Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race

I did Leadville 2 years ago with my teammate Lisa Thompson. Leadville is a race which entry takes place by lottery. Hundreds of people sign up and acceptance is heard a couple of months later by mail. A belt buckle is the prize at the end of a very long, high altitude, race. You have to finish under 12 hours to win this buckle. Now, one would think that 12 hours is plenty of time to finish a mountain bike race. I made it within 2 minutes. Yea, too close for comfort! It took me two years to forget the pain that I experienced with this race. I have never cried at the end of a race and believe me, I've had my share of long, painful events. I cried like a baby after I crossed the finish line as my husband and friends were anxiously awaiting. This year the pain is still a memory but a distance one. I decided to give it a try and apply for an entry by lottery along with my new teammate Amy. I couldn't believe it when I heard that both of us received entry!! Its exciting but scary. There is no cheating the training and dedication that this race demands. So, please cold weather go away!!!! I need to get outside now and train.

...and then Kym hijacked Star's blog.

Hi everyone, Kym here. I am hijacking Star's blog for just a minute to brag on her incredible cyclocross season. Not only has she gotten really REALLY good at cross, She won the TN state chempion title AND the GA state race (although she could not get the GA jersey because she was not a resident). I know she says she's an endurance racer, but she ROCKED at cross this year and is going to be even better this fall racing as a Cat. 3.

Congrats Star, we are so PROUD OF YOU!!!!!

Love,

Your Team

Oh yea, I forgot to mention how incredible Trek has been to our team , Vantaggio/Trek. The new cyclocross bike rocks. I love it!!!!

Cyclocross Season

Wow, everything I've been working on all winter is finally over. I really got hooked on cyclocross this season. I did a few races last year but never really accomplished anything. Its taken me two years to break free from the long, endurance adventure racing mentality. I've done two Primal Quest and many more multiple day races. I used to think that an eight hour race was just not worth my time. Since I was lucky enough to be asked on an elite ladies mountain bike team I had to turn off that long, slow side of my brain. It has not been easy at all. I've been on the podium several times in different sports but never have I brought home the gold. Well, this year I've won six cyclocross cat. 4 races. The other two I've placed third. I'm sad its over for the season because I was just getting started. I did my last cat. 4 race yesterday which was the Tenn. State Championship. Now I have to race with the big girls. Yikes, thats exciting but scary at the same time.