Fun with Mental Strength

Psychology. It was one of my first interest and what I thought I wanted to be when I grew up. Well, after retiring from being a professional athlete of course. Years before I even knew cycling was a sport.
Choosing Psychology as a degree was shortly lived, since it was the phd I had to achieve in order to do much with this degree I sought after.
As part of my Kinesiology degree I had to take several psychology classes, and I enjoyed each one. Theres always been this interest that kept me very intrigued.

Now, as a professional cyclist and Cycling Coach I've picked up those psychology books once again. However, this time I've been studying mental discipline, and how all this is tied into performance as an athlete and as a coach.

As an athlete we face set backs, injuries, ups and downs of performing. It's taking these challenges and embracing them. How you choose to respond to these set backs is what sets you apart from others.

I've always been a big proponent of mind over matter. I've struggled myself with many injuries and come backs myself. But I wanted to dig deeper in the mind set, peel the layers back and understand where the core of this distraction stems from. If you want something bad enough you will figure out how to get there, right ? Its not as simple as that, however, I've been studying this subject for the last four years. I will say I have a better understanding of what it takes. Our brain is a muscle, we must keep the brain engaged, work it out just like you would any other muscle. More specifically taking your discipline and working with your brain on the mental side of it all.
It's when we have a good balance of physical and mental preparation is what truly enhances our performance. So, Take time to breathe and figure out what is holding you back from your dreams, goals and life.

Mellow Johnny's Classic XC race

Mellow Johnny's Classic ProWomen Podium 

I just picked up my New Trek Top Fuel ‘29er full suspension mountain bike from Richardson Bike  Mart, this past week. Thanks to Hector Ramirez for getting me all set up. 

As I spent the days leading into Mellow Johnny's getting my bike all dialed in to for my first race on dirt  2016. I will be riding some of the local mountain bike races in Texas before hitting the Road with my New Road team, Happy Tooth Pro Cycling. 

Racing mountain bikes is one of the hardest forms of bike racing out there- Its one of my favorite disciplines to help prepare for the hard road racing ahead with my HappyTooth Pro Cycling Team. 

Toby and I head out out to Mellow Johnny’s Classic just outside of Johnson City for the second race on the Tmbra calendar. We arrived on Friday to ride the trail. Then spent some quality time riding the trail and checking out different lines on Saturday.
 The course had a bit of everything with rocks to all aspects. The trail had some good power sections, some really technical sections, and a lot of climbing. It was going to be a tough course to race. 

The women's field was quite stacked. Its been over a year since I raced a cross country mountain bike race- and I know how hard they are. I was not looking forward to the pain.

  As we line up for the Mellow Johnny’s line, I reminisce thinking about this start in the past and being on the second row. That’s when Melanie Etherton suggested I take her spot on the first row.  I was relieved, but wasn't out of the woods yet. The gun went off.  I don't get in the pedals immediately theres a pause as I push hard with one leg seated and get clipped in. I go through the gears quickly to get out in front. I make to the front just in the nick of time as we maneuver through barns . I ramp up to hit the steep uphill. I am up out of the saddle again, to the Climb. I can just feel the riders from behind as I keep pushing out of the saddle. I don’t want anyone to come around me before the single track. I couldn’t believe it.. I made it to the woods. I hit it as fast as I can manage my lines without clipping a tree. I come out of the woods, hit the berm , no breaks. I fly out onto the open gravel dirt road. I didn’t hear anyone near, I look back and nothing. I push as hard as I can, crossing the road with a little caution over the gravel into a sweeping single track. I come out  through the start finish area in the lead with a gap.  As I hit the first big climb I start to see riders on the section that is prior to this climb I am half way up. 

As I crest the climb I hear Toby, “ 10 second gap from the rock section” . I just kept going. My first lap was not the smoothest. I didn’t how long I could maintain this pace. My negative thoughts haunted me , “your getting older you cant keep this up”. I simply ignored those thoughts . It wasn't until I really started to relax , focus on my lines, when I adopted smooth lines I started feeling recovered. Continuing to ride out in front , I just tired to keep pushing. 

On the final lap I crest the top of the  first big climb, this time Toby gives me my gap time of over a minute and a half . I hear him say," just ride it in safe".- . As I am heading down to the creek bed, I hear the spewing sound of stans. I thought, crap. I had punctured my tire and the sealant was coming out of the tire. I  quickly jump off, rub the tire into the dirt hoping for the stans to seal the hole . Unfortunately it had lost all its air. I grab my plug kit that Toby schooled me on the day before. I plug it, add my air and then I was off. I am unaware of where the other riders are.. and I jump back on.. and cycle cross the creek crossing and remount . I can’t believe I am still in the lead at this point, but just know the hungry field of women are charging. It took me a minute to get settled- I continue to section off the course in my mind hoping to stay in the lead. As I hit the last rocky section,I had to cycle cross the rocks.  I knew I had it. The finish was just around the corner. My legs were done.  I was Super Happy to take the win.

I had no idea who was in second, then I hear , “Smith” I ride over- Happy to see Client, Jessica Smith for the hard fought second place.  I know she was battling it out with Sammi Runnels and Kate Sherwin . 

That's Cindy Abbott on the podium for third . 

Thanks for Reading ! and Stay Tuned for more Race Reports ! 

#wearerbm