Maplewood Athlete Fights Diabetes in More Ways Than One

My byline in Patch recognizing NJ resident Jai Westwood and his commitment to the fight against diabetes. 

MOOO-VE Over

This is what you may call a natural disaster....imagine all the training these guys endure and you get taken out by a cow. Guess it could happen anywhere.

What's your most bizarre encounter on the road or on a trail? I encountered a bear in Far Hills, NJ. I just kept going -- fast.

New York City Absurdities

I'm A Guest Blogger @ BicyclingHub.com!

SPRINT TO THE FINISH BUT KEEP THE MIND RACING: that's what guest columnist Maryanne Caruso advises when it comes to cultivating a mental state of patience, persistence and determination. Read her full article on our Blog: http://bicyclinghub.blogspot.com/2011/06/sprint-to-finish-but-keep-mind-racing.html

I'll Never Race Again...The Saga Continues

Once again that’s the sentiment that stayed with me for about an hour after yet another sobering and confidence blowing Criterium. I fell off the pack and made a huge mistake in assuming a free lap to try to get back on. I should have just kept going but I didn’t and that’s what I have to live with.

My initial resolve: “This is it; I’m done. I should just go back to being a cyclist for the sake of riding a bike and continue to ride strong on long rides. I also thought about the New Jersey Gran Fondo on August 28. It’s 103 miles and about 10,000 feet of climbing. Maybe that should be my focus instead of the ongoing humiliation of crit racing.”   (http://granfondonj.com/home.html) 

Pedaling for the Greater Good.....Sometimes You Just Have To Ask

I’m not a natural talent or a born athlete.  I basically work hard to attain most of the small successes I’ve enjoyed. That goes for cycling too. It took a long time but I can finally say I fall in the category of being “strong” for my class.

Every once in a while I will use my cycling endurance to ride for a cause I believe in. I generally self-support these rides because I don’t particularly enjoy asking for help.  In some cases I will. http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR?pg=personal&fr_id=7556&px=1171058

On Sunday, June 5, I will ride 75 miles in the American Diabetes Tour de Cure. I’ve been doing this event since 2003 and this year I made the last minute decision to raise money for the cause; primarily because this is the only event I will do for diabetes in 2011.