Lifetime Grand Prix
2nd Nov 2023
What was the most challenging race in the Lifetime Grand Prix series for you, and how did you prepare for it?
Unbound is definitely the most challenging from a planning to anticipating the unexpected. I spent a whole lot of time going over equipment choices, and preparing nutrition plans on 8+hr training days.
Unfortunately, it all went down the drain with 4 mechanicals putting me on the side of the road with no way to pedal.
Can you share a memorable moment or experience from the last race of the series, The Big Sugar?
At one point just before the first feed, I found myself in a group with Truman Glasgow, Zach Calton, and Carter Anderson. We had a pretty good Utah squad rippin’ it!
How do you balance the demands of the series with other cycling aspirations you may have?
The Grand Prix is definitely my number one priority. Holding down a full time job + the series really keeps me from doing too much other racing.
What was the most challenging race in the Lifetime Grand Prix series for you, and how did you prepare for it?
The most challenging race for me would have to be Unbound 200 based on the distance and terrain of the course. Putting together 200 issue free miles is nearly impossible but going into the race with a level mindset and focusing on the factors I could control was how I prepped for the race.
Can you share a memorable moment or experience from the last race of the series, The Big Sugar?
The most memorable moment of Big Sugar would have to be the chaos of the first 45 minutes of racing. Everyone had the same plan, to be at the front, and this drove the pace faster and faster, sprinting out of every corner over loose, sharp gravel at 30mph.
How has participating in the Lifetime Grand Prix series contributed to your growth as a Cyclist?
I feel like the Lifetime Grand Prix series condensed five years of growth into one season. There is not a single race in the series you can show up to and not be on your “A” game. The area I have grown the most as a cyclist this season has been in the strategy needed to perform at the top level. What used to be a race of terrain vs racer is now a moving chess match against other competitors and the terrain in the background.
How do you balance the demands of the series with other cycling aspirations you may have?
I love racing and pushing myself to the absolute limit no matter the event so when I was accepted into the Lifetime Grand Prix I shifted my aspirations to focus on the series and used my other goals as building blocks toward the Grand Prix.
What was the most challenging race in the Lifetime Grand Prix series for you, and how did you prepare for it?
The most challenging race was Unbound. Having never gone over 160 miles, entering a 200 mile race was pretty daunting, but also exciting. I definitely prepped the best I thought I could by putting in the heavy volume, riding on as much gravel as I could, and practicing a bunch of race nutrition strategies. The infamous mud section in the race really caught me off guard, as I could not get the mud off my bike, and my chain kept dropping. This section took 2 hours longer than anticipated, which caused everything else in the race to be off.
Can you share a memorable moment or experience from the last race of the series, The Big Sugar?
Oh yikes Big Sugar is still giving me nightmares with all the crashes, mechanicals, and wrong turns due to virtually zero course markings, but I loved the Friday expo pre-race.
How has participating in the Lifetime Grand Prix series contributed to your growth as a cyclist?
It has pushed me to try longer distances than I would normally like to do, as well as to enter into races in parts of the country I might otherwise stay away from. The series has gotten me out of my comfort zone in so many ways, and pushed me to continue to persevere in each race, because being in the series is something not every cyclist got the chance to do. It was such a privilege to be selected as one of 35 female cyclists, and I embraced every race I entered in the LifeTime Grand Prix series.
Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations in the world of off-road cycling, and how will this experience shape your future endeavors?
I still have the same goals and aspirations as I did before my first year in the LTGP, which is that I just want to continue working on being the best cyclist I can be. I still feel so new to this sport, and I would love to continue to grow and improve to see what level I can get to.
Do you have any fun off-the-bike plans coming up?
Meeting quokkas in Perth, Australia, going scuba diving in Cairns, Australia, eating and drinking as much food and coffee as I can in Sydney and Melbourne, and exploring both islands of New Zealand!
