Bike Racing Narrative

This year has definitely been one of growth for me. This was the first year that I actually trained and committed to racing, and it was a season wrought with immense suffering, stupid mistakes and a little bad luck. All these feelings were topped off with lots of joy, smiles and a new perspective of bicycle racing.

My last mountain bike race of the year was a time trial. I was there to support my community and have fun, which is why I arrived to the venue dressed up in a Wonder Woman costume. I thought that I wasn't going to take it seriously. I should always know myself better; if there happens to be more then one cyclist on the course, I'm in race mode. Realizing that my competition was one of the fastest ladies around, I quickly lost the 'fun' vibe, and found myself at the start line, in a Wonder Woman costume with those well known pre-race jitters. In true time trial format, I started two minutes after her. It was difficult to not focus on where she was on the course, and if I had caught up to her two minute lead. With this as my focus, I missed a turn, got off course and had to DNF. As I rolled into the finish line, my first thought was, "well this is the perfect end to a not so perfect season."

They, each one an accomplished cyclist, all commented on what I knew was true. I had focused on someone else during the race instead of my own performance. We also got to talk about my purpose in the sport of cycling, my goals and desires; all thoughts that I had been ruminating on