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Born:
July 14, 1977
Residence: Durango, CO
Background: Distance running, mountain biking,
Occupation: Professional road cyclist &
triathlete, 8th grade
science teacher
Strengths: Stage racing, climbing
Interests: Gardening, Telemark
skiing, River and trail running, Jewelry making, playing with Cora
(dog) |
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I bought my first mountain bike in 1993 with only 400
bucks that I had saved up over the summer. That marked
the beginning of a long relationship with myself and two
wheels. At that time I was living in a suburb of Kansas
City, and contrary to popular belief, where I grew up
was not flat, but rather quite hilly. I rode
recreationally with a few mountain bike races mixed in
but was more focused on distance running. Reading the
latest magazines about the forthcoming "Mountain Bike
Revolution", I learned of such towns as Durango,
Colorado and Moab, Utah and dreamed of residing there
one day.
After completing my undergraduate degree at the
University of Kansas, I decided that my real calling was
truly in the Rocky Mountains, and moved to Durango in
2001 with a short one year stop off in Salida, Colorado.
Ski bumming, mountain biking, and river running dictated
the pace of my life for a couple years, but certainly
didn't seem to pay the bills. So that's when I went back
to Fort Lewis College to earn my credentials as a
secondary science teacher. This would prove to be a
serendipitous move, as that is where I met Rick
Crawford, (who coached me for 4 years) and the FLC cycling
team. I was convinced to put my dirt skills to the test
and race my mountain bike with the team. Although,
mountain bike racing was enjoyable and successful; there
seemed to be something missing. Two hour solo efforts
did not stack up to the mental and physical aspect of
multi day road racing that I was to soon delve into.
After racing only one season at the collegiate level on
the road, I quickly climbed the ranks and that summer
(2004), began racing in the pro women peloton with a
solid finish at the grueling Tour de Toona as a new Cat.
2 rider.
2010 marks my fifth season racing as a pro; I have
spent time with the Ford-Basis Squad, CPT-Colnago, TIBCO,
Cheerwine and currently will be racing for
DFT p/b
Treads this year as a General Classification leader.
I am currently coached by Bruce Hendler of
Athleticamps out of Sacramento, California. I
will be adding a professional triathlon schedule this
year as well.
In the off season, I still keep myself fit by competing
in some ultra distance running events, regional
triathlons, and of course skiing the Colorado powder.
All this and I manage to find time to teach Earth
Science to 80 eighth graders. Needless to say at the end
of the day I go home tired, but am always ready to take
on the next challenge. |
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