I’ll be updating this as the summer races occur, so stay tuned for further updates!
Middle Mountain Momma
Brittany Nave
A Goal: finish sub 4 hours
B Goal: finish without falls or mechanicals
I’ve been suffering off and on from exertion headaches and trying to problem solve this with my doctors for a while. It makes big adventure days even harder when I know i may have a migraine that ruins the rest of my day and evening.
Popped a headache early into Middle Mountain Momma despite going in super hydrated and trying to meter my threshold level. I’d mentally prepared for this ahead of time though as a likely possibility.
I just kept making forward progress all afternoon and enjoyed being on trails in the woods. 5 minutes over my A Goal and a big time in the woods is a successful day.
Loved the course and would like to try it again sometime. I still have lots to learn.
Follow Brittany’s journey here.
Mackenzie Faust
I had full plans to head to the race Saturday afternoon but all the kids started coming down with fevers and my husband didn’t feel comfortable handling it on his own with me being about 4.5 hours away, so had to miss out on Middle Mountain Momma.
Right now my plan is to race a local 12 hour race in October (possibly even put together a women’s team if I can find 3 more).
Follow Mackenzie’s journey here.
Julie Harner
It was SO HARD, haha. Absolutely gorgeous course, but I have never been so obliterated by hills
I’m stoked to have finished my first race, and a tough one too. Great confidence builder. (And the people out there were just super awesome and supportive which was really cool.)
I was proud of my performance for the first 10 miles, then absolutely struggled from 11-17 haha. Ridgelines are not something I have much experience with, and they are terrifying. But I was smiling for a whole lot of the course, even when I was absolutely crushed.
I didn’t manage to connect with any of the other ladies for a photo — i was either too anxious or too exhausted — but did get a podium pic. I placed first in the XC Sport category.
THANK YOU for such a fun opportunity and the training plan along the way. There’s no way I would have had the confidence to sign up for this race otherwise, and it was great to be out there… and see a whole lot of other women racing too!!
Follow Julie’s journey here.
Eva Van Hook
Today was an amazing experience at Middle Mountain Momma! I was pushed to my limits and experienced trails in new and exciting ways. I put in the hard work to prepare for the race and I reaped the benefits. I am truly grateful!
Follow Eva’s journey here.
Brittany Hendricks
I’ve been working toward this race for most of the spring season with @abi.ridefierce, and this weekend everything finally came together. A few weeks ago I injured my knee, so I decided to ride the shorter route, but honestly I still felt incredibly prepared going into race day.
One of my biggest goals this season was improving my fueling and nutrition. When I prerode this course earlier in the year, I struggled HARD, so I knew I needed to take that piece more seriously. Today was a completely different experience — I felt strong and steady the entire race.
I PR’d my previous time by over 30 minutes 🤯, only put a foot down ONCE, and had an absolute blast out there. I was especially pumped to pass a bunch of men on trail 😅 and ended up getting 7th on one of the downhill segments, which I’m super proud of and 1st in Beginner Women’s and 2nd overall in the Beginner category.
Big shout out to Abi for helping keep my training on track and helping me show up feeling confident and prepared. Looking forward to racing the 21 mile next year!
Follow Brittany’s journey here.
Monday Lick Enduro
Jesse King
The Ride Fierce scholarship was such a wonderful experience for me, despite its anti-climactic ending. Abi was a great guide and example along the way. I pushed myself to race multiple downhill races as well as an enduro. I had an absolute blast and made lots of new friends on bikes and even convinced a few to join me in racing! Unfortunately a back injury kept me from the final hurrah at the Mondaylick Enduro, but I am more excited than ever to get back on the bike and back between the tape. Thanks so much for all of the guidance and motivation!
Follow Jesse’s journey here.
Emily Webster
This past winter was a tough one for me for many reasons, but the freak weather that kept me off the bike outside left me feeling especially dismal. It was great to have training and a goal to work towards. Having my first enduro race approaching kept me learning and training and has solidified my passion for mountain biking.
