Beach to Boulders

The last few months I've been building up power and speed in my legs to prepare for my first cross country mountain bike race of the year; the 2017 NICA SoCal Season Opener, Beach to Boulders, at Lake Perris. It's deemed as the 'roadie course' given its flat and fast nature with one flowy single track in the middle.

I was feeling good and ready to jump off the start line midway into the week leading up to the race, But on a Thursday I slid out on a single-track during a training ride, scraping up my right side and slightly fracturing my left thumb which swelled up immediately. On Friday, the swelling had increased and my skin was purple and green. I was devastated at the thought of having to throw out the season opener that I'd been training so hard for.

The gray rain clouds rolled away just in time for Sunday, leaving coveted hero dirt and cool, misty weather. I recalled in Rebecca Rusch's book, Rusch to Glory, the story of how when she set her record-setting time on the 138-mile Kokopelli trail, she dislocated a finger midway and didn't feel a thing till the end. I was hoping adrenaline would do the same for my thumb.

Coach Jason taped up my hand race morning, and with prayers and encouragement from family, coaches, and teammates, I began my warm up with the other Corona Composite ladies and got my head in the game. I couldn't even put my hair in a ponytail, so I wasn't sure how I was going to race my mountain bike, but here we went!

(Btw, no I did not get a nose ring...it's to help my breathe clearly!)

The paved start was fast as all of the Varsity Girls strung out into the pain train with Gwendalyn Gibson as the engine. When we hit the dirt climb, I glanced back to realize it was now just the two of us. We took turns pulling out in front for all three laps, launching attacks to test each others' legs, but we were inseparable.

Coming through the finishing chute to begin the third and final lap, I knew it was bound to be an epic sprint finish. Speed bumps on the downhill punished my aching thumb, but I wasn't going to give up the fight.

We entered the sandy beach, conserving our energy, and then boomed into the finish chute. Gwen slipped by me in an extraordinary effort, taking the win by a mere 0.51 seconds.

It was an awesome way to start an exciting season, and I'm so proud of my fellow Corona Composite and SoCal Devo teammates for leaving it all out there on the course, especially my sister Marjie who gained control of the sophomore girls leader's jersey!

The next two weeks for me will be spent on the trainer, ensuring my thumb heals completely and preparing for the next battle at Vail Lake in two weeks time.