From the start we all knew it would be super important to stay toward the front for the first few miles because of the sand. We all did a good job of that and about 10 miles in it split up and Sam Hart and Elliot Thorneblade were up the road with 3 other people. We had 4 more of us in a group just behind them with some other people that wanted to work to get up to them. A few miles later we caught the front group and then we turned onto a super rough and loose double track that had a strong headwind. It was a pretty long section and about halfway through at mile 23 I attacked and got a small gap pretty quickly. I was able to hold that gap until the single track at mile 29 and once I saw how rough it was I fully committed to trying to stay solo. The single track went for about 10 miles and once I was out of it I was pretty confident that I had a good gap. After a few miles on gravel again I could see a group of 3-4 people that were starting to catch me. They finally caught up around mile 42 and once they were close I realized it was 3 of my teammates and I couldn’t have been more happy to see them. We all just rolled to the finish together and they agreed that I should get the win. I feel our team did a phenomenal job the whole day controlling the race and sticking together at the front. Once I was off the front everyone else let other people do work until they were sure they could get up to me alone. I am super thankful for all of my teammates and coaches who helped make this happen and I couldn’t have been more happy about how the day played out. 

So here's how the race went...from the beginning of the race I was focused on staying in the front because I knew that there was some gnarly stuff coming our way, and we hit the major sandpit and the first place girl got away because she rode through the whole sandpit and the rest of us had to do some running. Then, after that, I made it out of the sandpit with two other girls from different schools and we were together. Then Charlotte put in a huge effort to make it back up to us, and then from then on out, it was the four of us for the rest of the day, Charlotte and I and then a girl from Milligan and a girl from another school. I can't quite remember, but we were just taking pulls the whole day, battling in the wind. I had a small gap in the single track, but the cat in the climbs after they closed it and we just worked together the whole day, it was actually really nice. We're taking pulls through the wind and then coming into the finish. Charlotte initially told me that she could lead me out and I was like oh my gosh, I don't know if I'm ready for that but then at the end I ended up being in the front and I was first into the last corner towards the finish and it was just all out from there. I just laid it down and gave it everything and I came away with second. So it was a good day, super hard. I was fighting off cramps pretty much from mile 30. I didn't quite bring enough food, but I'm really glad that there was neutral aid because I took a ton of gels and I'm really glad that Brittany was there with a gel that she had ready because the Hags told her that I needed one, which was a lifesaver.  

 I didn't know who was going to come away with second but I'm happy that it was me. Charlotte helped me out a lot the whole day. I had double leg cramps at the end I was absolutely locked up. It was gnarly but it was a good day. I'm happy with my result. One thing I probably would've changed is a little bit bigger tire set up because I definitely was wishing I had wider tires in the sandpit because the first place girl just rode all the way through. She was on 2.1 mountain bike tires and I think that was the way to go, but couldn't quite make that on my little cross bike, so yeah, it was a good day. I'm proud of it. I'm proud of how we worked together. Yeah it was a good day out and I'm grateful for all the support. 

 

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