A Little Bit About My Decision to go in a New Direction Next Year!!

Those who know me know my strengths in races and what I enjoy most about riding. Those who don’t may be surprised about my decision for next year. On paper, the obvious choice for racing seems to be the UCI route. Why? Olympics. World Cups. Nino. Kate Courtney. The legends race on the UCI circuit. That being said, how many people actually make it to that level? Very few. UCI racing is its own game within a sport. The endless rat race for points helps you get better starting positions so you can get better results and more points so you can get better starting positions. Sure, those starting positions can lead to big results like national championships, but that is not the sole reason I want to race. It’s not that I don’t enjoy UCI racing in its own right, but this racing does not draw me in as endurance events do, and I do not see the same opportunity for myself in it as endurance events. I do not see a sustainable progression to the next level for me in those types of races.

UCI racing is fun in its own way. It is tense, choreographed, and a great spectacle. It fills you with adrenaline from start to finish. Every line choice matters. Where you place your tires can let you make a pass, or can end your race… and that brings me to another point.

For me, racing is about adventure and pushing myself to my limit. Of course, you get plenty of pushing yourself in UCI races, but to me, doing laps of the same course is not the adventure I feel most people ride for -- including myself. In a UCI race, you travel a thousand miles for one shot. One pedal clip in. One holeshot. One start loop. This extreme pressure can lead to the feeling that one mistake can ruin that trip. It leads to immense stress that I do not believe is beneficial. One mechanical, fall, or bad line choice can spell the end of your adventure. There is little chance for redemption within a race if you start near the back like me.
In addition, I have never been an explosive person. I have always made up the most spots toward the end of a UCI race. Starts and short tracks have been my nemesis. I have spent hours working on explosiveness in the gym and on the bike, but I am well and truly a diesel. 

All of this leads me to my decision -- a big one. It is one my coach recommended to me years ago. I wanted to keep giving UCI racing a go. Now, though, I am confident in where my heart, my head, and my legs lie. I am an endurance racer. Marathon MTB races are my bread and butter. Well, really, they are more like my candy. They are the races that dish out everything I like about mountain biking: pushing myself, an amazing community, and a massive adventure. Marathon and stage races, from a physical standpoint, allow my legs to shine. They constantly teach me lessons about just how amazing the human body is. My first time doing Breck Epic left me nearly crying after stage 1. Somehow, I finished that race. These races do not end when you get a mechanical and get pulled. These challenges simply are part of the game and give a new dynamic to the rest of the race.

Marathon events have taught me that your head is what drives you through a race. Marathon races often come down to a battle between you and your head. They take you to a different region of suffering -- one that is not reachable in an hour-and-a-half UCI race. They empty you in every way. I love this feeling. I love the fond memories of type II fun that come from looking back on a big adventure with friends. After all, in these events, your competitors are doing the same thing you are trying to do: get through it and push themselves. You look after each other, handing CO2’s or food out and giving encouraging words. Working together when you can and racing full gas when it matters. 

The community in marathon is like no other. Most people are there just for the adventure. They are there to set a PR or to enjoy the gorgeous scenery and great trails. They are there because it was a goal they set to keep them honest in training. And most of all, they are there for the other people: the people who support you before, during, and after the race, the smiles you see, the hugs, and occasionally, the tears. Just go to watch a Breck Epic stage finish. From the first finishers to the last, everyone congregates around the food table and laughs over war stories from the stage. They congratulate each other.

This community is what mountain biking is about. Next year, I want to connect with this community and help leverage it to encourage others to get out, challenge themselves, enjoy adventures, and see what lessons those adventures teach them. 

Next season, I have lofty goals in the marathon, stage race, and gravel scene. I know these races can bring me results to be proud of for years to come. I know there is a lot of room for growth. Just as important as these results will be the exploration, the adventures these races take me on, and the lessons they will teach me for use on and off the bike. 

I cannot wait to share stories of the races -- good and bad -- I will have next year! I will be announcing my 2022 racing program and sponsors soon, so please stay tuned!

I want to thank Bear National Team and Julia Violich for 2 (well, 1+) great years! Being on this team taught me many lessons about racing, life, and my racing future. I am excited to watch my teammates crush the UCI circuit and also go toe to toe with them in endurance events!

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