June 12, 2016, UCI 17-18 6th I was happy to arrive home from Europe smoothly and have a little over two weeks to settle. My time home was filled with doctor appointments that cleared up a lot of questions about my autonomic nervous system disorder. I felt like for the first time, we had a way to monitor it with data and some solutions not only within medication timing but also minuscule adaptations that I was confident would add up. Before I knew it, I was packing my bags again, this time for a bit longer of a trip. I had recently been named to the 2016 World Championships team as one of three women and five juniors. This meant that from Canada, I would head first to Missoula, Montana and then fly from there to Nove Mesto in the Czech Republic for Worlds. I landed in Toronto on a balmy Thursday night and met up with my teammates Anders and Jason. After building up bikes, a light spin and grocery shopping, Saturday found us on the course. The course was far from disappointing with endless features, rock gardens, gap jumps, park-style ramps and even some fast and flowy singletrack. One thing was for certain, it would be impossible not to have fun on a course like this. I dialed in the A-lines and was riding as smoothly and cleanly as possible after only two laps on the course. Race morning was leisurely and after a nice spin to the venue and then a quick warmup, I was ready to race! We would not only be racing at the same time as the Elite women but also as the Elite men and Junior men with only a few minute splits between the groups, destining lap traffic to cause some trouble. However, nothing could daunt me on a day like today when the sun was shining and the soil beautifully tacky. The whistle blew and we were off! I missed my pedal and fought to clip in. By the time I had, the group already had a small gap. I pushed myself to sixth wheel on the long climb and held it into the single-track. Suddenly, the girl in front of me slipped on a root and sprawled entirely sideways. I struggled and failed to find a route around her and by the time she was back up, the front group was gone. I was riding smoothly but fought to find a rhythm that would have enabled me a couple more seconds of speed. I focused on pouring icy water down my back and arms while also pedaling constantly to keep my nervous system from decompensating. Rachel found my wheel and for the end of the first and start of the second lap, we rode together. Coming into the third lap though, I felt as if I finally found my pace, dug deep and was able to open a bit of a gap. I crossed the line in sixth. I knew I had ridden a smart race without any symptoms- the biggest small victory itself. Although I certainly cannot complain about my race, having a decent day makes me hungry for a good day and I can't wait for the upcoming races to have a chance at that. As I sit on the plane now, on my way to meet my family and team in Bend and then make the drive to Missoula, I am so thankful to all the people that have continued to believe in my dreams as much as I do even through some pretty rocky spots. It was absolutely wonderful to share this trip with Anders, Jason and Sue. Onwards and upwards!
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Event: Cross Country Category: UCI Junior Women 17-18 Result: 45th Exploring endless fields of wildflowers. Enjoying an easy spin with a view. Morning walks. After Ussel and a ten-hour drive later, we pulled into Albstadt, Germany. Our little house was embedded somewhere in the middle of a glowing forest. We spent the days leading up to the race frolicking in fields full of wildflowers, wandering the town, snacking at bakeries and playing with goats. I was ecstatic to find a course full of long climbs that were guaranteed to be leg-wrecking and fun, fast but technical descents. Although it poured the week before, the sun made a special pre-race day appearance to dry out the course to ideal conditions. Race day found me more ready than ever. I had a feeling it was going to be my day. My legs felt good, the course suited me perfectly and I was riding smoothly. Warming up, I could not stop smiling; I was so excited! I was called up ninth to the line and sitting in the second row, right where I wanted to be. The gun shot sent us off, and for a second, everything was still. I was perfectly aware of my body as I slithered into the front row almost effortlessly. Coming into the first climb, the road in front of me was open and with a little push, I was leading. I felt smooth as we ascended farther. I took the top line in the split in the fire road and came out in fourth wheel, a perfect spot to settle in to. Wham! Out of nowhere, my “dizziness” collided with me. I could almost feel the blood drain from my face as we hit the first descent. I held the top four wheels on the swooping, muddy corners but as soon as we hit a tempo section, I started moving backwards. Well, not literally but I certainly stopped moving forwards. By the third out of four laps, I was close to dead last. I certainly had not put in months and months of sacrifice and training to end up at the bottom of the pack, with absolutely everything. However, it was everything I had. I did my best to keep my pedals turning on the climbs and found a bit of flow on the downhill. I discovered for the first time that I wasn’t racing for results, but instead directly to prove to myself that I would not quit. The fourth lap, my dizziness was still raging but subsided enough for me to pick off a couple of girls by catching them on the descents and spinning the pedals the best I could to hold it. I finished 45th out of 60 starters. As I crossed the line, overwhelming relief settled over me. Around me, other finishers were clung to their loved ones, tears spilling abundantly from their eyes and I made a small decision. If I was going to fight my dizziness, I didn’t want to feel sorry for myself. Every racer faces challenges, and this is going to be mine. At the end of the day, temporary hardship can only make me stronger and more thankful for all the incredible opportunities I do have. As I sit on the plane, headed home, and write this, I can really only feel grateful to have had the opportunity to represent the United States of America internationally, line up against some of the best in the world and continue engaging in the amazing learning process of racing. In my few weeks home before heading to Canada for a race there, I plan on continuing the battle in solving my autonomic nervous system disorder with ferocity. I can say with confidence that I will figure out a better solution than my current one and be back fighting in no time. I can’t say thank you enough to my family, coach, boyfriend, teammates and sponsors for sticking by me through this crazy journey.
Events: Cross Country Category: UCI Juniors 17-18 Result: 10th Late Tuesday afternoon found me arriving in the Amsterdam airport, exhausted, hungry and relieved to finally be in Europe after months of anticipation. I met up with the rest of the US junior team that would be joining me for the travels in the Netherlands, France and Germany for the next two weeks. After a couple hour drive, we arrived in Sittard for two nights at the USA Cycling base. We explored the countryside and spun out the legs. Before I knew it, we were back in the car for a 13 hour drive to Ussel, France. Scattering cabins in the French country side awaited us and I was more than comforted to finally have a space to settle into after a few rough days of travel. We arrived at the course and I was thrilled to find a slick course with punchy climbs, rolling drops, clawing roots and lots of fun drops awaiting me. Although I had recently found out that I had a sinus infection and was still on antibiotics, I had done months of preparation for this event and I could not wait to race. I felt smooth and confident on the course. The night before the race rolled around and despite being in bed at 9:00 pm, a combination of the time change and excitement kept me up pretty late. A 7:00 am wakeup call found the girls and me in the van, race ready. I was a little groggy but I got a good warm up in and felt more ready and relaxed than ever. I made my way to the staging and was surprised to find that not only were we starting with the juniors, but also the U23 and Pro women, and instead of separating the groups, they had mixed us all together. Although I was fourth call up in the junior category, I was third row combined and could only see a few juniors around me. The announcer was speaking French and before I knew it, the whistle blew and we were off. I had good positioning off the line but quickly fell far back. Coming into the third corner, I was about 30 people off the junior leader. I was surrounded by racers and desperately fought to keep moving up. My legs felt powerful but there was so much traffic I had a lot of trouble moving forward. I would pass a group of girls but get caught behind another, and be forced to unclip and run. I got into a rhythm of passing, running and pushing on the climbs. I passed a few juniors and was working with a junior in red for a while. On a steep rock drop, the girl grabbed her brakes and I was forced to skid out. Two junior girls passed me back, along with the girl in red vanishing. I had to work to reel back the other two but the girl in red was gone. Finally, on the third out of four laps, I stopped stopped changing position and was caught in no-mans-land. I focused on settling into a rhythm of pushing hard on the climbs and descending smoothly. I still felt good but couldn’t make progress. I crossed the line in tenth, feeling like I rode a good race but disappointed I didn’t have a chance to compete with the girls in front of me. I feel so lucky to have such an amazing support team from my coach, Dario Fredricks, my sponsors, my parents, teammates and USA Cycling. Now onto Albstadt, Germany for my first World Cup!
