I’ve always enjoyed cycling, riding my bike to school as a kid, commuting by bike as a young adult and for fitness and fun as the years progressed. I learned of the pleasure of 100+ mile rides while bicycle touring throughout the Northwest and along the Pacific Coast, so I should not wonder that I am a part of ultra and bicycle racing.
As early as 1989 I was providing support for ultra racing events beginning with the unofficial Cannonball 300 in 1989. Some of the people I still see at ultra cycling events I met in 1991 while providing support for another across Washington race, the S2S. I am very familiar with ultra marathon cycle and what it takes to compete and complete in such undertakings. I’ve been crew chief for several Solo Race Across Oregon events as well as numerous 24-hour time trial races. Fortunately my racer has always been ready for the challenge and with the help of a great crew we have had impressive success.
While no one can doubt the incredible rewards a racers feels in completing an ultra race, I know that for the support crew it is an amazing experience too. In providing support I could see the vastness of the environment and monitor the progress of my racer whose perpetual motion would stun and inspire me. What I experienced as a racer, even in 12-hour races, is a tremendous sense of accomplishment and pride especially when persevering through the inevitable times of purposelessness to the finish! Being a part of such an efforts makes me a happier and stronger person in all that I do and I enthusiastically encourage everyone I know to taste the please of ultra marathon cycling by trying it or supporting races and riders.
I just completed my first full year of racing and have some great results. I won the (UMCA) Ultra Marathon Cycling Association’s Western Region 12-hour Time Trial Challenge with a total of 523 miles over 3 races in CA, WA, and OR. In the cycling world the antithesis of ultra racing is cyclocross racing, and despite a late season upgrade I still had a 7th series finish in Portland’s Cross Crusade. Learning to ride in a peliton of racers of varying abilities was among the challenges the year of road racing in Oregon. I would get dropped by the Cat 4 women after a lap or two, but was able to have top finishes among the Master Women. This year I hope to do better in both fields. As road racing is a team sport, I am grateful and fortunate to be on the small, but serious local team of Hammer Velo. With continued focus and encouragement I expect to go faster in 2010 over the long miles of ultra courses as well as the faster and more moderate distances o road racing and to move up in the field of Master A women next fall.
It does not seem that long ago that I was proud of regularly riding a 12 mile loop around Magnolia in Seattle, but that was 20 years ago. It was on one of those 12 miles rides I learned that looking pretty was not going to get me up the hill or go any faster. Through the years 20 miles rides become 40 then 65, but I am still proud that when I get a 16-mile ride in when time is tight. The most significant change in my riding is that I gave up looking pretty so that every once in a while I look good. I am mindful that every mile I go today is because the miles I rode before.
Finally, while I am a proud kit-wearing member of Hammer Velo I am thankful for the support and encouragement I get from my family, riding companions, friends and kind people everywhere.2009 Ultra Marathon Cycling Association (UMCA) Western Region 12 Hour Time Trial Champion.
2009 Age Graded BAR: Masters Women 40-44 4th place
2009 Overall BAR: Masters Women 7th place
Ultra Racing Results
2008 Ring of Fire 12 HR TT 165 miles 2nd place
2009 Davis 12 Hour Challenge TT 178 miles, 1st place
Lewis and Clark Ultra 12 HR TT 181 miles 2nd place
Ring of Fire 12 HR TT 164 miles 1st place
2009 Road Racing Season 1 (Oregon)
Banana Belt Series started as Cat 4, and switched to Master Women – 2nd place series finish.
Oregon State Champion TTT 4th place
Mid-Summer Criterium Series 1st place
2009 Cyclocross Season 2 (Portland, OR)
Cross Over Stage Race 3rd place
Cross Crusade CCX Series Master Women B 7th place series finish
Started at Master Woman Cat. B and earned upgrade with 5 top 5 finishes to end season as Master Woman A
2008 Cyclocross Season 1 (Portland, OR)
Consistent mid-field finishes in Master Women Cat. B
2009 Mountain Bike Short Track (Portland. OR)
Women’s Cat. 2 8th place series finish
2008 Mountain Bike Short Track (Portland, OR)
Moved from beginner to consistent mid-pack finishes in Women’s Sport Category.
