So I am going back to CheerStrike for my 7th season….

He said

Well, here we are, the week after returning from Worlds still soaking it all in. So much happened last week, but so much even happened since getting back. And what have learned since returning is that the Worlds experience was so much of a positive thing for Emelia that she is all-in, right back at doing this for another year. Hell, who are we kidding—Danielle & I are all-in for another year too! She had toyed with the idea of trying out for Western’s All-Girl team, but she has decided that after all that the last week gave us, she has more to give Cheer for another season.

I know we mused a month ago about her being done Cheer possibly again—like we did this time last year. And the year before that too. But, deep down we knew she would be back, and deep down if we’re being honest, we were hoping she would want to come back too. There is just so much more value that comes from this for Emelia that far outweighs the effort, time and money a season can take for her (and us).  So, this week the conversation shifted from her hedging her bets and trying out for both teams to, her going all-in for another year, and second run at Worlds with the ValiGirls!

Yesterday was the year-end banquet for CheerStrike and for Emelia a lot of that pomp and circumstance solidified for her – what she’d be thinking probably in her mind since landing in Florida just over a week ago – she was coming back! But, the surefire nail in the proverbial coffin was when they introduced that the Worlds teams at CheerStrike were going to have their own, unique uniforms to compete in next season. Not, that we doubted she was back, but if there was ever any doubt in our minds we knew for sure that would solidify things for Emelia.

We weren’t able to make it to the banquet and to Emelia’s personal okay, Danielle & I were off to Baltimore, On for my first bike race of the season. Normally it would have been the Paris to Ancaster race, but that fell while we were in Florida. So I had to skip that, moving my first race forward to this weekend in the Scrappy Badger—the first part of the 4-part gravel series I do over the course of the summer. Danielle usually comes with me to volunteer which she did agin this year. Different this year however was we chose to go down the night before and stay in a motel 10 minutes from the start line in lieu of not having to get up at 4:30am in the morning day-of the race to drive down.

The race went well – despite the adversity of all the different weather we got. I managed to do the race a few minutes faster than my best effort and I managed to finish 11th for my age category and 34th overall. But the best part was seeing all the friends I have made bike racing and even better was managing to finish ahead off all of them. Once Danielle was done volunteering at the aid station she supported, we were headed back home to have pizza and a movie night with Emelia which was the perfect way to end a pretty great weekend for us all!

She said

It seems strange doing another post so quickly but with World’s our schedule was up in the air so we are back to our regular schedule again. As John has already mentioned Emelia is back for another year at CheerStrike. For much of last season Emelia knew she didn’t want to be done cheer but there was a lot of talk about moving over to Western Cheer. Emelia had done the co-ed tryouts and even went to the all girls practice. She had spent much of the last few weeks asking her teammates who have done Western cheer for their opinion. And after a lot of thought she knew what her choice was, her heart is still in All-Star cheer. So we are back. Most of my cheer mom friends had a good laugh about this, knowing that Emelia would not want to leave. And honestly with the community we have built there and after spending a week at World’s none of us are ready to say good-bye to cheer.

This week for me was mostly about getting back in routine, work has been insanely busy, getting our life here back on routine and life in general. I came back to work after 10 days away to a massive backload of work, it took me two solid days just to get my emails dug out. It was good to be back but not going to lie we were all missing the Florida sun. For Emelia it was all about getting her sleep caught up, she slept off and on the first day we were home. After a week of long days, packed schedules and the Florida heat she was spent. After a few days we have finally gotten back on track. Emelia has been back at work with both her jobs, spent one night getting caught up with her friends and prepping for this weekend.

Emelia this weekend was once again all about cheer. On Saturday she and her teammates spent Saturday morning at their year end banquet, the girls got to spend one more day together as a team, knowing that they would be saying good-bye to some of their teammates for next season this banquet was really special for them. With no break really in training Emelia was back at the gym today for World’s tryouts. Emelia said they went really well, all but three of their teammates from last season are back this year so they have a solid foundation. There were some really strong new athletes as well as some of the level 5 athletes from last season that came to tryout for level 6. It seems like there is going to be a larger team this season and lots of strong athletes.

While Emelia was at her banquet John and I were up at John’s first bike race of the season. I wanted more than anything to figure out how to have myself in two places at once but Emelia said she was not bothered if I had to miss this year’s banquet so I went with John to see his race. Each race I volunteer so I can see him race and with this they wave his registration fees. The day was cold and wet but I was able to see John in the race and see him in his element so it was all worth it.

Next week should be a bit calmer for us, Emelia has her last exam for her first year, she has to write it late due to us being in Florida, once that is done she is happily off for 4 months from school. She and her friends are looking forward to the summer and lots of time in the sun, at the beach and hitting the bars! She cannot wait to have the most epic summers!