Event: Cross Country and Short Track Category: UCI Juniors 17-18 and Pro Women Result: 3rd and 18th The week in-between Fontana and Bonelli was spent in Orange County with good company and training. Before I knew it, we were back at Bonelli. After some great training, I was confident in my legs and myself. Although Fontana had presented 90-degree weather, Bonelli surprised us with rain and thunderstorm forecasts and did not disappoint. Not only was the Bonelli #2 course a little sloppy, but I was also delighted to find lots of long but punchy climbs and a technical feature that I felt suited me. Race day rolled around and I felt more ready than ever to tackle the challenge of racing. Enjoying our time off by the pool. Lunch at the Anaheim Packing House. After a pleasant morning spin to get my legs pumping, 4:30pm found me back on the line. The clouds hung dark and heavy in the sky, as ominous as ever. The whistle blew and I immediately fell back in our group of twenty. I fought for position and by the first climb, was third wheel into the first single track. I moved into second and although my positioning was ideal, a familiar feeling started to settle over me: clouding dizziness. I did my best to shake it off and when our pack hit the next climb, moved into first, opening up a small gap. I knew if I dug deep, I could open a larger one, but my vision had started to spot. My autonomic nervous system dysfunction had set in and I knew this meant I had my work cut out for me. I dropped back to second wheel. Haley and I worked together to pull away from the field and pretty soon it was just us. Lap number two began and my vision slowly worsened. The blood flow to my brain and the rest of my body slowed. I could feel my movements turn sluggish. With the end of the second lap closing, I slid out in the off-camber mud. I scrambled to get back on my bike and a feeling of panic overtook me. I found I was too dizzy to even swing my leg over the frame, and when I finally managed that, I slipped again. I couldn’t even walk straight. My panic engulfed me, gobbling my thoughts: I had fallen into its vicious cycle. I stopped and forced myself to relax, taking several moments to regain my calm. Slowly, I began riding. Although I was riding and a bit calmer than moments before, I was now tremendously anxious. This same dizziness had previously forced me to pull from World Championships and I was convinced that was what I had to do now. I descended with painful tentativeness to the feed zone, but my mind didn’t stop racing. After Worlds, my autonomic nervous system dysfunction had been a large enough factor where I was threatened with the prospect of having to quit racing. I had worried that it would never allow me to perform to my aspirations and my parents worried about safety. My mom and I had spent endless hours with doctor after doctor, attempting to diagnose my symptoms. Finally, we figured out a diagnosis and worked through medication trials to find a supportive treatment which would allow me to continue racing, as I simply could not let go of my favorite thing in the world. I knew this health hurdle was something I could jump. The defeat that I had felt late last season surged through me, and suddenly I didn’t care what it took to conquer that: I would finish this race, and I would give it everything I had. During my internal struggle, Haley had disappeared from my sight and Rachel and Fiona had zipped past me. But I knew what I wanted, so I put my head down and fought. Entering the feed zone, Dario screamed at me to never give up, the exact words I needed to hear. I caught Fiona, passed her and soon had closed in on Rachel’s wheel. However, right as I caught up, the mud dislodged my chain. I stopped and fixed it, but Rachel was long gone. I crossed the finish line not exactly happy, but satisfied that I had pushed through and shown myself that my condition was conquerable. What is mountain bike racing? Mountain bike racing is crying in the shower post-race. Mountain bike racing is six awful race days for one good day. It is crossing the line having given everything you had to your race, not just physically but also mentally. It is pouring your heart into being able to spin two wheels just a little faster. It is incomparable- heartrate pulsing, the sound of the start gun, the world standing still as everything falls into place. The excruciating pain is more than worth it in exchange for the unmatchable joy of giving my best effort as I cross the line. Cycling allows me to reach past the stars. It sears me with the agony of failure, the taste of dusty tears. But it never fails to reward, teaching me joy, and that perseverance and passion will always triumph. Beyond all, it is my favorite thing in the world and I feel blessed to have the support to be able to do it. On a lighter note, Sunday found me back in the Pro Women field, this time joined by a couple of juniors. When the gun went off, I struggled to find my pedal and fell to the back. I rode as aggressively as possible and was able to move to the end of the front group. However, I was too far back to make the top pack when the group splintered again. I dropped the women I was with and was back in no-man’s land by myself. I reeled in person after person, and caught Haley. I was excited to have the chance to work with her to catch the front group, but she dropped off my wheel. I spent the rest of the race focusing on moving up and finished 18th. I was happy to have a shot at a little redemption after the cross country race and thrilled to have lined up with some of the fastest ladies in the world. Huge thanks to Dario, my mom and Josh for running a flawless team that I am honored every time to be a part of. I also feel beyond grateful to have incredible sponsors like Oakley, Specialized, Osmo and Probar that keep me fueled and running smoothly. Without them, none of this would begin to be possible.
