 Mammoth, California provided a fun town, beautiful views, and a great venue to hold both the 2015 and 2016 US mountain bike National Championships. It would be an exciting and busy week of racing bikes with so many different events taking place. I was excited to have the opportunity to race in multiple different events and decided to compete in the cross country, short track, and enduro. After spending the week settling in with my team, soaking up the warm sun and good vibes. I could hardly wait to get out there and give it my all. Friday brought the cross country race, and at 4pm I found myself on the start line with some of my favorite athletes and a large fast field of jr. women. The day was hot and we had a dusty and demanding race ahead. The long climb and fast descent was formed by loose, dusty, and rocky trails, adding another important element to the race. We were all focused and hopping with energy as the U23 women began their race right ahead of us.  Photo by PBcreative We launched off the line with full speed right into the first climb. The group mixed around a little, but soon I found myself in the lead with one other rider right behind and a gap on the rest of the field. The sunlight poured down on us, but all eyes and full focus was on the trail ahead. On the steep climbs I could feel my legs were not quite with me, they were stiff and lacking quick reaction time. I knew that I would really need to listen to my body and pace myself well, hoping that if I did so I could hang on to the stars and stripes. The downhill was an absolute blast, it demanded skill and focus in the thick sand and jagged rocks, but was the perfect way to reset for the next lap.  Photo by PBcreative During the next two laps the rider behind me took the pass and grew her gap, but I couldn’t fight back. I wanted to finish with the gold more than anything to finish off the season, but sometimes the battle isn’t yours to win. I gave everything I had to hang on to second and although it was not quite the race I was hoping for, I was happy with the effort that I gave. It was an exciting and brutal race with Gwendolyn Gibson, and I am so impressed by her ride to the win. Nice and early the next morning, I found myself back on the start line for short track with all cat 1 women. It would be a fast, tactical, and short race being only 20minute + three laps.  Photo by Kenny Wehn
Right off the start, the battle was in full force, with one rider building a gap into the lead. As the group began to split apart I found myself with one other rider (Kelsey Urban) working well together to catch back up to the leader. Before long, we had reached the leader and the three of us were battling it out. Another rider bridged the gap and the race was close between the four of us. Lap after lap the group was mixing and the results were unknown, making every second exciting and brutal.  Photo by PBcreative With two laps to go, Kelsey and I split off once again and began fighting for the win. In what seemed like seconds, the two of us were on the finishing stretch in the close sprint for the gold. Kelsey slipped past me and I had little left to fight back. Being inches from the win is tough, but it's what makes racing bikes so rewarding. It felt good to finish with another silver after a hard fought race and stand by my great friend as she received her well earned jersey.  Photo by Kenny Wehn To top off the weekend, the enduro race on Sunday provided us with four stages of incredibly fun trails, technical terrain, and beautiful views. I was able to keep it smooth and fast throughout the long day and was thrilled to take third jr. women in my first enduro race.  Photo PBcreative It was an epic day and I feel so lucky to have gotten to share it with my rad team, Chris, Georgia, and Waldek. Good times!  This week spent racing bikes in Mammoth was so dang fun and my love for the sport grows every day. The learning experiences from these races and the emotions that followed are some that will help me grow as an athlete and prepare for what is ahead. I am happy to bring home two silvers and a bronze after three exciting days in three different events. It was a great way to finish up the season with so many amazing people. I have many dreams and goals I hope to achieve in this incredible sport, but I know that I can not reach the sky without climbing the steepest mountain. There are beautiful views to remember and many more to come, along with new people and experiences every step of the way. I feel so lucky that I have been able to explore by bike and am looking forward to spending some quality time at home and to begin preparing for the 2017 season. I will be leaving the junior category behind, but bringing so much with me as I move forward into the U23 category. Lots of challenges and excitement to come! But, 2016 is far from over and I am thrilled to watch many of my teammates, friends, and role models compete in Rio. Make sure to follow these amazing athletes as they give it their all for the Olympics. THANK YOU to everyone that has truly made this possible. I want to thank the most outstanding people and companies for being a part of my journey every step of the way. My family and friends have motivated, encouraged, cheered, and supported me through the thick and thin. Dario Fredrick has helped me to become the best I can be, while teaching me all along the way. The Luna Pro Team, Waldek, Dave, Marla, Chris, Dusty, and Julien and the amazing athletes on my team, Georgia, Katerina, Catherine, Eva, Andrea, Maghalie, and Hannah have made this season truly one of a kind. The smiles and good times never stop. Our incredible sponsors make it all possible. Without these outstanding people, the adventure would not be nearly this great. 