The Monday Lick Enduro race was so much fun. The Monday Lick Trail system was amazing. It’s probably the prettiest place I’ve ever ridden my bike.The pre-ride day was special. I really liked talking to people, and getting some last minute tips and tricks about the race. I’m really glad I got to ride with Abi and crew, it definitely helped my confidence for race day.
I came away from the race proud of myself, and looking forward to the next race. I now have a better idea about my strengths and weaknesses. I was reasonably happy with my fitness, but I know I could improve with a bit more focus in that area. I felt I was able to tackle the trails, but I need to work on cornering. Those switchbacks were no joke!
Follow Emily’s journey here.
Kourtney Rusko
The weekend ended up being one of the best adventures I’ve had in a long time, from fully immersing myself in the racing environment to pre-riding all the stages with some genuine and admirable riders. One of the biggest lessons I’m taking away from this experience is that I didn’t just spend months training mentally and physically for a race, I spent months becoming a racer. While an injury prevented me from competing on race day, it doesn’t take away the dedication, confidence, and skills I gained over the course of this year. I feel as though deepening my connection to the sport and in the mountain bike community may be the greater outcome.
I’m incredibly grateful to Abi, Ride Fierce Racing, the sponsors, and Poca Trails for making this opportunity possible. I’m motivated to keep training, excited to continue growing as an athlete and will build on this experience and carry what I’ve learned into future races. I am honored to have received the Ride Fierce Racing scholarship and will continue to honor and show up for women in this sport and support Abi’s efforts in getting more women on bikes and cheering for one another in every season.
Follow Kourtney’s journey here.
Off-Road Assault on Mt. Mitchell (ORAMM)
Bridget Brown
All my family and friends will tell you that leading up to ORAMM I kept saying “I just want the trails to be dry. I don’t care if it’s hot as long as it’s dry.” So I think it’s only fair to take some of the blame when the day of the race came and the trails were already muddy and it was pouring rain while participants sat in their cars waiting before the start.
As a newer rider I still struggle with wet slippery trails especially on downhills so my anxiety was up, but ultimately I knew it was out of my control and all I could do was break each section down and do what I could do. Some parts went really well and others were tough, but I was thrilled to cross the finish line in third place for Open Women.
First and foremost, I have to give a huge shout out to Abi for providing me with the opportunity to try a race like this and help me prepare with coaching, advice, and encouragement.
Thanks to Blue Ridge Adventures for putting on a great race. Everyone working the event was friendly and encouraging and made it a very welcoming environment for a new racer.
I also want to thank Skadi Sports Psychology, Hand Up Co., Black Ox Sealant, and Carborocket, for helping with gear, fuel, and mental prep.
I have learned so much during the last six months as a Ride Fierce Woman’s Race Scholarship recipient and the experiences and connections with other women has made me more confident to continue racing and attending events.
Follow Bridget’s journey here.
Kate Crockett
Saturday when I went to pick up my race number, I was told that people were arriving from the Jerdon race kind of mucky, but I’m up for a little challenge. Mostly I was feeling prepared and kept reminding myself “the hay’s in the barn,” which I chose as my mantra because my husband said it to me a couple weeks back and it makes me laugh.
Rainy race day morning and STILL I was feeling up for it all. I had planned out my nutrition and the temperature honestly wasn’t bad (high 80’s sounds wonderful when I was doing a lot of training in the 90’s). The road out felt good and I was watching my power and heart rate for some pacing because of what I knew was coming, and I was just enjoying that beginning. Passed by the first water station, which they were still setting up by the time I arrived, but I was fine on water and figured it’d be better to stop at the first aid station if I needed it anyway.
