2016 was a pretty interesting season and it unfolded to be
one of the best yet as far as biking goes.
At first however the plans were completely different,
therefore there were moments of split roads and I had to decide where I wanted
to go.
It started with the strong belief that it should be my year
for XTERRA racing. Quickly I hired the best coach out there and was finally set
to do things right. Until that moment I was a self-coached athlete and was
wondering if there were possibly things out there that I was missing out on and
felt the structure and knowledge of the coach would help.
As we know I have been for the past 9 years just torn apart
between mountain biking and off road triathlon. My love for both kept me
reaching to both buckets but the way one could never be completely full. It was
this painful tradeoff which still keeps on going when it’s tough for me to
commit to be a full-time triathlete since I love biking so much, but also so
difficult to be a full-time biker since there are those raw elements in the off-road
triathlon that makes me want more. The feeling of racing your bike after an exhausting
swim when you are still dripping in water, doing a full bike race and still
getting on the really down and dirty run just brings those most primal elements
and feelings that it is so difficult to let go of that. Plus, being in two
sports eats so much more energy, we all know triathlon training is just plain exhausting.
And when my biking friends hop on the bike 6 times a week or more I hope to get
soreness out of my legs and tiredness after my swim out of my body so I can
find some energy for the bike workout. The body simply gets drained and you
cannot accomplish everything, it’s one or the other.
So, I did it, I said I’m committing, I started training like
a triathlete for first time in my life under professional watch. I swam as much
as usual just in a different structure, but I ran so much more than I could
have imagined, I noticed improvements pretty quickly but it was all at a high
cost. My feet were hurting and my body was really tired, my biking time was
reduced greatly to the point of me riding half of what I used to. I never felt stronger
on my run before but I had no energy for any quality bike workouts. I noticed
how quickly and badly it was sliding. The most bellowed discipline of mine
started sliding in between my fingers and vanishing in front of my eyes… I was
sad and knew I cannot do this for long, my stubbornness set me on the goal that
I had in my mind for the longest time but my heart was telling me otherwise.
That my hopes for committing myself fully to biking were always pushed back for
one more and another season. This way months and years went by. I started
realizing that my dreams of biking more and what I want from this sport might
never happen of me pushing it away from myself further and further. Every time
I had to make this decision it hurt me more and more. And every time I tried to
accomplish what I wanted in triathlon, I was a little closer but still not
close enough. I wonder if am I going to sacrifice what I really love for what
stubborn mind wants to finish and will not stop until it happens? Six months
into the triathlon training did come a reality check for me.
After speaking to some of my friends and my husband we had
to make the painful decision to where we go from there. All of the sudden I
decided I didn’t want to run that much anymore and wanted to feel again how
awesome it is to be a biker, even if for a short little while. It was already
June.
From whatever I had in me from the
training this year had to be enough for me to compete in the matter of days in
the Marathon Mountain Bike Nationals in Georgia.
I was set for a win even though my
preparations were not there. Missing first place after my incredible and exciting
race last year was a big void that I had to fill this year. After leading for
47 miles I ended up placing 2nd, it did sting and I knew I will be
even more focused this time. Racing that long is more about how you attack it
mentally than physically, plus my triathlon training I feel gives me endurance
and this mental strength that is much needed for longer events. I started hard
and never gave up. I battled and held my lead for most of the race and finally
got my first even stars and stripes jersey in a mountain biking event. It was
awesome and I realized how happy this made me.
Few weeks later the calendar
showed the Cross-Country Nationals this time all the way in Mammoth,
California.
I was very skeptical and lots of
riders advised me not to bother because of altitude. Everyone who went there
last year had some kind of mishap and didn’t race well, most decided not to
come back. At first I was not planning for it but after speaking with my
husband and feeling that I might have a good chance even with the fact the race
was at altitude we decided to go. I had a few weeks to focus on the bike
training only and it felt awesome, in the matter of four weeks I was able to
progress so much. I was quickly not only becoming the same rider I used to be
but even better. Finally, I was able to complete workouts I could not touch on
my triathlon plan and I was bumping up my levels and feeling so good. I could
not imagine how amazing it would have been if I did that all the time, like my
biking only competition does. I so wanted to be just a biker.