Events: Cross Country and Short Track Category: UCI Juniors 17-18 and Pro Women Result: 2nd and 10th Post Bonelli #1, I spent a few weeks back at home putting in some solid training before venturing back down to Los Angeles where the two big United States races of the year would be: Fontana and Bonelli #2. These are crucial races for the season because they have UCI points, ranking you in the world and giving you a call-up for World Championships (if you qualify). However, due to Whole Athlete’s phenomenal support, I settled right in and the stress was minimal. We arrived to the venue on Friday to find a pile of rocks in the middle of strip mall and freeway galore, otherwise known as Fontana. The course waiting for us was loose, dusty and hot hot hot. We started on a long pavement climb that quickly turned to punchy, off-camber single-track, which allowed almost no time to recovery, and then turned straight to a demanding but fun descent and finally finishing on a long tempo section. 4:15 pm, 85 degrees, Sunday afternoon on the line. Glancing around, I could see not only the top girls in the United States but also Canada and Japan. Due to a misunderstanding at registration, I did not get my second place call-up and instead started dead last of 23 girls. That was okay though, the whistle blew and I moved to the front before the first climb. As soon as we hit the pavement climb, our pack shattered. I found myself hitting the single-track climb following Haley and Rachel, right where I wanted to be. We rode as mini-pack until the final descent, where Haley and I broke away from Rachel and opened up a bit of a gap on the long tempo section. Heading on the second lap, I was feeling good and when we hit the pavement climb, I put in an attack and opened up a bit of a gap. On the single-track climb, Haley found my wheel again. Before the second single-track descent, she slipped around me and led. Hitting a loose, blown out corner, my front wheel slipped and I fell hard. It took me a minute to regain my calm and by the time I did, Haley was long gone. Although I was totally fine, I rode the rest of the lap a little shaken, focusing on remaining smooth. I crossed the line in second; my throat sucked of any moisture due to the heat, covered in dust and a little bit of a blood, wheezing but beaming, satisfied with my performance because for some reason, that’s what mountain bike racing will do to you. The next day was the Pro Short Track which I opted to do for the experience. It is an amazing feeling to line up next to some of my biggest idols. Since I did not have a call up, I lined up in the back. The whistle blew and we were off. Coming around the first corner, I got stuck behind the group and had to slow way down. Then, on the first climb, I took the inside line as three girls locked bars and started to go down, into me. I narrowly escaped. By then, the lead group was long gone. I spent the rest of the race chasing down the front group best I could. I finished in 10th and was more than happy to be “along for the ride.”
Another solid weekend of racing is in the books, and it could not have been possible without Dario, Josh and my mom. Every race is a reminder of how lucky I am to be part of such a phenomenal team. Now for a week of recovery down in Los Angeles before Bonelli next weekend! Junior Women 15-18 Place: 2nd After worlds, it was time for a few weeks of the bike and then to submerge myself in base training. Base training means long hours on the bike and days filled with yoga, core, and strengthening exercises. Finally, after five months of base, it was time to race. But first, team camp. The week before Bonelli, the team flew out to my home turf, Marin, for a week of training. It was amazing to be reunited with some of my best friends and have some training buddies again. Power testing at Marin Spine & Sport On Thursday, we drove down to San Dimas and got settled into our new house- something that looked straight out of Great Gatsby. I was ecstatic to be back on one of my favorite courses and discover it in better condition than ever due to recent rain. Bonelli has always been one of the more grueling races- full of steep, punchy climbs and rutted, exhausting descents with limited time for recovery- so I prepared myself to be back in the pain cave. Race morning rolled around and I was ready. I knew the five months of hard training had paid off and my legs felt better than ever. The race started and I found myself leading. I dropped back and grabbed a wheel, settling in to race pace. On the first climb, I slipped ahead of the other girls and found myself first on the singletrack. I felt strong and confident as I picked my way through the rocks. On the next climb, Sienna pulled ahead and I stuck her wheel. Sienna and I had now broken away from the pack, being followed by Rachel, a teammate at World Championships. We worked our way through the first two laps together, trading off pulling, the pace growing a bit stiffer. I attacked on a climb before the single track and opened up a small gap. On the next climb, the girls caught back up and Rachel passed me before the next descent. She was able to pass a man in a different category before I could and opened up a couple second gap on Sienna and I. By the time I got around, Rachel was just barely in sight. I fought to close the gap but couldn't. Sienna dropped off my wheel and I rode the rest of the race alone, fighting to catch back up. I finished second. Although the base training has certainly paid off, I realize I have some mental fine tuning to do before the rest of the races begin. Overall, it was great to be back racing and I am honored to be part of the Whole Athlete/Specialized Team for the third year. The team's support never fails to amaze me. A huge thanks to everyone involved in making the dream work.
Next stop, Bellingham, Washington for a USA Team Skills Camp! Opening ceremony parade for all the nations. A few shots of the course The past month in Andorra is drawing to a close now that World Championships are over. It's hard to know what to feel after an unsuccessful day for me at the biggest race of my life. Due to an autonomic nervous system problem (resulting in dizziness) which I have been struggling with, I was unable to finish the race. After training for the past year, pulling myself was one of the most challenging and unsatisfactory decisions I have ever made. However, I knew it would be shortsighted and naive to deceive myself into thinking it was safe to continue. In cycling, there are the good days and the bad days, a large part of the sport's beauty. Although this past race fell more towards the latter end of the spectrum, it doesn't take away from the incredible learning experience and opportunity of the trip. I am beyond honored to have represented my country with some of the people I love most. My heart swelled with pride watching my teammates battle out their races in some truly brutal conditions. If my race wasn't everything I asked for, I was so proud to cheer on my Mom to her first World Champion title, my dad to a top ten finish and my teammates for battling it out. The 2015 season is officially over for me as I fly home now and I couldn't be more thankful for the unrivaled support I was gifted with from my family, sponsors and coach. The 2016 season is looming fast and after I have some time at home to better understand my health issues, I can't for it to begin.
