The National Championship: an event that seems to have to power to dictate an entire season’s worth of training and racing. It was with this feeling over my head that made me take some time before last weekend’s race to think about everything I had done to prepare. Being a full-time college student, on top of a professional athlete, training doesn’t always come at the most optimal times and conditions. This season I trained at 4 am and at 11 pm, in 20 degrees, and in 115 degrees, in torrential downpours, and in 60 mph winds. Needless to say, it is a journey and my coach constantly reminds me to ‘honor the process.’

The short track race the next day was a race of perseverance. After the first few laps of fighting to find a comfortable position, I put in a big dig in order to find a position mid pack. Briefly after securing my position the rider in front of me grabbed her brakes, and I slid into the woodchips, after recovering from a big dab, I sprinted to catch the pack only to have another girl crash directly in front of me. The gap was far too big to close at that point and I felt mildly defeated, but giving up was not an option. I put my head down and time trialed picking up women who had been dropped from the pack. I came close to closing the gap but my fate was to finish in 12^th: a result showing more determination and heart than my actual fitness.

I’ve spent the last week training and rejoicing in a result that rewarded all of my hard work this season.This weekend was massively reassuring for me as I watched all of my hard work pay off. I can’t wait to continue to charge forward. Two more race weekends remain for me: the Boston Pro XCT and the Mont St. Anne World Cup.