Keep your head in the game: MTB Nationals

The 2018 mountain bike season began with a pedal stroke one morning at Skypark Santa’s Village before work. I had taken a little time off after road season and was anxious to get back on a mountain bike, especially working in the shop at the foot of these magical trails. It would be a summer of fresh mountain air, post-work party laps, family time, the absolute best coworkers, and some racing. It was sweet.

At last years’ collegiate Nationals, I was 5th in the Omnium, placing bottom half in the gravity events and top 10 in the endurance events. I was eager to improve.

I’ve never thought of myself as naturally good at riding downhill. I remember riding bikes with the neighborhood girls when I was younger and being the only one who wouldn’t ride down the hills at the park, overthinking it and not wanting to scrape up my knees. So I knew if I wanted to be competitive in the Omnium this year, I’d really have to push myself. I invested in a full-face helmet and downhill pants, rode stuff that make me shake, did a Pro Enduro race, learned how to (barely) whip, took advice from the boys, and crashed a ton in the process.

When school started up again, it was straight back into racing. The terrain of the south is completely different than SoCal, with wet roots, mossy rocks, mud, and creek crossings.

In the end, it was the best mountain bike season yet for Milligan cycling. The team that traveled all over the south to race almost every weekend was a fantastic group this year, and we trained hard to pull some great results. I ended up winning the SECCC Conference Omnium title, and before we knew it, the time to board the plane to Missoula, MT was here.

I hadn’t been nervous pretty much all season since the vibe at conference races is pretty chill. But Nationals is always different game. I’m getting in the zone for a couple weeks leading up to the big day, and my friends can usually tell I’m a little more intense. It becomes all I can think about; a mix of anticipation, nerves, curiosity, and excitement. This year, coming at the Omnium again, I knew I’d have to be constantly switching mentalities, keeping my head in the game, all the while staying positive around my teammates.

We were hyped to finally arrive in Missoula after an early morning flight and long layover en route. We were in the same cabin as last year, along a beautiful river, with the hillside backdrop speckled with bright yellow trees in the woods. We’d cook, share meals, laugh, hang out, and watch movies together all weekend at the house.

After we rested up and did a course preride on Thursday, we were ready for day one- the Cross Country race.

The course was brutal. There was nowhere to hide. The women would complete 2, 6 mile laps, each with about 1,700 ft of climbing. Since we would climb for so long, I wasn’t anxious to get a stellar start, so I settled in then passed my way through the group into the top three, with Gwendalyn and Savilia. I took the lead into the first short singletrack, and my heart rate was high…really high. I thought we might settle into a more relaxed pace for the remainder of the ascent, but neither of them let up. If I was going to survive the rest of the climb, which ended up taking about a half hour, I’d have to let them go and risk maybe seeing them again. But I didn’t. Soon after, third caught up to me, then fourth, and I came down the final descent in fifth place with sixth hot on my heels.

It was an exhilarating sprint finish to the line that nearly maxed out my heart rate, and I ended up rounding out the podium in 5th. I had maybe gone out too hot and let nerves get the best of me. I wasn’t stoked on the result, but I was relieved to have the first race done and had to keep my head in the game. It was one out of four results that would play into the Omnium scoring.

Later that afternoon was Dual Slalom qualifying. DS is an event of finesse, where the winner can be determined by a minuscule mistake and a tenth of a second. I only got one practice run in on one of the lanes and qualified 18th. Good enough for the moment.

Saturday was my 20th birthday, and I had nearly forgotten since there was so much going on! We had breakfast then bundled up to head back to the mountain for downhill seeding, which didn’t count toward an official result, but would determine which order we’d race in. My run was alright but I was having some issues with my helmet falling down because of how I’d done my hair. I was seeded 20th. My time had improved almost half a minute from the previous year, but the field was much faster.

20th was definitely not good enough. The way things were shaping up, my chance at the elusive Omnium title was dwindling. It was one of those moments where it just sucked. All this work, getting here, getting my hopes up, and now it just seemed hopeless. But I still had 3 races to go. Coach Zack said that anything was still possible. I truly appreciate his constant optimism, especially when he sees that we’re trying really hard.

Saturday afternoon was short track, and I was channeling my frustration and disappointment into this effort. A good start would be crucial since it funneled into singletrack. Since I was a conference winner I got a front row start, but that didn’t matter much when the gun went off and the girls from the rows behind me flew around as I struggled to clip in. Into the first turn I was top 15, which was not where I wanted to be. I got caught behind some slower descenders in the single track, and tried to pass, but Hannah, who I’ve competed with in conference all season, urged me to be patient. She was right. It would’ve been too risky. But it was pure torture watching the front pack pull away. As soon as we were back out on the field, I was really frustrated with how the race was playing out, but at this point had nothing to lose. I started passing aggressively and burning matches left and right.