Kitsuma was SUCH A BLAST. Even with the red clay causing a lot of sliding and slipping around on the switchbacks, it was still fun getting in the groove of sliding with the mud and using that to help in the turns. I was feeling good and some guy behind me even asked, “where are you from? Because you really know how to ride these switchbacks.” That message boosted me and kept me continuing to feel good. I did hit a tree with my shoulder somewhere on that part because of the clay, but my jersey was fine and I’ve just got a bruise so nothing major.
I reached the first aid station and they were rationing water because they were low? So I only filled up a little of my pack since I knew the next water station was soon and my husband was there. Before I reached that next stop, my bike computer died. Like, went from 100% charged to 0% charged in the course of 3.5 hours. I freaked out a little bit, but figured the course was still marked well enough that I’d be fine and, if I got lost, I still had my phone. So I started recording on my Garmin watch instead, thank goodness, and monitored my power and heart rate from that instead.
Arrived at the 2nd water station where my husband was, got my bottles refilled, and passed off my dead computer – then I was off hiking up Star Gap! And, damn, that was brutal. I was just trudging through, trying to keep my footing on all the loose trail, sweat drops falling off my elbows for what seemed like every minute. Some of the faster riders were also starting to descend Star Gap as a lot of us were still walking up, and I got over for one rider and I fell into the bushes just because my body was tired and the ground was slick. It was actually really funny and I wasn’t hurt, but it was still a moment.
I think somewhere along lower heartbreak, it started to rain and then started POURING down rain. Like standing water all over the trail and I was in my head being like “well it feels cooler now, that’s nice.” But it was so hard to get up enough speed because of all the muck, and climbing was even more challenging because my tires would start sliding since the clay on them was messing with the traction. Got to Rostan Trail and it really was gorgeous at Camp Grier! I remembered that was one of my process goals, to appreciate the scenery around me, and I really enjoyed that part even with the slow movement through it all.
I came across another rider who was turning back to bail and I said, “shouldn’t the aid station come up soon?” Since I didn’t have my bike computer, I was just making some calculations but then when I FINALLY reached the aid station I realized it was 3 PM?! So doing some quick calculations, I realized just how long it’d taken me to ride these last 10 miles. Over 3 hours somehow? It still seems unreal. I know the hike up Star Gap was brutal, but I would not have guessed I lost that much time on that segment. So I and three others started our ride to call it quits at the start. One of the men I rode back with said this was going to be his third time, and therefore his buckle time, so I know it was a hard year.
I still have some grief and sadness at not accomplishing this big “finale,” but the more I think about it the more I’m still proud of showing up, putting in the training, and trying. And the scholarship was still successful! Before this race, I went ahead and registered for two more mountain bike races this year: Harbison and Swank. So the outcome of “more women at mountain bike races” is coming true! Even if this race didn’t end up the way I wished it had.
Follow Kate’s journey here.
Madison West
This race was the hardest thing I’ve done on a bike. I went into the race feeling prepared for a physical challenge and eager to push a hard effort and try to finish as fast as I could. I quickly realized this race was going to be more than a physical challenge for me.
A lot of things tested me that I didn’t foresee, probably because I have never done a race like this. These included a climbing gear ratio that was too difficult for me, foggy glasses and mud in my eyes, muddy conditions causing me to walk more than I planned, my stomach protesting the nutrition I was putting in, leg cramps, a broken derailleur, and a flat.
There were a lot of emotional ups and downs during the race but once I successfully got the bike set up as a single speed I was able to reframe my goals for the day and be satisfied by just finishing. I learned a lot about my fitness level, equipment, and dealing with the unexpected, and I’m really proud that I finished this race!
Follow Madison’s journey here.
Julita Sulinskaite
It was a wonderful race day!
Don’t get me wrong, riding the trail that is a river now is hard, but I can do hard things, and it was so much fun! Till I started to crash (lightly) on every corner and every switchbacks was not possible to ride or walk, it was like a mud bath I didn’t ask for! But we started with some sun, and I met some wonderful people on the way and that’s what the race is all about – the community and feeling part of it (especially if you already know you are not going for podium today).
