to get faster and faster. Sounds good to me. I can’t wait to compete against them.

That is, if I’m able to attend this year. My schooling schedule makes it tough.