I'm deep into the race season now, with events coming thick and fast almost every weekend. It's exhilarating, exhausting and incredibly rewarding! I love the constant cycle of racing, recovering and preparing for the next race, I feel I can really get into the rhythm of it. It doesn’t leave much time for anything else in my life right now, but I am OK with that. It won’t be long before the rest of my life can get some attention!
This month alone, I've tackled three races, each offering unique experiences that have fuelled my determination to keep pushing forward. It's been another positive month, though I'm still striving to achieve my dream result.
Days at the races – the national XC series
Round three: Cannock Chase
Once again, the weather was warm and dry – my ideal race conditions! I drove up the day before to get some practice in and be more relaxed on race day. Although it means more waiting around and takes up the whole weekend, I find that not having to cram in a practice lap just before my race is beneficial. It was nice to get a proper warm-up done, especially with my teammate Davina.
Last year at Cannock, I broke my finger on the first lap, ending my race prematurely. With unfinished business, I was hyped to see what I could do this year. The course had three technical features with B lines, all within my capabilities. One feature, a sharp, steep chute, made me a little nervous, but it rode much nicer than it looked. During the race, I barely thought about it.
I started on the front line, but it didn't help much. I slipped a pedal at the start, struggled to get clipped in, and on the first corner I got squeezed off my line and crashed into the barrier. Fortunately, I wasn't injured, and neither was my bike. Quickly back on, I began hunting down the pack, fired by frustration.
I blasted past several riders before hitting some tight singletrack. My overtaking was on point, though I may have unintentionally cut some folks off, which isn't ideal, especially for less experienced racers. I felt a bit bad but had tunnel vision for a podium spot. By the end of the first lap, I was in fourth place and could see the podium ahead. The terrain was undulating with sharp climbs and quick descents, demanding constant effort with little opportunity to rest or fuel up.
Eventually, I overtook the girl in front as she began to tire. I still believed I could catch the next racer, but the laps were running out. On the last lap, fatigue led to mistakes – I missed lines and slipped out on roots several times. My breathing was wheezy, which concerned me a bit, but I kept pushing harder than ever. The twisty track through the trees made it difficult to gauge how far ahead or behind competitors were. Usually, I ease off if I feel secure in my position, but at Cannock, I just wasn’t sure.
In the end, I came third. I was happy with a podium position but annoyed at what could have been, as I felt strong. However, that’s racing. I'm learning to focus on the positives rather than the negatives. After all, third place is nae so bad.
Round four: Woody’s Bike Park
Heading down to Cornwall, I was both nervous and excited. I knew this course well, as it was the site of my first-ever XCO race last year. Being held at a bike park, I anticipated the fun, fast, technical descents and the challenging climbs that awaited me.
This year, however, I approached the race with a completely different mindset and significantly more experience and skills. I had the confidence to ride clipped in, a good number of races under my belt, and improved fitness. I won't deny it – I wanted to win this one. I was fired up and tired of being on the podium without standing on the top step.
I got off to a good start and powered through the gears, making it onto the singletrack first. I led the first descent, navigating a series of drops and berms before heading back up the hill. I could hear my competitors behind me as we started climbing the brutal ascent up some swooping berms. I felt a tyre buzz and heard a quick "sorry" behind me. I was breathing hard and struggling on the hills; the sharp, punchy climbs were draining the energy from my legs, and my lungs were gasping for air. I dropped into the next descent still in the lead, but as we reached the solid climb back to the start, I knew I wasn't alone. Sure enough, on a flat, grassy corner by the start, one of my competitors overtook me. I eased up, lacking confidence on flat corners, and she snuck in front.
I stayed on her tail until the brutal sharp climbs that had drained me on the first lap, where she began to edge away. Each lap, she put more distance between us. It was frustrating because I just didn't have it in me to close the gap. I couldn't fight as hard as I had in Cannock, and on the last lap I rode the descents in a sketchy manner, physically struggling to hold on. I still pushed as much as I could on the final climb, knowing that second place was still an improvement from the last round.
I crossed the line in second, about a minute or so behind the leader. I wasn't as exhausted as I had been when I crossed the line in Cannock, but my legs were done. I was happy with my performance, though a little disappointed not to win. However, it ignited a fire in me and motivated me to keep pushing.
Enter the dragon
Next up was the Welsh XC Series at the Forest of Dean, a place I know well and where I raced last year. I remember loving the course, which features a short loop with long technical singletrack descents, short steep climbs, and some fireroad sections where you can catch your breath and refuel.
One-day events are always more rushed, making it hard to get a solid warm-up. My first lap felt particularly awful; my whole body, including my arms, felt drained. I wondered if I would even be able to complete the race, let alone compete in it. However, those feelings soon wore off, and after the first technical downhill I managed to sneak into the lead. I knew this course suited me, especially the long, loose descent where some of my competitors were cautious while I loved hitting it at speed, even clipped in. Being good on the descents was a real advantage on this course. From that point onwards, I was in the lead and feeling good. Though I never felt completely confident that I had the win, I was pretty sure of my chances as I couldn't hear or see any of my competitors behind me.
