The Year That Was

While 2024 was one of my best years the past five years, I would still say that 2020 was a whole lot better. But my Dad passed away in 2020 so how could it be better than last year? Well, my Dad passed  just three weeks before the lockdown and all of us, his children, were together during those times. Of course its still possible to get together again but death sometimes can bring families closer. Imagine if my Dad had passed days after the lockdown?

Personally, 2024 was a great year for me. I had “retired” conditionally from my teaching job three years earlier and instead of pouting, I realized that if I had to do it all over again, I should have quit earlier.

I had a lot to be thankful for 2024. While I am not physically perfect, (who doesn’t have health issues at my age?) I can still do what I want (with moderation), eat what I want (with moderation), go where  want, work when I want, and most importantly, ride and race my bicycle when and where I want.

This year was the most number of times I went out of town to race- Iloilo three times, Mindanao two times and at Clark once. Half of these races, I did well. Thanks to my coach, Lex Diaz, for putting me in a training wringer. My local competition has always been the same, in fact better, but I can now hold my own. It’s really amazing how your body can react to stress even at an advanced age. I remember Ronald Reagan saying that he gained muscle when he started working out at 70yo!

Although I don’t count the number of wins I have (unlike one obnoxious guy who claimed to have won more than almost 600 races in his career, making him better than Eddy Merckx. LOL!) This year, this was a banner year for me in terms of wins. There were a few races that I came out better than riders who I only looked at from afar decades ago because of what these boys have done and I have the highest respect for them.

Anyway, big thanks to the 56yo category at the Mandaue Recla! These boys just set the competitive bar higher and higher and I need to put more work just to reach it or else I wouldn’t be able to simply finish a race. While our races are certainly for fun, there is always a certain element of pride. I always look forward to weekends and crit racing.

My friends in the dental community have also been very good to me as well. I have gained a lot of friends from my lectures last year. My associates and staff at my office are great joy and a source of pride! While I wish I had this experience two decades ago, I’m going counting my blessings just the same.

Finally big thanks to my family for being accessories to the “crime” for letting me to travel and do the things I want- race bikes. Special mention to my co-conspirator and wife, Tata, for unselfishly traveling with me and putting up with the things I love doing that she can hardly relate to.

This year is just a few days old and this weekend I’ll be doing my first out of town cycling sortie in Iloilo with Tata of course!

I hope 2025 will be better!