A few short weeks at home after our U.S. trip and I was off again, this time Europe-bound! More specifically, Andorra (located between Spain and France, smaller than Marin), for World Championships in September. My family and I arrived a month early, not only to have a family vacation but also because my parents are racing a few weeks before me. I spent a week exploring the beautiful country before packing up a rental van and beginning an 11 hour drive. Destination: Montgenvre, France, where the last race in the World Junior Series was taking place. The trip out of town didn't go as smoothly as planned... We spent hours in a local bike shop dealing with a mechanical problem until early afternoon. Finally, we got back on the road, only to get stuck in three extra hours of traffic and drive straight into a thunderstorm, setting our arrival time at midnight. Our hotel was beautiful The next morning, we were greeted by an ominous sky and rain. The course awaiting us was different than anything I had ever seen. Picture a soccer field in the rain. Now picture that field pitching straight up and down with nasty traverses across. Add a few hundred bike tires chewing it up, toss in some rocks and you pretty much have the course. It was messy to say the least. I had never ridden conditions like it and struggled to get off my front brake enough. After a few slide outs on the mud, I brightened at the realization falling didn't hurt! Nonetheless, I was intimidated by the unpredictable nature of the terrain. Race day dawned and I was back on the line. However, my nerves left me: I knew that chaos would ensue imminently in these conditions and all I could do was my best. We started fast, predictably. I quickly fell back to mid-twenties. Within the first climb, I was running. As soon as I could, I was back on my bike. I nailed the first downhill but the traverse after was clogged and I was back on my feet. The rest of the race continued in similar fashion: run, ride, ride, slip out, run, ride and push, push as hard as possible on the climbs. I held my initial position more or less throughout the race. I crossed the line in 29th, certainly not the position I was looking for, but all I had to give on a challenging course. Instead of the technical aspect of the course working to my advantage per usual, this time, the technicality cost me. For whatever reason, I wasn't riding with the confidence and skill needed to excel on this course. All in all, it was a phenomenal learning experience and I was thankful to have my dad and brother with me for the first time during an international race. Of course- not to forget the delicious French cuisine... The race was an adventure- the right amount of challenge- and never boring... Later that day, our rental car broke down, and since it was both a holiday and a weekend, everything was closed until Monday. So we got a few extra days in the French Alps to explore, and it turns out there are worse places to be stranded. Now, I head back to Andorra for a few weeks before World Championships! After a few wonderful weeks in Park City and Kirkwood exploring the beautiful lakes and phenomenal trails, it seemed all too soon we were pulling the team trailer to the Nationals venue at Mammoth. Stepping out of the car, it finally hit me: Nationals. So much depended on this solo event- a season of work for an hour to shine. Although it had crept up ridiculously fast, I also felt reassuringly ready for this race. The course would be grueling: endlessly steep climbs, rocky and dusty with thick piles of dirt pooling in corners which seemed to reach out and grab your wheel. It was clear due to the terrain that it would be a brutal course for every rider. Race morning rolled around and I found my nerves surprisingly low; I knew I had done all the preparation possible and that was all I could do. The gun fired and we were off. The pace was aggressive but I felt strong and jumped into third position behind Haley’s wheel onto the single-track. I was riding smoothly but a glance behind me showed that the entire pack was still following. As soon as the single-track opened up, Tiziana sprinted around me and Kseania attacked with her. Haley and Rachel were directly ahead. The course narrowed back to single-track and Tiziana allowed a gap to open between the leaders and my group. I wanted to plead with Tiziana to remain with the lead group but as I pushed the pace on the climb, the all too familiar feeling of my nuerally mediated syncope dizziness settled over me in a haze. I could feel my legs start to complain with the workload. I ignored this development as best I could and instead focused on hydrating before the next fire road climb. The course opened back up to allow position battles to be waged. The leaders could be seen about 30 seconds up. Tiziana and Kseania opened a small gap on me while two other girls sprinted to pass me only to fall immediately back. I wasn’t too worried as I knew the pace I was riding at was plenty aggressive considering we were only 1/3 of the way through the race. I entered the descent in fifth and made up enough time to catch both Kseania and Tiziana. Entering the second lap, I moved past Kseania to ride Tiziana’s wheel. On the first fire road, I passed Tiziana and rode the remainder of the lap by myself. By the end of the lap, I had made up some time and could see Rachel ahead of me on course. For the rest of the race, I focused on narrowing the gap between Rachel and myself. I finished in third. I was happy to podium but disappointed to not feel like myself while racing. However, there simply isn’t an excuse. Every racer faces a hundred challenges while out on course, and my dizziness problems this season have simply been one of mine. It isn’t the defining reason not to be able to perform; adversity is part of the sport and the best athletes learn to overcome it.
Even if my race wasn’t everything I hoped it would be, I was ridiculously happy to see my teammates finish the day with such strong races. I was so proud to wear the Whole Athlete jersey and watch the team ride to three national titles and five medals. The support from the team has been truly unparalleled all season. My bike ran flawlessly thanks to all of Josh and Chris’ hard work, and I can’t even begin to thank Dario for the phenomenal mentoring, coaching, and time he puts into our team. UCI Junior Women Place: 4th Teammates: Haley After some sweet training and trails in Huntsville at teammate Anders Johnson’s house, it seemed too soon that we were packed up and headed to Colorado Springs. I was thrilled to find a rolling course with some technical, off-camber, sandy rock sections- reminiscent of Marin and Baja riding. My medication was approved by USADA and UCI the afternoon before my race so I was able to begin my dose again, which was a huge relief. On the heels of a series of discouraging races in the Spring (whether it be my dizziness in my European races, breaking my frame in Canada or a bad fall in Missoula), I was determined to have a fun, clean race in Colorado. I knew the altitude, at just over 6,000 ft, was significant and that I didn’t have a steady dose of my medicine in my body yet, both factors restricting the performance I was desperate to give. With Dario’s encouragement, I made the focus of this race fun instead of result driven. It was race morning and after a good warmup, I was on the line. The whistle blew. There was plenty of jostling for a top position but I placed myself in the back of the pack. I knew half the girls in front of me were struggling with altitude as well and due to my initial conservative pace, I was confident I could reel them in later. After the initial start loop, the pack dwindled to Haley, Ksenia, Rachel and I. Ksenia and Haley pulled away, Rachel following suit. I was reluctant to let them go. However, I knew that pace wouldn’t be sustainable for me this race. For the remainder of the race, I rode alone. I opened up a gap on fifth place and rode the technical sections smoothly. I finished in fourth- happy to have had fun, felt strong and stayed on two wheels. It was awesome to watch the team ride to some fabulous finishes! Now we are onto the next chapter- Park City :).
UCI Junior Women Place: DNF Teammate: Haley After just half a day home from Canada, we began a 20 hour drive to Missoula, Montana. I was stoked to arrive and find the fast, flowy course I remembered from last year. I prerode on a borrowed team bike because we had yet to set up my new Fate. My confidence wavered a bit when I found out the medicine I had been taking for my neurally mediated syncope was a banned substance for racing. I stopped my doses and the drug left my system in time for race morning. I knew the combination of my dizziness and altitude meant I wouldn’t be able to compete at my desired level. Race day quickly arrived. 3, 2, 1 and we were off. Although my legs felt strong, I knew I had to pace myself. I let Haley open a small gap on the rest of the pack. I was second on the climb and feeling great. My strategy was to pick up the pace each lap to hopefully avoid an onset of my dizziness symptoms. Haley had held her gap, but at the top of the climb, we had closed on her and she was in close sight. Entering the second lap, I was feeling good. I started to push the pace, two girls following me. A quarter of the way, I could feel my symptoms begin to act up, starting with a feeling of fogginess coming over me. I immediately backed off and let my competitors take the lead. I stayed on their wheel, but the damage had been done. As I picked the pace back up, the dizziness hit me head on. The fogginess enveloped me, my sight became blocked with black spots and I began to lose feeling in my extremities.