It wasn’t long before I was racing against two elite riders. For the majority of the race, I tucked in behind one elite woman and stuck on her wheel. She was going at a good pace for me and clearing the way by shouting at riders on the course – there were many different categories racing at the same time – so I felt no need to push past her. I could see my teammate and elite rider Davina just ahead, which surprised me. I gained on her on every descent while she pulled ahead on every climb.
On my last lap, I nipped past the elite rider I had been tailing when she let me pass on a climb. Soon, I was on Davina’s wheel for my final descent. As we approached the bottom of the last climb Davina offered to let me go first, but knowing she’s a machine on the climbs I held back and let her go. Sure enough, she gapped me on the climb and finished about 20 seconds ahead of me. She was supposed to have an extra lap, but a mistake by the officials meant they shut the course before she could get through. She came second in the elites, and I managed to win my class by a solid 7mins 55secs, and with Ash’s newest recruit onto the team Julie winning her category it was not a bad day for the Alterra Performance women’s XC race team.
I knew I had a good race and it felt good! Considering I had bailed on my girlfriend on our anniversary to race, it made it worthwhile to take the win. Finally, I made it to the top spot, although it wasn't a national win so the search for that victory continues. I only have one more round of the series and the national champs to go, so I’d best crack on and focus.
The journey of learning continues and each race I gain a bit more experience and insight into what works for me as a racer and what doesn’t. I have been incredibly fortunate to have plenty of support along the way too!
The value of teammates
I do a lot of things alone, which is fine because it's my default mode. Sometimes, I even love it. But it's true what they say: things are better enjoyed in company, and this is especially true for racing. Although the race itself is a solo adventure – just you against everyone else – having a crew to share the experience with before the start makes a big difference.
Knowing I have folks I can chat with, hang out with, learn from and ride with at races has made me much more relaxed and increased my enjoyment immensely. When I don’t feel alone, I don’t mind being alone. So, travelling to races and putting in the training hours has become much more enjoyable whether I am alone or not.
The team environment created by Ash and Alex – both for the female performance team and other athletes they work with – has added a real social aspect to the races that I believe is boosting my performance on the course.
Before, I used to race with two bottles and all my fuel on me because I had no one in the pits. Now, I can race with one small bottle and a gel, knowing that each lap in the pits, there's a helpful soul ready to pass me water and open gels. Every little bit helps when racing, and this support has been invaluable.
Because of this my race fuelling has improved. I'm now more conscious of how much I've consumed, and if handed an open gel, I'll make sure to get it down. Having someone to handle my bottles at races has allowed me to alternate laps with water and a hydration mix. I struggle to drink just hydration mix when racing but it is super-beneficial to replace electrolytes, which water just cannot do. I have always found getting gels from my jersey or shorts tricksy, so having someone pass me one each lap is really handy. My top tip for an easy-access gel for lap one is to slot one into my cleavage – I find it the best place for me to grab it in a jiffy. Being a woman has its benefits on occasion!
Going from strength to strength
Consistent training has really started to pay off, serving as a significant motivator to keep pushing forward. My recent performance at Woody’s was a clear testament to how far I've come. The course and conditions were nearly identical to last year's, allowing me to directly compare my performance. Last year I struggled with the course clipped in so ended up riding with flat pedals, but despite this I still managed to place third in my debut XCO race, and the experience ignited my desire to race cross-country.
This year was a different story altogether. Being clipped in didn't faze me in the slightest. Armed with improved skills and confidence, I attacked the course head-on, slashing my lap times by an impressive two to three minutes each. It was incredibly satisfying to see tangible evidence of my progress since starting specific training with Ash.
There are moments when I question if it's all worth it, wondering if I'm making real headway. However, seeing improvements not only in my fitness but also in my skills reaffirms that perseverance and commitment yield results. This has been a timely reminder during recent moments of doubt.
Progress isn't confined to the bike. Dealing with two back injuries – a herniated disc in my mid-20s and another in my mid-30s – has understandably made me cautious about gym-based weight training. Knowing its importance for injury prevention, I've been frustrated by my hesitance. Thanks to Ash, my confidence in the gym is slowly growing as he tailors exercises to build my comfort level. His understanding and ability to adjust exercises safely has been invaluable.
Though personal training isn't cheap, I highly recommend it, especially for those lacking confidence or recovering from injury – both of which apply to me. Ash has been incredibly helpful and patient, adapting exercises to boost my confidence. I've built a strong rapport with him and trust that he understands my cautious mindset and knows how to challenge my body effectively. Gradually increasing movement and load bearing has bolstered my confidence in my abilities, with noticeable benefits on the bike. While it's a gradual process and I still have a way to go, I'm steadily making progress.
All in all, it's been another successful month, and I'm more motivated than ever to aim for the national level win. Stay tuned for next month's update, where I'll share how the final round of the series went and discuss my thoughts on all the gear changes I implemented throughout the races.