0 Comments
 After racing in Germany, my family and I made our way back to the Alps of Leogang, Austria. Once again, I was provided with some of the most scenic training routes. The week was spent soaking up the beautiful views, sunlight, and culture while wandering through the mountains on incredible dirt roads, trails, and paths. Every day sped by and race day at World Championships was coming closer and closer.
Soon, we traveled onwards and found ourselves in the thick forests and outstretching fields of the Czech Republic. This country has held mountain bike world cups for years and years, but this year World Championships would take place on its well known and very liked course in Nové Město na Moravě. On arrival, it was time to settle in and make the final preparations for my biggest race of the year.  The course was truly one of a kind, with steep climbs and technical descents that formed an exciting and demanding course, I was not surprised that it was a favorite of many. It demanded 100% focus on every climb and every descent, there was not a second on track to relax and recover. After a couple days on course, I was feeling fast, smooth, and more than excited to give it my all on race day. At this point, I had given every workout my all throughout the season, so I was as ready as I possibly could be. Now I just needed to go race my bike. Thursday came along and I got back on the trails to dial in my lines on the course one last time. While trying out a new line on the “Mitas Choice” rock garden, I suddenly found myself flying through the air and hitting the ground with full force. With just a small dent in my helmet and a few scratches and bruises, there was no serious damage to be seen, but later I realized that there may be more damage than I had expected. With a foggy head and extremely sore stomach, I made my way back to the US team van. I wanted more than anything to feel right again, but my pain continued although it looked as if nothing could be wrong. With the help of my coach and team doctor, I decided not to finish my ride that day, instead putting all of my energy into getting fully recovered for race day. Possibly too much… I awoke Friday with a race awaiting me at 3pm that afternoon. I was feeling so much better than the day before, although still not quite myself, but I still had time. The day flew by and in seconds I found myself being called to the line. I stood on the front row with 60 riders all around me. The countries had chosen their fastest athletes to represent them and we all wanted to give our best and represent well. The fastest in the world stood among us, and in an hour we would know who would get to wear the rainbow. Within minutes one of our hardest battles would begin, we all wanted to have a good race, we all dreamed of standing on top of the podium, and we all had a fierce passion to achieve our goals.  Photo by canadiancyclist.com  Photo by ASSOS As the gun shot we launched off the line with only one thing on our minds, becoming the best in the world.  I sprinted with the leaders, but as we entered the first climb my legs immediately began to slow. Riders began to swarm past me and I couldn’t fight back like I was used to. On every climb I found myself pedaling backwards as my competition continued to race past me. With the start lap finished, I continued forward with three laps to go. I was hoping I could make a comeback, recover and race back towards the front, but my body couldn’t make it happen. Lap after lap I found myself falling backwards on the climbs, but using the descents to catch back up a little. The crowd that lined the course cheered louder than I have ever experienced before, pushing me forward pedal by pedal. I could see and hear my family members, teammates, and supporters sending me energy through their cheers and it helped me race on. I felt confident and smooth on the course, but my power wasn’t there. The battle for the podium was happening minutes ahead of me and I was far from being a part of it.  Photo by canadiancyclist.com It was a painful race, far from reaching my goals and instead ending with heartbreak and confusion. I know there are many more bad races to come, but I also know that there will be many good ones ahead as well, it is just a part of the process as I have finally realized, making the reward far greater than ever imaginable.  Photo by ASSOS Disappointment shook my body after I crossed the line in 33rd. Nowhere close to proving the hard work that I had given to this sport all winter and all summer, every workout and every race. I was prepared to leave every last bit of energy out on that course, and that I did, but my tank was empty before I launched off the line.  Photo by ASSOS I have been staring behind me for the past couple of days, wanting another chance, another race for the rainbow to show what I truly have, without turning forward to see the process and opportunities I still have ahead. This race has once again reminded me of the unforgiving nature of this sport and the power and luck that it takes to race well at world championships. After watching unbelievably exciting races by the junior men, U23 men, and elite women, on Friday and Saturday. I was amazed and motivated by every athlete that left their all out on course. Finally, I feel that I can look forward and prepare for what is to come. I have realized that this single race does not put out the fire, it only adds more wood to the flames. I am amazed by USAcycling, The Luna Pro Team, and all of the athletes that fought hard on such a demanding course. I am continuously inspired by my teammates and the athletes that I look up to.  It truly takes a village, so thank you to the people that have never stopped supporting me through the thick and thin, it means the world to me. It was incredible to have my coach, Dario Fredrick, my family, and teammates there to have my back, as well as the endless kind words and support from back home.
As I travel home, I am excited to reset and prepare for Nationals. This journey is challenging, but so rewarding, and I am thankful that I have had so many outstanding opportunities. So here’s to moving forward and enjoying every step of this amazing journey! |