On the second lap’s descent, I lost control and fell hard. I hit my head pretty hard and stopped racing to head over to the medic tent. I was later diagnosed with a minor concussion, but was otherwise fine. I recovered from the fall fast, but was bummed. UCI Junior Women Place: 9th USA Teammates: Meghan, Lauren, Haley, Ksenia After some hard training and resolving some health problems, I felt more prepared than ever for the upcoming race in Canada. Upon arriving, I was reunited with Haley who would be staying with me. We arrived at the hotel late at night and foodless: our only option for dinner was takeout pizza which arrived at 11 pm. I felt much better the next morning after sleeping in until almost 10am. I was thrilled to find a course full of roots, rocks and technical A-lines at every turn. I felt confident and smooth on the gap jumps and other obstacles. My stoke level was soaring. On my second lap, I was distracted entering a technical section. I felt unsteady so I hopped off my bike and landed on my feet but my bike went flying ahead of me. As soon as it hit the ground, I knew something was terribly wrong due to a resounding crack. Upon examining my Fate, I discovered three cracks through my frame which make it completely unrideable. Some of the A-lines. The cracked frame presented a pretty big obstacle as I no longer had a bike. My parents, coach and I investigated options for a bike but to no avail. A fellow US racer, Savilia Blunk, was generous enough to lend me her bike for the race. Although we had flown in on Wednesday in order to get some quality time on the course before the Sunday race, I was restricted to spinning on roads since I was borrowing the mechanic’s bike up until the actual race. The course was highly technical with minimal power sections so I knew the race would be greatly determined by technical finesse- a skill I wouldn’t be able to bring on a borrowed bike with no test runs. Aside from that, the other Canadian girls who I had raced a few times previously had grown up riding the course. However, I knew all I could do was to keep an optimistic attitude and hope for the best. Sunday morning rolled around, bringing with it dark rainclouds. I spun to the race in the rain on the mechanic’s bike, where I grabbed Savilia’s bike from her as she crossed the line. Due to switching components, etc., my warmup was much less than optimal but it had to do. We started fast and I felt strong up the first climbs. Turning onto single-track, my nerves came into play. I felt myself hold on the brakes and give up positioning to fall just out of top 5. I was frustrated at myself for this lapse of confidence but also knew my first lap would have to be tentative as I learned the new bike. I rode smoothly the first and second laps, attacking on any power section but knowing I was losing valuable time on the muddy descents due to caution. The rain was absolutely torrential and as later described by US coach Jason Jablonski- “The most insane racing conditions I have ever seen.” Towards the end of the third lap, on a slick wall berm ride, a pro women slid out in front of me, causing me to ram into her. I lost several positions trying to untangle our bikes. I rode into a 9th place finish- happy to have had the opportunity to race and score some UCI points but also disappointed to fail to bring 100% of myself to the race. Although the week’s circumstances were less than ideal, I learned an immense amount about taking whatever comes and making it work. This trip truly showed how lucky I am to have such a supportive group of coaches and parents behind me and I couldn’t be more thankful for them. Next up, Missoula and altitude training camp with the team!
UCI Junior Women Place: 23rd USA Teammates: Haley, Ksenia and Cassie After the previous race, the USA team spent some time exploring Austria before heading to Germany. Often times while traveling for bike races, access to the actual culture is limited due to focusing on the race. However, we were able to escape for a day into the countryside (and city). We packed a gourmet picnic of bakery breads and fine cheeses and meats and ventured to a gushing river for a picnic. After lunch, we stopped by a breathtaking lake, the Alps towering as a backdrop before driving to Innsbruck, Austria’s biggest tourist town. Tuesday we arrived in Germany, and although the Alps were missing, it was still gorgeous. The forests glowed tropical green and cute adobe houses sprinkled sprawling fields of wildflowers. We were able to get on the course Wednesday. I was pleased to find a grueling singletrack climb leading to a flowy, technical descent. Then, ominous clouds appeared on the horizon and water ranging from drizzle to torrential remained for the next 5 days. However, this just added another element of fun to the course. We got back on the course Saturday. I felt smooth on the rock gardens, and steep, rocky and rooty switchbacks. Race day rolled around and while Carson and Chris headed to the course to race, the girls had a leisurely morning of stretching and snacking before getting ready. I was called up to the line in 2nd behind Haley in front of a field of 70 girls. The gun went off and we exploded. Leading to the climb, I had good positioning in top 5. However, about 2 minutes in, my dizziness hit and I was forced to back off, letting a stampede of girls pass me. At a particularly steep part of the climb, a girl attempted to pass me and knocked us both to the ground, gouging my leg with her bike. Although we had been in a solid line, as this occurred, the front pack pulled away as the second group (including myself) grappled to run in the slippery mud. For the rest of the race, I worked to catch as many as I could. I rode smoothly enough on the downhill to catch girls in front of me and passed girls on the climbs as well. I felt strong and as though I paced myself well but also knew I had lost some critical time from mistakes. I finished 23rd feeling good. This wasn’t just an awesome trip but also an awesome learning experience. It was so exciting to have such a competitive field of girls and such challenging courses. Huge thanks for Whole Athlete for backing me throughout this adventure! Now some rest before heading to Canada in June :)
Our beautiful cabins in the Alps. In mountain bike racing, there are good days and bad days. Days where your legs propel you over massive mountains and days where the pain from racing makes you question every inch of your being. Unfortunately, yesterday leaned more towards the second option for me. But there was so much to the race than just the hour of suffering. We flew in on Thursday and arrived in the stunning Austrian Alps later that night. Our cabins were surrounded by the towering, snow-capped mountains, ancient castles and expansive meadows full of wildflowers. Looking around was like being in a picture book and I felt like I was in a dream. The team was able to get on the course Thursday and Friday and I was more than stoked to discover a highly technical, punchy course full of features. The descents were steep, packed with roots and tight switchbacks. The dirt quickly turned to a fine powder which added another factor to the race. The climbs were extremely punchy and steep as well. I was in love with the course. I felt smooth and fluid on it. I knew the key to the race would be in staying relaxed and focused throughout the race. Race morning found me calm and ready to take on the challenge of my first European race. I had the second call up and lined up as confident and ready as I ever would be. Among the rows of the 40+ girls were the rainbow stripes of the world champion. The whistle blew and we were off. I had a good position and my legs felt strong. Entering the first descent, I was about tenth. In the chaos, we all began to run. I ran/slid down the A-line and was back riding fairly quickly, in time for the longest climb. Something changed then, and it wasn’t in my legs or my mind. Months of preparation had led to this race and I was ready for it. However, as soon as I started to push myself, my vision became foggy and the dizziness problem I have long suffered from became all-consuming. The thought of quitting loomed heavy on the horizon, but I pushed through with the small hope that it would clear. Girls kept passing me as I settled into survival mode and did my best just to keep riding. Entering the second lap, I felt slightly better but still was losing position. Halfway through, my head cleared slightly and I was able to push myself harder. My legs felt strong and I was riding smoothly. I started to slowly move up in the field but my progress was slow. After every effort, my dizziness would be reinforced and my pace would slow again. I was relieved to cross the line. After finishing, the emotional stress collided with me. My jaw shook uncontrollably and I was entirely speechless. After some solo reflection, I felt much better and was able to take perspective.