We flew to California, had a brilliant
time and I raced really well. The thin air for sure slowed me down and took so
much out of me especially on the long climbs. I had a strong group and was
happy I did so well among strong riders. I ended up second to an Xterra Pro who
lives at altitude. What an amazing coincidence and amazing athlete to race
against, I was happy I beat another pro biker who placed 3rd.
So, next on the list were Worlds.
It didn’t even cross my mind earlier that I would be actually seriously
entertaining the idea to do so and go to Val Di Sole, Italy to race, but, I was
already on a pretty good streak, training finally was going well and I had
another few weeks for another training block. We decided to go, the training
went well and my body adapted so quickly once again with even more gains.
I ended up racing in Italy against
the best people in the world, Italian National Champions and 2-time Olympic
medalists and 3-time World Champions. It was pretty insane to have an
opportunity to do so. The race course was something else, nothing we race here
locally. Short but super hard laps, it was the biggest effort I ever gave in
the shortest race I ever did. It was so much pain and so much beauty in the
whole experience. The most emotional award ceremony for my 4th place
finish. Something for sure to remember and be very grateful for. It was sad to
come home so quickly and Italy was something we will keep in our hearts for a
long time.
I had nothing else planned now and
felt pretty accomplished. Out of no were the idea came out to go for the
endurance bike race to defend the Open Women title from last year for Fool’s
Gold. I was too tired for it since it was just a week after Italy and I didn’t
feel ready. I still managed a decent race and place 3rd.
Now I was completely done. After a
little rest, I wanted to jump in to some local races of our Florida State
Series and I for sure did. But something was really off, my mind and body were
so tired that I had no desire or energy to race. For some two weeks or so my
universe turned dark, it was so gloomy that I didn’t know what to make out of
it. Those were the hardest two weeks in my whole year. I had no idea what I
wanted next, and at that moment I really wanted nothing, I felt empty. Thinking
ahead and wondering about the next season was even worse since I felt this
season although so successful was a big mismatch and energy was put in all the
wrong places. How I did get out all of it on top I don’t know but for sure I am
grateful.
I ended up getting out more and
more to my local races and especially those in my favorite parks since I felt
like I wanted to be there and experience riding there and also wanted to see
all my friends. It started really rough and it was more of the riding than
racing but I kept at it. Eventually completely unplanned, unprepared and
uncalled for I ended up finishing the whole series. But it was a good thing, it
kept me busy, kept me riding and did clear somewhat my mind.
Now I was becoming myself again
and could see what I wanted from the new 2017 season better. Interestingly
enough the same dilemma popped instantly. Am I going to be a biker or a
triathlete this year? Am I going to pick the wrong discipline and regret once
more that I didn’t chose the other? Where do I go from now to achieve all I
want without sacrificing what I love? It seemed tricky at first but with time
it become more and more clear of what I wanted. I knew that I was still not
ready to clear my mind off the triathlon goals but also, I was not going to
sacrifice my biking for it too. I was really happy with the decision and now
I’m trying to once again to live with it. It’s never easy but it is so
difficult in life to accomplish all one wants.
Even though my 2016 season was
completely divided in two different halves I am really happy to what I turned
into and very grateful for the results and experiences that brought to me…
Mountain Bike Marathon Nationals - National
Champion
XC Nationals - Runner Up
XC Worlds in Val DI Sole, Italy – 4th
Huge Thanks to all my sponsors and new ones for 2017
City Bikes, Castelli, Magura, Stan’s Notubes, Schwalbe, Trainer Road, ESI Grips, Clif, Xpedo, Garden of Life, Kuat Racks, Light & Motion, EVOC, Oakley, Pocketfinder, KMC Chains, Rotor Bike Components, K-Edge, Squirt Lube, SelleSMP and for 2017 - Trek and CeramicSpeed
