Just keep smiling

Letting go of your fears is very freeing.

When you start to build confidence, you can tune out some of what previously held you back. You use less energy because you’re not as tense and you don’t have to build momentum back up because you slow down.

This race was all about moving quick. I knew it was going to be a tough one, and I knew the competition was real.

I wasn’t quite sure how to layer for a 30 degree start. I thought I had it all planned out, but I definitely could’ve done better. My jacket was slightly too heavy, and it was one I couldn’t stash anywhere, so I regret the decision on this one, but at the same time, I didn’t really have anything better, so what else can you do.

I also didn’t put Locktite on my new cleats, because I didn’t even think about it. But not even a mile into the race, I had to stop because my foot felt very loose. I knew something was wrong. I could barely get my foot off my pedal. I almost panicked. But I just tried my best to twist. When I got it off finally, I saw that one of the bolts had completely fallen off, and the other was just hanging by a thread — and I mean barely. I felt so lucky that it didn’t completely fall off.

I tightened it back up, and for a moment I considered heading back. Who knows how the rest of the day was going to go. What if it fell off? What if I had to stop and tighten it every 5 miles?

In the end, I decided that since I drove all the way out there (90 freakin’ minutes!) that I was going to do the ride, so I pushed on. I definitely had no hopes of staying with the pack or even catching back up, but I was still going to ride hard and try my best.

That’s exactly what I did.

My bulky gloves made it hard to fuel. I ran out toward the end and limped up all the rolling hills for the last 10 miles. I kept trying to eat my gels, but it was near impossible. My shoulder and arm started cramping up because it took so long to get the damn things in my mouth and then back in my pocket once finished.

Shoulda gone with the Tailwind in my CamelBak!

This route had so much loose gravel, so many big rocks, so many downhills into that loose gravel and big rocks. Usually those kinds of descents make me slam on my brakes. But I was feeling confident and managed to get some decent speed. Shifted my weight back and just let ‘er rip.

That’s the first time I’ve really done that. I think my confidence descending is just improving more and more as I ride and push myself on things I don’t like — mainly rocks and the feeling that your bike is shifting underneath you!

Focusing on what’s in front of me instead of what’s directly in front of my wheel has been a big improvement for me in this area. I have a bad habit of looking down.

I’m so happy that I’ve been pushing myself out of my comfort zone and gaining some serious riding skills.

I know that I am just going to continue to grow as I experience so many more races, so much more terrain, so much more competition, and everything that comes along with riding a wide range of wheels — road, gravel, cyclocross and mountain bikes!

At the end of the day, though, it’s all about what makes you happy, what makes your heart feel full. And I couldn’t be more grateful to be doing this.

Every. Damn. Day.

By the way, I got 6th place women and 64th overall (out of 108 riders) and I’m hella proud of that! Over 90% gravel, most of it chunky and hard to pedal through, and just over 3,700’ of elevation on some wicked rollers. 161 average HR for more than 4 hours.

Woof!

I came to ride hard, and ride hard I did. My hamstring is feeling good. That’s the most important thing. Finally starting to heal up from my wild and wacky IRONMAN adventure.

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Try to remember always

Just to have a good time

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