The whole loop was electric, with people cheering me on by name all around. I kept fighting and crawled into third place, energized by each pass I made. I dug deep and made it within seconds of Gwendalyn, but never made contact with her wheel. I finished in 3rd, and it was an effort and battle I let myself be proud of.

After cool down, it was time for Dual Slalom finals. The day just kept on going! I qualified 18th the day prior, so would be going against the girl who placed 15th and was expected to only do two runs. I surprised myself and won both runs against her.

It would be enough to advance to the top 16, which I hadn’t come close to the year before. My last 2 runs were under the lights. I pushed hard and felt fast, but lost both to the girl who would end up taking second in DS, and ended up 16th for the event.

After a super emotional, crazy day, I got to go out for a wonderful family dinner with my family, a time to enjoy and keep things in perspective. I’m very grateful my parents, sister Marjie, and grandparents made the trip to support me. When training gets tough, I think of seeing them in the crowd, cheering me on, and making them proud is a huge motivator for me.

When I got back to the team house, they surprised me with decorated cookie cakes and a jar of pickles. As they lit the candles and sang happy birthday, I was filled with joy. The races weren’t going as planned, but we were in beautiful Montana together, riding our mountain bikes, and it was trip we would remember forever. Afterward, we hung out in the living room, being silly and laughing till it hurt, and it was a press on the reset button. There was one more day of racing and no matter what happened, I would not regret coming here.

When I woke up for the final day my legs ached and I could feel my body shutting down from the previous days’ efforts, but my head was still in it. Coach Zack and I woke up early to head to the race venue for 2 more practice laps on the DH run. Today was finals, and the Omnium points were tight. The pressure was on. Racing Downhill usually stresses me more than XC. It’s a different kind of pushing the limits. But today was different. The course was wicked fun, I knew the lines, and the season was over, so I was ready to risk it for the biscuit. In the gate, I felt calm. Ready. I wanted it bad. I pedaled hard straight out, got low in the berms, was smooth on the jumps, pedaled everywhere, grunted, slid, kept my head up, and made up almost over 20 seconds from my seeding run, at 3 minutes and 32 seconds of all-out speed and adrenaline.

I would finish DH in 9th place, but would it be enough? Coach Zack, Garrett, and I went into the lodge to calculate the points. The math was showing that I was in second. I walked out to my family and teammates and held up a number 2. “Good enough,” I told them. It was what it was, and second in the nation was still something to be proud of, but second is also tough and I was still disappointed. I rode back to the van and told the remainder of my teammates that I hadn’t won. It was time to reset for one last race, the team relay with Ruben, Jonah, and Meade. I changed out of my Downhill gear into my speed suit and went out on a preride. My legs, body, and head hurt. I was beat. But I had to keep my head in the game, one last time, now for my team more than myself. I stopped by the van to check in one last time before the race, and Coach Zack was sitting in the back. He asked me what size jersey I wore. Last year my Milligan jerseys were smalls, and this year I made a point to request a medium. Is that what he was talking about? Then he told me. I had won. I asked him if he was 100% sure, then burst into tears. Happy tears, not sad ones like the day before. I embraced my parents, hugged Zack, and Bobby and Vanessa since they were there, too. The weekend was a roller-coaster of emotion, and it was so, so sweet to hear this news and let myself be filled with joy.

I took the course again for one more preride lap of the relay, but this time felt no pain. I was elated, and shared the excitement with my teammates, who were thrilled for me. I was the only one from Milligan doing the Omnium this year, which meant my team had to show up early and stay late at the race venue every day. They all went the extra mile by cheering for me in every event, and Bobby and Joe even pushed my bike uphill for Dual Slalom. They didn’t complain once, and I am so grateful for their support and patience not only at Nationals, but the entire season.

Our relay team finished in 7th place, with me as the anchor, and Marjie ran alongside me at the top of the climb into the singletrack. Again it was a sprint finish. I crossed the line and collapsed. The 2018 Collegiate Mountain Bike season was over.

But there’s more to come. Our first Cyclocross race is only 2 weeks away. I don’t need to doubt anymore. This National title proved that I can achieve what I put my mind to. And trust me…I’m more motivated than ever to do it.

Our relay team finished in 7th place, with me as the anchor, and again in a sprint finish. I crossed the line and collapsed. The 2018 Collegiate Mountain Bike season was over.

But there’s more to come. Our first Cyclocross race is only 2 weeks away. I don’t need to doubt anymore. This National title proved that I can achieve what I put my mind to. And trust me…I’m more motivated than ever to do it.