The pain of the race seems miniscule in scale to the positives. I am honored to have the opportunity to be in Europe. It was incredible to have a highly competitive field to push me when giving up is so tempting. I am learning so much by being immersed in a field of such highly trained athletes. I look forward to an awesome week of training and the race next weekend! Sea Otter… where to begin… Every year, a frenzy of multi colored tents erupts in the Mazda Raceway, accompanied by an eclectic crowd of thousands from different countries around the world (well, as diverse as a group of bikers get, anyway). During the three day festival, early morning to evening, these crowds choose to enter deep into the pain cave. Although there are multiple disciplines of racing, my racing was strictly restricted to cross country. The course, similar every year, is one 24 mile long lap full of never-ending fireroad climbs, gravel fireroad descents and the occasional singletrack tossed in (just to keep the spirit of actual mountain biking somewhat alive). Race morning found the raceway blanketed in a thick layer of dense fog, which kept the morning an ideal temperature. On the line, I was encouraged to see about fifteen girls alongside me, the biggest field of the season so far. Although they were playing pop songs on the start, I could feel the nerves radiating off the other girls. The whistle blew and we were off. I hung back, allowing the others to pull me and then sprinting to be second into the first treacherous descent. As soon as we hit the open road again, I allowed the other girls to pass in order to sit in on their wheels and draft. On the singletracks, Haley and I alternated leading, usually putting in a small gap and then allowing the field to catch and pull us on the open sections. I focused on conserving all my energy, eating my Probolts and staying hydrated with Osmo. Sea Otter ended in a series of nasty fireroad climbs which led to a final singletrack one. The whole hour leading up to those climbs could almost be called a warmup because the race didn’t really start until those climbs. By the time we reached those last climbs of the course, our pack had narrowed to 3 other girls, including Haley. Entering the last singletrack section (a descent and then a climb), Haley and I glanced at each other, and put down the hammer, sprinting to the entrance. We flew down the descent, and soon hit the ascent, my only worry to push my already screaming legs and gasping lungs impossibly harder. We were wheel to wheel until the final little pitch, where I failed to anticipate gearing and was forced to grind an awful cadence. She gained a few wheel lengths on me and entered the track finish ahead of me. It was one of the most fun races of the season, and I felt honored to take second. The support that the team has given me in the past few weeks has truly been one-of-a-kind. I can’t give enough thanks to Josh, Dario and my mom for all the hours they put into the team. Next stop, Austria and Germany for the Junior World Series races!
Category: UCI Junior Women 17-18 Place: 2nd Teammates: Haley Preriding Bonelli #2, I was happy to find that the course was pretty different than Bonelli #1. The course was full of punchy climbs, rutted descents and log features. I felt smooth and ready for the the race the next day. It was a little strange having a 4:30pm race, but I quickly adjusted. I was disappointed to discover that once again, our field would be pretty small (less than 10). Off the line, 17-18 National Champion, Ksenia, jumped in front and led us around the start loop and first lap. I settled into second place behind Ksenia, focusing on staying hydrated and conserving the energy I knew I would need later. By that point, our pack had condensed to Ksenia, Haley and me. Entering the final singletrack of the first lap, I hopped in front, hoping that I could build a small gap without expending too much energy. I was successful. Ksenia and Haley remained a few yards behind me entering the second lap. Teammate Haley found my wheel and we picked up the pace to put a couple minute gap on the field. The combination of afternoon heat and the draining nature of the course added up to me spending most of the race deep in the pain cave, my heart rate hovering almost as high on the descents as on the climbs of the course. Haley jumped in front and for the rest of the race, I followed her wheel. I had chosen to race my hardtail Fate on the course while Haley had chosen her full suspension Epic. However, since the downhills were packed with bone rattling ruts and loose turns, I found myself envious of her bike choice on those downhills. even though I loved the Fate on the climbs. Halfway through the fourth and final lap on a descent, she pulled away. I was stoked to finish second and felt like I gave a good effort and left everything on the course. It was awesome to see the whole team be so successful. Next stop, Sea Otter!! Relaxing with my teammates post race.
Result: 2nd Category: 17-18 UCI Junior Women Teammates: Haley After an awesome week relaxing in LA with the team, I felt ready for Fontana. Preriding the course, I was pleased to find it significantly more rewarding than Bonelli: full of fun rock faces, swooping turns, and deep sandy corners. I was definitely a little intimidating entering my first ever UCI race but also felt confident in the downhill as it was reminiscent of my home terrain. I knew the key to the race would be attacking on the two climbs and staying smooth on the technical descents. Race morning found Haley and me lining up with a very small category which was slightly disappointing but also took some pressure off. It was announced that we would only be completing 2 laps, which would be about an hour long race; a distance shorter than I was used to. This meant that the whole race would be a faster pace than usual. “Go!” and we were off. I hung back and let the other girls pull through the initial section and then Haley and I attacked on the climb. I felt strong and hopped in the lead entering the 500 feet singletrack ascent. I was riding carelessly and it wasn’t long until I didn’t fully commit to a basic rock section and was forced to hop off, beckoning Haley by me. Haley put the hammer down and by the time I was back riding, she had gapped me. For the rest of the lap, I could see Haley in the distance, but couldn’t quite catch her. I wasn’t riding smoothly and kept dabbing over basic sections. Entering the second lap, I focused on relaxing and staying in my head in order to find a rhythm on the course. I had a much better final lap and pushed the last tempo section feeling powerful and fresh. I hit the ending climb at a sprint and finished feeling good. In hindsight, I realize that I failed to pace myself effectively in such a short race. I finished with another lap in me which was a mistake on my part. Even though this weekend wasn’t my best performance, I was happy to come away with some UCI points and stoked to see the team be so successful. A huge thanks to Osmo and Stacy Sims for working with me in dialing nutrition in so I can be optimally fueled. The support of the team never wavered once this weekend and I couldn't ask for a better gift than them. Training down in the beautiful park in our backyard between Bonelli and Fontana with the team.