My 6th hour riding was really hard though, I could tell I can’t make it to the cut off and my bike was acting up (because it just took a mud bath) and my bee sting was hurting and for a moment there alone on the trail I kind of felt defeated. And then at the aid station once I knew this is where I stop, few other riders offered me to lead a way home and suggested we jump in a creek and the water energized me! Cooling off in the mountains.. I felt so proud! Finishing would have been great, but just the whole journey to that day, and those 6 hours riding and having fun was an amazing adventure.
And this scholarship did exactly what I wanted it to do – it brought me back! I am starting to race again, I am training, I am part of the community I always longed for. I feel blessed to even attempt ORAMM and the whole weekend was a wonderful adventure in the mountains! I’ll be back again!
Follow Julita’s journey here.
The Shed Enduro
Heather Nowell
The Shed Enduro was the goal of my scholarship program with Ride Fierce Racing. Thank you to Abi and all the scholarship sponsors for helping me accomplish this! There were definitely times I thought maybe I wasn’t going to be able to do it. My race time was about 45 mins and my total time on the bike was about 6.5 hours (~25 miles, +3000’ elevation). Also, it rained. It poured!
Some of the climbs were so challenging and long; there was a lot of time to question my life choices. During the 5 mile climb between stage 2 and 3, I didn’t want to keep going. I wanted to be done. The mental and physical challenge of something like this is just crazy. Despite the conditions, I managed to squeak out a second place finish.
Finishing a race on paper is an individual accomplishment but I definitely wouldn’t have been able to do it without a huge collection of people— thank you all!
Follow Heather’s journey here.
Slatyfork Enduro
Kate Schrock
I went into the Slaty Fork Enduro with a few goals: experience West Virginia mountain biking, see what it was like to “train like a pro,” and hopefully not embarrass myself too badly racing in the Pro field. One of the last pieces of wisdom Abi gave me during my training series was to make some new friends. That wasn’t something I had any interest in doing, but the idea probably got stuck in a crevasse in my mind somewhere.
The race itself didn’t go as well as I had hoped. The roots were slick as snot, and the theme for the day was definitely “Who Greased My Tires?”
At the very first turn of the very first stage, I hit a root and yardsaled down the trail. I was very glad I was wearing a chest protector because I bruised my boob, messed up my helmet visor, and twisted my bars. Going too hard when it’s slick out is totally on brand for me, so it was a good reminder to take a chill pill. Unfortunately, I also lost a lot of time getting my bike and helmet sorted out after the crash.
I don’t know what was up with the rocks out there, but they made me feel like I had forgotten how to ride a bike. Normally I’m pretty comfortable on technical descents, but I spent a lot of the race feeling like the trail was trying to humble me. I really enjoyed stages 4 and 6, where I could let loose a little. Stage 6 also made me dream of upgrading my brakes because, holy cow, I did not trust them to stop me if I needed them to.
Looking back, I don’t think more time in the gym or more training rides would have changed my result much. I needed more time riding that particular kind of terrain and more time figuring out my suspension. I had just had my suspension serviced, and on my pre-ride the bike felt like it was trying to throw me off. So I spent the night before the race messing with my suspension with the limited knowledge I had, trying to make it work better for race day. Rookie mistake, I know, but I had to do something rather than nothing.
But honestly, my goal for this race was never really to get a great result. My goal was to experience mountain biking in West Virginia, and in that sense, the race was a huge success.
When I was first getting into mountain biking, I would read about West Virginia as a mountain biking mecca. Races like 24 Hours of Canaan and 24 Hours of Snowshoe were the stuff of dreams. Somehow, despite living relatively close, I never made it out there until this year.
When I saw the scholarship opportunity last year, I was intrigued. It was intended for women who were new to racing, which definitely wasn’t me, and there was one opening for a “Pro” scholarship spot, which also definitely wasn’t me. I made sure to make that very clear in my application.
