The Essay I Wrote for the Cycling Scholorship at FLC

I stood in my birthday dress with ribbons in my crimped red hair anxiously staring at my new two-wheeled toy all pretty and pink with sparkling tassel-bar ends. I immediately took it out, too impatient to wait for someone to teach me how it all worked. I vividly remember gaining speed going down a hill and panicking when seeing what seemed to be a 10 foot curb in front of me. I clearly didn’t understand the concept of coaster breaks or turning, and bam! I "end-o'ed" over the curb on my cute new bike and busted up the bones in my chin. That experience put a fear in me, and riding a bike was something I wouldn’t be doing again until my early teens.
At the beginning of my sophomore year in high school I had been training for my first marathon when two of my friends were telling me about how they would be riding bicycles 100 miles with their dads. Always up for a new adventure, I was intrigued and said I would like to give it a try. These guys didn’t seem to have much confidence in my abilities, but I signed up online and borrowed some old steel frame bicycle with mustache handle bars, down tube shifters, and a tattered Brooke’s saddle. I bought myself some “padded butt shorts," got a ride down with the boys and was off on my 100 mile journey. It was hot, it was hard, and it hurt really badly, but I did it. AND I did it faster than the nay-sayers. (Goes to show you don’t tell this red head she can’t do something.) I spent the whole next week at school loving my tan lines and feeling liberated!
My first century made me hopelessly infatuated with the bicycle and had me frequently visiting the cafe of a local bike shop. One day a friend who worked there rolled out a sexy Italian, fully lugged, steel, sea-foam green, Bianchi bicycle, and said, “You’re going to race on this next week at the Ogden cash criterium!” This is how my racing got started. I got dropped, learned a little about pain, did a road race, got dropped, did more local crits, got closer to not getting dropped, and Whoa! I didn’t get dropped! With subsequent time and technical practice, I overcame my irrational fear of curbs. I learned a lot about tactics, was given a Carmichael Training Systems book (The Ultimate Ride), and started on my path of gaining speed and fitness. This was one of the happiest periods of my life.
My high school graduation came and I thought a grand adventure would help me escape certain heartaches and problems, so I moved to France to be a nanny. I was excited to have that adventure. However, I encountered a lot of red tape, dealt with several instances of miscommunication and misunderstandings, and faced some unexpected financial issues. I wasn't at all sorry for having taken that leap, but I was also happy to return to my extremely beautiful home in Ogden, Utah where I could again ride a bike.
Upon my return I was still dealing with circumstances I needed to overcome. I found that commuting and racing CycloCross on my single speed Specialized was what gave me a reason to keep plugging away through the cold Utah winter and through my mist of dense, confusing change. I had a few good friends that frequently reminded me to not take myself so seriously and to look at my situation with some perspective while others were tempting me with temporary fixes. I had a lot to decide about who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do.
It was during my first CycloCross state championships that it came time for me to make an important decision. I remember it vividly. I was jockeying for 1st place in the women’s B category. I could practically hear my legs and lungs screaming and see my heart's maxed pulse on the course in front of me. I could feel the energy of onlookers and my competitors hunting me all while my mind was rapidly disputing whether or not I would give into my tremendous physical pain; Was I going to give in to the phobia of a curb, to the heart break of broken relationships, to the hurt of failure, being poor, having a difficult family situation, negativity, pressure? — No way!! I wanted to see my cup as half full, and use my challenges as an opportunity to rise and soar on the wings of my dreams.
I am now more stable in my independence and am both honored and excited to have the opportunity to continue my education and racing at Fort Lewis College. Cycling has become my passion and a way for me to express my deepest joys. I cherish the comfort of its community, and I thrive on the opportunity to improve myself physically, emotionally, and academically. I am choosing to major in sports science and business because one day I would like partake in running a cool bike shop or training system where I can continually give back to cycling what it has given to me on and off the saddle.

On the threshold to a new chapter in my young life...

I was just recently accepted to attend Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO where I will be furthering my education and RACING! Yes, that’s right. I will be racing under well known coach Matt Shriver. Check out there page. http://cycling.fortlewis.edu/ I am just a little anxious for this next chapter of my life. I am mostly ready for it though I should think. I am registered for classes, I’ve submitted my FAFSA forms for student aid, and written a scholarship essay. In the mean while I am trying to earn some cash so that I can pay for my housing (the first year I have to live on campus) and other expenses of getting there. (On that note; need someone to cut your lawn, wash your dishes… give me a few bucks and I would love too)…
ANY ways in the meanwhile, I am training and racing. I just recently received my upgrade into the pro 1-2-3s. I raced my first race as a 3 at the Sugar House Crit. I did an attack on request of a teammate a tad too early, was counter attacked, and got dropped. Disappointed with the result I decided to jump in and race with the mens 3s. Heck, why not? I hung with them very impressively until the race officials called the prime lap… It was only five laps in, but I had had my fun. Riding with the boys, I hate to say, was much cooler than riding with the gals… But that’s another story. My teammate Jamie pulled a fantastic sprint finish and finished 3rd!
I took the next race, The Garden Creek Gap off to help. I was the follow car for the women’s 1-2-3s and learned a lot about my competitors. Luckily there were no flats. The one crash that occurred was minor and the girls involved in it got back on their bikes and finished the race. Very impressive.
I got on my bike again the next weekend for the State TT. Although I don’t have an aero helmet or bars I managed to scrounge up a helmet…no bars but, I got out there and killed it… or got killed to be more accurate. I had to make do with no aero bars. I think I gave my legs to Karen and that’s why she dominated the field, I came in at 47 minutes for a 30 k. And considering my power was zapped I was satisfied with the result. I really had to push myself mentally and had my first experience of real tunnel vision… It was insane. …
BUT I learned from my TT experience that I am experiencing what cyclist call “burn out” or “Over Training” So I took a much needed recovery week with slower tempo rides. The recent decision of Utah weather to no longer be a desert, but a rainy oasis, helped keep me off the bike as well, but only sent me on the trails to run where I tweeked my knee. However it is healing quickly. And I plan to start a more structured training plan this week so that I can peak my fitness and speed for when I race Twilight. (Twilight is a pro NRC points criterium race in Boise, ID.) So with the advice of my knowledgeable friend Chuck I should be ready to rock!
All of the training I do this summer I am sure will only help my success at Fort Lewis. Matt Shriver will be my coach. I will have a month to month training plan set up by him. I am most excited that I may have the opportunity to be racing on the track. Matt says that a few team members will be sent to Colorado Springs to train on the velodrome of the Olympic Training Center. Then from there he will be choosing a team to take to Pennsylvania to race on the honcho track there. This will be a great opportunity for me. Because racing on the track could be a door for me to move up in the Cycling racing world I would like to get on one even before I make the final move to Durango. So I am thinking that after Twilight in Boise I may continue on the road up to Oregon where I could perhaps race on the track there.….
The term starts August 31st so I will be leaving for school a week in advance. I am still unsure of how I will get there, but I know something will work out. I am anxious, nervous, afraid, and excited while I stand on the threshold to this new chapter of my life, but am greatful for the blessing and opportunities cycling continues to give me on and off the bike.