Our sprinter van roars along on the dark road, the stars and moon glowing iridescent. Its 6 am, Thursday morning and my Mom and I are on the road for 7 hours to Bonelli Park. Spirits are high and the months of training feel like they are finally paying off. We arrive late Thursday night and are reunited with the team. Friday is preriding day, and the course is loose, punchy, with minimal to no spots for recovery, and hot. Very hot. I ride a few laps, examining various lines with scrutiny and by the end of the day, feel dialed on the course. Race morning rolls around, and in the blink of an eye, I am lining up alongside teammates Haley and Veda. I was a little late to the line but managed to start behind Haley. We were starting with the other Cat One Women, so about fifteen women were on the line. I wasn’t all the way focused, so when the gun went off, I had a little bit of catching up to do. Haley and Veda were pulling the field and within seconds, I worked my way up to their wheels. The initial punchy climb worked on separating us out until it was just Haley, me and another woman not in our category. Since the race organizers had started every other category in front of us (up to 70+ Cat 1), we were passing people left and right, weaving between bramble and flailing handlebars. The gnarliest section of the course was a slalom style rock garden which had become super loose from thousands of riders preriding the days before. As Haley and the other woman took the initial left line, I swooped outwards and quickly crossed back over to pass them both. I felt smooth and fluid, but was surprised to glance over my shoulder when I hit the climb and not see Haley. For the rest of the lap, I worked by myself to keep up a steady but conservative pace. Since it was already about 70 degrees- which doesn’t sound too warm but is when your heart rate is 185 beats per minute- I was worried about going out too hard so I instead focused on hydrating and fueling. The course was pretty open at parts and in those sections, so I got down as low as possible to be “aero and narrow.” With about 5 minutes left in the first lap, 17-18 men category and teammate, Carson Beckett and pack of other riders caught me with Haley drafting them. I pulled Haley for the remainder of the lap and came through the finish feeling strong. Heading on my second lap, I tried to focus on recovery which was challenging due to the unforgiving nature of the course. Haley and I were able to work together, so she pulled me on the second lap. We had a pretty good gap on the field by then, about 5 minutes, so I knew the race was between Haley and me. We slowed down a little bit on our second lap but still were working hard. I knew the third lap would be the lap where the race would begin. Entering the third lap, Haley put the hammer down and sprinted full out in an attempt to drop me. I did my best to match her pace. The third lap was our fastest lap, we dropped a minute off our first lap time and two off our second. I was super excited to begin to overcome my biggest weakness in my racing career, my “second” mindset. I tend to fade when I begin to hurt, especially in the last lap and give up, letting myself accept second instead of battling for first. This race, my mind was the biggest struggle I faced. I wrestled with making myself dig as deep as I could for as long as possible. I was proud to finally succeed. Coming into the finish, the course hit a three minute climb and then dropped into a narrow singletrack that led to a turny grass finish. Haley and I were still passing tons of guys, except instead of the older men, we were passing the younger men now. I began to sprint to pass them before the singletrack (Haley had already squeezed past them). However, the three began to try and outsprint me. I passed one of them but the others swerved to cut me off and hop in front of me. Haley gapped me in the singletrack and was leading by about 7 seconds entering the grass section. I put my head down and sprinted all out, telling myself that the race wasn’t over until the line was crossed. Entering the finish and lap split, a rider hesitated and swerved into me, knocking me off my bike. I recovered and crossed the line happy and 100% blown. I was super stoked to see the rest of my team do so well and thankful for the phenomenal support. Date: 7/27/14 Category: Juniors 15-16 Result: 4th After Nationals, my family and I headed to New York City for the first time. It was super cool to see but also not the best recovery/training for the upcoming race. All that aside, I arrived in Vermont a few days later. I had an awesome few days exploring Burlington, touring Ben and Jerry’s, riding some sweet local trails and hanging out with the team. After a successful Nationals, the pressure was off and I was looking forward to a fun race on a killer course. The Catamount Classic was stuffed with A-lines, pump track sections, swoopy turns, technical rocks and (new to me) a gap jump. I was able to ride the course twice and felt pretty good on it. Leading into the race, my legs still didn't feel fully recovered but I hoped for the best. Race morning woke us with pounding rain and a few claps of thunder. I hadn't expected the downfall and had no idea what the course would be like wet but was excited for the challenge. The race had drawn some Canadians that I had previously raced against, including the Canadian National Champion and the Quebec National Champion. We started with all the other Cat 1 women. As soon as the gun went off, I immediately struggled despite my good warmup. Although I was at the top of the pack, following my teammate Haley, I was working harder than normal while producing a slower pace. I settled into 2nd place with a gap on the rest of the field. However, I kept sliding out on the muddy single-track and making careless errors. Every time I would fall, I would tell myself to relax and take the course slowly. Then, I would fall again. Luckily, I was totally unhurt as the mud was soft. 2/3 into the race, two Canadians, working together, caught me. We rode as a pack but I kept dropping off. My teammates, Zach and Silas, were relentless in cheering me on and raised my spirits and motivation to finish strong. I worked hard to close their lead and finished in 4th, 10 seconds off of 3rd and 20 seconds off of 2nd. Although it wasn't one of my strongest races, I still enjoyed it and was super stoked for my fellow teammates success in their races. The 2014 season was such an amazing learning experience and so much fun. I feel immensely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with such a talented group of riders, mechanics and coaches in form of the Whole Athlete/Specialized team. The support they have given me truly exceeds my wildest dreams. To my family, friends, coaches, team and sponsors: I can’t begin to express my gratitude enough, you are absolutely spectacular. Once more, I couldn't ask for better sponsors. Thank you Specialized, SRAM, ProBar, Osmo Nutrition, Velo Development Foundation, DNA Cycling, Oakley, Elemental Herbs, Kewl Fit, Pro Gold Lubricants, Rock Tape, Feedback Sports, DZ Nuts, Bungalow Munch and ESI Grips.
Date: 07/20/14 Category: Cross Country 15-16 Women Result: 2nd Teammates: Haley Batten, Veda Gerasimek After a 19 hour drive from Wisconsin, I was relieved to make it to Macungie, Pennsylvania. As we rolled in, I could feel the infamous, cloying humidity in the air. However, the heat was predicted not to be too severe. I woke up the next morning and it was time to hit the long anticipated, famously technical course. I was enjoying the rock gardens, root sections and forest climbs, when, halfway through my first lap, I hit a rock and slashed my tire. I was forced to walk down the ski run for the remainder of the course, fortunately (or unfortunately for him), I was in good company with my teammate Chris, who had also flatted on the same rock. I soon got the tire changed and I was on my way to my second lap. I began to get a feel for the course and LOVED it. Race morning rolled around and I was ready! I had been training for this race for over 10 months. I fit in a mediocre warm-up and my race jitters were pretty bad. Luckily, my coach, Dario, and family were there to offer some reassurance. I knew my start position was critical as the course immediately narrowed to single-track, but also knew there was a grass climb to settle position. I avoided blowing by relaxing at the start and then moving up to third on the climb, behind teammate Haley Batten and another girl. As soon as we hit the single track, I could tell I did not want to follow the other girl's wheel, as she slid and skittered over every rock and root. As soon as the trail opened, I passed her and rode Haley's wheel. The pace was hard but comfortable and we flew past every 17-18 girl and many of the U23 Pros. Continuing onto our third and final lap, I tossed my bottle at the feed zone and looked for a fresh one, but didn't see one. I paused and looked around, but no luck. Although this didn't affect my performance or my ending result, I was still slightly rattled. Haley continued to race ahead, but I had fallen off a bit. For the final lap, I pushed to catch her again but couldn't. I was stoked to finish in second with a gap on the rest of the field. Much thanks to my family's support, Dario's coaching and our phenomenal mechanics- I couldn't have done it without them! 2014 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS SUPER D- MACUNGIE, PENNSYLVANIADate: 07/20/14
