No more monkeys and looking for what's next

By and large, 2010 has been an interesting year. Racing-wise, it's been a bit of a dud, and I have little to show for all my hours on the bike. Work-wise, I can honestly say that I worked harder this year than I ever have in my adult life, only to be continually frustrated that I wasn't able to achieve the kind of success I always strive for.

As someone who lives in his head, when one thing is going poorly, other things suffer. As such, I believe that frustrations at work this year, contributed significantly to my crappy cycling season.

But things have changed for me. On Sunday, racing the Nancy Morganstern Memorial Fall Bear Mountain Road Race, I rode my best race since the first race of this season. I didn't post a result, but it was the first time in a long time that I came to the line close enough to the front of the race to see who won (it was some pro from Virginia).

The season is over (or just about), but it was an excellent feeling to be able to climb Bear Mountain's climb at the front of the peloton, to accelerate when the little climber-types accelerated, and to crest the climb without having to chase (on all but the third lap, anyway.) Having not raced since mid-August, I went into this race without expectations. Sure, it's not the hardest climb in the world, and sure all the talent was at Univest, but I was right there, and damn was it nice. I think I had the legs to place on Sunday, but I bungled my positioning coming into the roller heading to the finish line as we went around a roundabout, and that was the end of any chances I might have had.

Still, dangling off the back of what was left of the peloton at the finish was a pretty damn good feeling, knowing that about half of the starters had not finished. Like I said, it's been a frustrating season, so I'm going to take the little victories that are offered to me. My next major goal? The Lake Desolation Hill Climb on Oct. 10. Catch me if you can!

Now, how did I achieve this performance at Bear Mountain? A new training regimen? A new energy drink? Nope. I'm no longer at my job. The proverbial monkey of a job at which I was clearly poorly suited and unhappy is no longer clinging to my neck.

Yes, for almost as long as I've written this blog I've worked at The Saratogian. No longer. Labor Day was my last day at work there (ironic, I know.)

It's funny. Everyone makes sacrifices for work, and I've certainly not been an exception. But, I felt better about those sacrifices when I was reporter, feeling that I was doing important work that made a difference. Boy to I long for those days. In my next job, I am hoping to find an opportunity that I look forward to every morning. We spend so much time at our jobs, it's crazy not to derive some kind of satisfaction out of what you do. More to the point, I know that all aspects of my life will improve when I find a job better-suited to me.

I have been looking for a new opportunity since July, either in journalism or in a related field such as marketing, communications, or PR, and the job search is continuing. In the interim, I can be found at Blue Sky Bicycles most days of the week, where the generosity of the owner inspires me each day. I nearly left my job at The Saratogian in July, but with Saratoga's busiest season upon us, I couldn't find it in me to hang my coworkers out to dry. I saw them through the racing season as best I could, and am now on my way.

Obviously, this is a down economy and therefore a bad time to be looking for work, but with the excellent skills I have developed over the past several yeas in research, communication, and analysis, I am hoping to find a new opportunity quickly. I've got all the pertinent jobs search engines bookmarked on my browser, and any advice my readers have to offer will be greatly appreciated. Anyone who tells me about an opening for which I apply and receive an interview will be rewarded with a highly prized shout-out here on GBBM.

I've posted a .jpg version of my resume below for your reading pleasure. Please feel free to forward this post to anyone looking to hire a motivated, diligent worker!

Thanks to my family, my friends, and my Romantic Accomplice during this transitional period in my life, and thanks, as always for reading!