I’ve been thinking a lot about balance lately. It’s no secret that many athletes at the highest levels have openly renounced balance, claiming that its necessary to go all-in on their chosen sport in order to be successful. However, others are pushing back on that idea, Kate Courtney and Sonya Looney among them, claiming that…
Category: Thoughts & Musings
The Long Road Back
If you’ve ever gone for a hike, you likely have experienced the false hope of thinking that your destination is “just around the next bend” or “over the next hill.” My recovery from shoulder surgery feels much the same way. Back in October, when I first had surgery, I was looking forward to my first…
No one said it would be easy
There’s a certain value in doing hard things, in the sense of accomplishment that comes from facing a challenge and “winning.” As a general rule, I’m not one to shy away from hard. Juggling grad school, working full-time, coaching, training, and racing? Got it. Pile on emotional stressors from a break up, unexpected financial burdens,…
The Athlete Body
On the recommendation of a fellow female athlete, I picked up Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man’s World by Lauren Fleshman last week and I have NEVER FELT SO HEARD. Though I did not get into sport in middle or high school and don’t have specific memories of the transition from…
How did I get here?
I might be sitting on the couch right now with my leg propped up on pillows, but I can’t help but reflect a bit. On week ago, I was racing (and crashing) in the XCM Pan-American Championship in Colombia, and in a mere six weeks, I will be racing in the XCM World Championship in…
To Thine Own Self Be True
Though I’m no longer teaching English, Shakespeare’s words still resonate. When I look back at my high school years, I have only gratitude for my parents and their willingness to support me in the pursuit of my many interests and passions. From riding and training horses, to studying Constitutional Law, to joining the debate team…
Race Report: Mohican 100k
What a study in contrasts! On Wednesday, I participated in the Play Roanoke’s second Disco series race on Mill Mountain, but with strict guidelines to not go too hard (and thereby “ruin” my race on Saturday). The Disco course is rocky, mostly climbing, and the field thins out quickly, allowing for plenty of space to…
Making 25 of 24
Over the last several weeks, the questions seem to play on a broken record, How many hours are in your day? How do you fit it all in? How do you manage everything? Mostly, the answer is, “I don’t know” or “I don’t.” While there are certainly aspects of that which are true–such as the…
Doing Hard Things
Starting a new job is never easy, but starting a new teaching job in the middle of a pandemic should certainly be listed as one of those things that is so difficult is is not recommended for anyone even remotely sane. In the weeks leading up to the start of the school year, as I…
Wow, that went quickly
How is it already September? Somehow, the last post I published was all the way back in March of this year. I was excited about a full season of racing mountain bikes and had just gotten my first COVID-19 vaccine. I knew all of the kids in my sixth grade classroom and was eagerly preparing…
Ride Fierce Racing 