Category: Super D Junior Women 15-18 Result: 2nd I fit in multiple laps on the Super D course and felt confident about my lines on the rough rocks. I spun up to the top instead of shuttling to warmup before my start and soon it was time to go. I was riding smoothly. Suddenly, I was thinking to myself what an awesome, clean run I was having. In that moment, I hit a root I wasn't ready for and jumped off my bike. I ran for a good 200 hundred feet until I could jump back on. I tried not to be too hasty and lose more time by freaking out. The rest of my run was successful. I finished in second. I was happy to complete both my races with a top three finish but also a little bummed to have allowed myself to make such a stupid mistake. It was a great weekend and I was so excited for all my teammates! The Whole Athlete Team was able to take away 9 National titles and 18 podiums. Date: 07/12/14 Category: Open Women Short track Result: 2nd Teammates: Haley Batten Our race wasn't until 7 that night, so my teammate Haley and I had a peaceful morning and afternoon of stretching and hydration. I was able to find an empty, rolling road to get in a nice, long warmup before my race. I forced my way to be able to line up in the front row, on the opposite side of the immediate corner so as not to get fenced in at the turn. I was pretty relaxed and felt confident about the course- mostly fresh cut grass with some fun, banking turns. I was also pretty excited to race at night. The whistle blew without a countdown and I wasn't 100% ready. It took me a minute to focus and accelerate forwards. Going into the first hill, I was fifth. The women jostled for position but I could tell most were working significantly harder then me. Because of this, I wasn't too worried about working my way up as I knew most of them would blow and fall back. I still focused on moving up and soon was in second. I followed closely on Haley's wheel and was thankful for her pacing. We pushed the pace to open up a 45 second gap but weren't working super hard. The last two laps, Haley picked up the pace and I was stayed on her wheel. I finished second by three seconds. I was stoked to feel strong and have so much fun with Haley after a few tough races. Up next, the cross country race Sunday here in Wisconsin! Cross Country: Date: 7/14/14 Category: 15-18 Junior Women Result: 2nd Teammates: Haley and Veda I was able to preride the course Thursday before short track and found a course full of narrow trees, tight switchbacks and short, punchy climbs. Entering the race, I knew the race would be relentless, never leaving places to merely coast or rest. The team had a few days to relax in the Wisconsin humidity and was ready to race by the time Sunday rolled around. Race day came and Veda, Haley, my mom and I all lined up in the front row of open women. The afternoon was hot and humid- a good taste of the PA weather. The course immediately narrowed into single track, so the start was crucial. Veda lead us out with Haley and I following on her wheel at a comfortable pace. Right before the fireroad narrowed into singletrack, an ex pro snaked around us all and secured a spot in first. Haley passed Veda and they took off, gaining a small gap. I still felt strong so after a few minutes, passed Veda on an open section, and caught the pro, Haley already having passed her. Here, I lost more time, sitting on the back of the pro's wheel, holding my brakes as I watched Haley fly ahead. Finally I passed her on a climb, but Haley was already long gone. I settled into second and held it for the rest of the race. My legs felt good which was encouraging after my Montana and Colorado races. A quarter through the first lap, I dropped my bottle. Luckily, Josh fed m on the next lap so I hopefully didn't became too dehydrated. I pushed wherever I could on the short climbs and tempo sections and finished leaving everything on the course. I felt extremely lucky to have the team support- thanks to Dario for his amazing coaching and Josh for making my bike run perfectly. Next stop PA Nationals! Date: 6/27/14 Category: Juniors 15-18 Result: 6th Arriving at the venue, the Whole Athlete Team found a course paralleling the busy freeway, dry, dusty and radiating heat. It was full of short, punchy climbs and a few steep rock drop offs. I was apprehensive approaching the race as I knew the altitude and heat would make the race brutal and my confidence had been jarred from the previous race. I felt much better recovered entering this race so hoped for the best. I held back at the start in order to pace myself and was in seventh entering the single track climb. I quickly moved to fourth. I remained in fourth until the second lap where a girl passed me on a steep climb we were all forced to run. I was working as hard as I could and could see another person on my tail. The heat was pretty unbearable, reaching an average of 95 degrees for our race. I knew I needed to fuel, and gulped down multiple bottles of Osmo but I was only able to eat a single ProBolt due to the dryness in my mouth. The second girl was now right on my tail and I could see the first just ahead. On a pavement tempo section, I pulled aside in order to draft her. For the remainder of the final lap, we traded off leading until finally she was able to pull in front and create a 10 second gap. I finished completely spent and utterly exhausted.Although the course wasn't the most enjoyable one I had ever ridden, I had a fun few days before the race hanging with the Whole Athlete team. It was awesome to watch the Pro race the day before our race and I felt so lucky to have such great support from my team and sponsors. A huge thanks to my team, the mechanic, my coach Dario and my parents for making this all possible! Category: Juniors 15-16 Result: 4th I was a little nervous going into race day after a few weeks of feeling pretty tired, but loved the beautiful, fun course. I lined up and went out pretty fast on my teammate, Haley's wheel, putting in a small gap from the rest of the pack. At the time, my legs felt strong and the effort wasn't too challenging. However, once about 5 minutes into the race, a black dizziness settled over me and I felt sick. I dropped into 5th place, put my head down and just tried to finish the lap. I seriously considered pulling throughout the race, but decided to ride it as a training ride and endure. The dizziness wore off by the third lap but a sluggishness nausea remained. I passed my coach, Dario in the feed zone entering my third lap. Dario was able to pass on valuable advice that was the perfect encouragement, to ride it as a training ride and have fun on the downhill. I did that and loved the super fun downhill! I felt better by the second half of my third lap and finished in 4th.
After a week of riding the course, I felt pretty ready to go come Saturday morning. The course was technical and for the 15/16 group, about a 30 minute race. Due to limited bike racks, I had to descend down a 10 minute hill in the rain to the venue. Upon arriving, I was thoroughly soaked and shivering. After the initial cold, I was able to get in a solid warmup and become a little warmer. I lined up in the front row due to my second place call up, but when the gun went off, found myself about 7th coming into the rooty single-track climb. Within the first three minutes, the leading girl slid out when passing some sport men and she was forced to jump off her bike, causing chaos behind her as our group scrambled to hop off and also run. Out of the corner of my eye as I ran, I saw two girls ride by, slipping into first and second and opening a gap. That was the last time I would see the leader during the race. I was able to run into fourth position. It took a little while to pass the junior and sport men ahead of us, but eventually I got around them and moved into third place. From that point on, I worked to catch the two leaders. Due to the tight single-track and sparse climbs, I found it hard to make up time. As soon as I would pass someone in front of me and push for a few minutes, I would wind up behind another person and be forced to wait until the trail widened briefly or they pulled over to let me pass. I was pretty frustrated with the amount of people on the course, as I felt good but was unable to go anywhere near my desired pace. I had also realized pretty soon into the race that my contact lens was in inside out, causing my right eye's sight to be entirely blurry for chunks of the race. With four kilometers to go, I caught the second place girl and rode her wheel looking for a pass. On a slick root downhill, the lens folded entirely, blinding me and I went down on the roots. I hopped right back up and continued, but unfortunately I lost the girl's wheel.
Looking back on my race, I should have realized how crucial the start is in such a short, crowded course. I finished in third, happy to have podiumed but also a little frustrated to not leave everything I had on the course. I still learned tons and had an awesome time racing internationally! |