It has pushed me to try longer distances than I would normally like to do, as well as to enter into races in parts of the country I might otherwise stay away from. The series has gotten me out of my comfort zone in so many ways, and pushed me to continue to persevere in each race, because being in the series is something not every cyclist got the chance to do. It was such a privilege to be selected as one of 35 female cyclists, and I embraced every race I entered in the LifeTime Grand Prix series.
Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations in the world of off-road cycling, and how will this experience shape your future endeavors?
I still have the same goals and aspirations as I did before my first year in the LTGP, which is that I just want to continue working on being the best cyclist I can be. I still feel so new to this sport, and I would love to continue to grow and improve to see what level I can get to.
Do you have any fun off-the-bike plans coming up?
Meeting quokkas in Perth, Australia, going scuba diving in Cairns, Australia, eating and drinking as much food and coffee as I can in Sydney and Melbourne, and exploring both islands of New Zealand!
What was the most challenging race in the Lifetime Grand Prix series for you, and how did you prepare for it?
Leadville was the most challenging race for me because of the extreme altitude, massive amount of climbing, and my relative lack of mountain bike experience. I spent six weeks sleeping above 7,000 feet to prepare my aerobic system as much as possible, and I tried to practice my mountain bike skills a couple of times a week in the months leading up to the race. I dialed in my fueling and nutrition strategy, including feed zone support, and prepped my bike as best I could, but in the end my race was severely hindered by a broken chain! Oh well.
How has participating in the Lifetime Grand Prix series contributed to your growth as a cyclist?
The Lifetime Grand Prix has forced me to take altitude training and mountain biking much more seriously than I might have otherwise. Altitude training has increased my overall aerobic capacity, and mountain biking has contributed to a significant improvement in my bike handling skills.
How do you balance the demands of the series with other cycling aspirations you may have?
The rise of the Lifetime Grand Prix series has created a race calendar fully devoted to off-road endurance racing. The series is definitely the focus of my season, and with the addition of other major gravel races such as Steamboat and Gravel Worlds, there is not much room for my other major passion: road racing. The bulk of the road calendar takes place in the spring, in and around BWR and Sea Otter and the lead up to Unbound. Unfortunately, I felt like my training and travel and racing stretched me too thin to be as competitive as I had hoped, so next year I will further pare down my road calendar to allow me to more fully focus on gravel.
What was the most challenging race in the Lifetime Grand Prix series for you, and how did you prepare for it?
Leadville MTB. Being my first ever mountain bike race and with my deficit in the skills department I was keen to rush the process but managed to break my thumb in that process! So my training consisted of riding the mountain bike on smooth roads and hoping come race day I’d be able to grip the bars. It was a day of survival!
Can you share a memorable moment or experience from the last race of the series, The Big Sugar?
The autograph signing session meeting young aspiring cyclists.
How has participating in the Lifetime Grand Prix series contributed to your growth as a cyclist?
It has expanded my comfort zone trying new things and being less afraid of sucking/ embracing being a beginner.
What were your personal goals coming into the series, and do you feel you achieved them by the end of the season?
Wrapping up the season pretty dissatisfied with the series and performance outcomes. I had high hopes and underperformed. I am proud of how I handled some of the challenges thrown my way but without dwelling too much I hope to channel my disappointment into a stronger, smarter 2024!
How do you plan to celebrate and relax now that the Lifetime Grand Prix series has concluded?
Adventuring! Bike packing in NZ and trashing my body with running and hiking before it’s ready for new loading patterns!
It has expanded my comfort zone trying new things and being less afraid of sucking/ embracing being a beginner.
What were your personal goals coming into the series, and do you feel you achieved them by the end of the season?
Wrapping up the season pretty dissatisfied with the series and performance outcomes. I had high hopes and underperformed. I am proud of how I handled some of the challenges thrown my way but without dwelling too much I hope to channel my disappointment into a stronger, smarter 2024!
How do you plan to celebrate and relax now that the Lifetime Grand Prix series has concluded?
Adventuring! Bike packing in NZ and trashing my body with running and hiking before it’s ready for new loading patterns!
- FINISH -