When I got the scholarship, I was surprised but incredibly excited. I was curious what it would be like to “train like a pro” and what I could accomplish if the financial barriers to coaching were removed.
I’d give myself somewhere between a C- and a B+, depending on the month, when it comes to following my training plan. The winter started off great, but once my kids were out of school, I totally fell off the rails. I really did my best to follow the plan, but time is the one thing you can’t make more of. Sometimes I genuinely didn’t have the time, and other times I chose to prioritize my family because I can’t get that time with them back either.
I also assumed part of the point of the Pro scholarship was to get more numbers in the Pro field. So even though I was mortified and felt significantly underqualified to line up with these very strong, fast, and skilled women, I swallowed my pride and showed up. I sent many an imaginary message to the race directors in my head asking if I could race something else, but I knew that wasn’t really in the spirit of the scholarship and never actually sent them an email. So I let go of whatever shred of ego I had left and marched onward.
And, for the first time in my racing career, I came in dead last. I’m honestly kind of proud of that. If you’re going to finish last, you might as well do it in a Pro field in West Virginia.
As it turns out, the “make new friends” goal may have been one of the most successful parts of the whole experience.
When I arrived to pre-ride, I didn’t know anyone. I walked up to a random guy who also looked like he didn’t have anyone to pre-ride with, and he agreed to ride with me because I was nervous about heading out alone into a place with no cell reception. He had ridden there 15 years ago, so he was considerably less nervous than I was. It turned out we had a bunch of mutual acquaintances, so friend number one made. Mission success. I talked his ear off, but he was a good sport.
On race day, I spent most of the day riding around with my friend Lyndsey from my bike messenger days, her boyfriend Jason, and their friend Isaiah, who I had met over beers the night before. Lyndsey and Jason had raced there the year before, and Jason knew the West Virginia Enduro Series really well, so having them around was incredibly helpful. They knew what I was getting myself into and made the whole day feel a lot less intimidating.
More importantly, it was just really fun. Instead of spending the day worrying about racing somewhere completely unfamiliar, I got to hang out with people I liked, ride bikes, talk shit, and laugh between stages. They turned what could have been a pretty intimidating day into an adventure with friends.
One of the other things I really valued was getting to spend the weekend with my dad.
More than 30 years ago, my dad brought me and my siblings to the Slaty Fork Mountain Bike Festival on a whim because he was curious to see what this new mountain bike fad was all about. None of us could have known then that mountain biking would become such a big part of my life.
With an already packed summer, the logistics of dragging my whole family to somewhere I had never been felt overwhelming, so I asked my oldest adventure buddy, my dad, to come with me and drive me home if I got hurt.
Since my wife had the family car and the family, we shoved all our stuff and two bikes into our trusty old Honda Fit and set off.
There was something pretty special about going back to Slaty Fork with him all these years later. The kid who went there because her dad wanted to check out this weird new mountain bike fad was now going back to race a mountain bike enduro, with the same dad along for the adventure. I don’t think I could have planned a better way to come full circle.
The beautiful photos of West Virginia I used to see in Dirt Rag, and the wild and wonderful West Virginia itself, did not disappoint. The race was harder than I expected and my result wasn’t what I hoped for. But I got to race in a place I’d dreamed about riding for years. I got to line up with women who were way faster and more skilled than me, which was terrifying and incredibly cool. I got to “train like a pro” for a while. I made new friends, reconnected with old ones, and got to spend an incredible weekend with my dad.
I’m so glad I did it, and I can’t wait to bring my family back next time for such a great party in the woods.
Follow Kate”s journey here.
Michaux GRVL
Katrina Lyddane
Follow Katrina’s journey here.
Tia Moore
Follow Tia’s journey here.
Karen Good
Follow Karen’s journey here.
Stacey Libbert
Follow Stacey’s journey here.
Again, thank you to the sponsors who have stepped up to help support these women, as well as the race directors who are a part of this scholarship:
Ride Fierce Racing 