Saturday, July 5, 2014

Unicyclists of North America Unite!

Dustin only missed one National Unicycle Convention from 1985-2002!  Then after 12 years off with a busy performing schedule, timing finally worked out for him to re-enter the competitive world at the 2014 North American Unicycling Convention and Championships in our own back yard, Minneapolis.  And I must say he made quite a showing for himself!

I have never seen him compete before except for Ride The Lobster stage race in Nova Scotia Canada in 2008.  So it was amazing to watch him tear up the track with amazing form and speed, negotiate the uni slalom with quick, angled ease and cruise on the big wheel with complete control. 

He placed first or second in almost every race, both in his age group and in overall expert male.  Even with so many years off and little recent training, Dustin had an amazing come back!

This was my first ever NAUCC to attend and compete in. Since learning to ride 8 years ago and only in this last year actually spending time on the uni, my goal has been to just try to stay up and not get hurt.  It was a good challenge to push myself to pick up my speed and work on technique a bit.  I was pretty excited to come in 3rd in the marathon and 1st in the 800 meter both in my age group!  Dustin was a great coach, helping and cheering me along and he even said he's proud of me. :)

By the end of the busy week, we both competed on unicycles in a marathon, 10k, time trial, criterium, 100m, 400m, 800m, obstacle course and Dustin also did the walk-the-wheel and one-footed race. 

It was really great to reconnect with and meet other unicyclists from around the country.  A special treat was seeing 58 year old David White who also spent much of last year successfully unicycling across the United States.  It was something close to therapeutic to share "war stories" of life unicycling the roads of America with someone who has been there, too.

All the ribbons and metals are great and come with a sense of accomplishment but they will soon go in a storage box.  More important than the awards are the ministry opportunities God presented this week.  We had many chances to share with people how God can use unicycling to make a global impact and share the hope we have in Him.

We all find it hard to believe that we crossed the USA on unis in 2013.  The Kelms with the inspiring David White.
Katie finishing the marathon!

Dustin and Candido battling it out.

Dustin making it look easy on the track.

Criterium start, heat 4.
Dustin's race of the criterium was a clinic!
Katie got first place in her first track race!
Katie's awards.
Dustin wore holes in the podium.
Dustin's awards.  Ribbons for age group and medals for Expert Class.

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