Hometown: Washington, DC 

How did you get into cycling? I’ve been on a bike for as long as I can remember… As kids, my friends and I rode all over town, we were feral kids; no cell phones, no trackers…we just roamed, and nobody got in trouble or hurt bad enough not to ride home…Scrapes/bruises/cuts were not an issue for us. In my teens, I worked for myself as a court/legal messenger, doing all of the work via my bike until I got a car. Raced BMX as a kiddo (when I mowed lawns to cover the race entry fees), I did MTB stuff (non-racing) and Sprint/Olympic Triathlons in my 30’s, and now I’m racing on Zwift, Road/Gravel, and CX in my 50s.

How many years have you been racing on Zwift? I am in my 3rd year. Started in D’s (was 10 mins off the back), currently in C’s, and maybe I will hit B’s next season

Are you part of a Virtual team? Yes, I race for The Coalition. 

What do you love most about racing? I love being invited to compete with other women and making friends with those I race with and against. 

What is your favourite style of race (e.g. points, scratch, iTT, TTT, Chase, duathlon)? Points races suit me… I am a sprinter, so I get to ‘do my thing’ in those races. 

What is your favourite Zwift women’s race series? I have only done ZRL, but I am open to trying others in the coming year. I think I have held myself back from trying new series from a lack of confidence (something we all struggle with). Until the end of ZRL ’22/’23, that had been a real challenge for me.

What is your most memorable racing experience, inside or outside or BOTH? I remember the last race of ZRL last year, going up the Breakaway Brae I was in about 20th. At that turn to the left, I went all out and dug deep within myself to catch the front. (At this time, I was a D racer by ZPower but I raced all season in C’s because I wanted to learn and challenge myself.) Well, I caught up to the leaders and only missed taking the top of the podium by hundredths of a second! I was super proud of that effort, and in the end, I finally got promoted to C, LOL! It was a big deal for me because I used to be the “big girl” in the back of the race, working the hardest just to finish… and now I was charging up the hill with the leaders. It was a turning point for my racing, both indoors and out! I had a great road/gravel season in ’23. 

What is your favourite food to eat post race? CARBS!!! Pizza, tacos, cookies, cake, and all the other things on the ‘naughty’ list! 

What advice would you give to a woman entering her first Zwift race? My advice is try a race, forget worrying about ‘what ifs’ or negative self-talk, and once you enter it, finish it. The performances of others don’t matter; YOURS does. Don’t compare yourself to others, meet cycling where YOU are at… and above all, have fun with it. At the end of it all, CHEER for those who do well (send nice notes in the Companion App, or write a race report on Strava that includes others, your competitors, in it), and cheer for those in the back, too… they are the folks who worked hardest and longest in the race. There are victories to be had everywhere through the effort, on the front, in the middle, and in the back…embrace that, and you will have a winning spirit that transcends your placement in the race.

Let me share my story, decade by decade, so one can get a better understanding of my psyche as it relates to my athleticism. I hope my story helps and inspires women, even if just for a few more minutes of training every week.

The Early Years – Fun and Busy (0-39)

I was a high-energy child and involved in a lot of sports like running, cycling, swimming, and skiing. My nickname was Roadrunner as no one, not even the boys, could catch me in a game of tag! I was on the track team in high school, but my passion was downhill skiing. I started university and continued running and cycling for fitness through my twenties; this was a very busy decade during which I completed my post-graduate studies, started my career as a Social Worker in a maximum security detention centre, got married to my husband of 40 years, and gave birth to our 2 sons.

In my thirties, I was busy raising our high-energy sons who were involved in various sports like hockey, soccer, judo, and skiing. I worked full-time providing individual and group counselling services to youth and women in conflict with the law. Running during my lunchtime was not only for fitness, but a healthy way to manage my stress. A colleague suggested I start training for 5km and 10km races, and I got hooked on racing.

The Fun, Busy, and Interesting Years (40-65)

In my forties, I was busy with my career and raising teenagers, but always made time for running and training for races. I had excellent coaches and trained with a great group of friends. I decided to train for a marathon after setting the goal of racing 42km when I turned 42 years young. I qualified for the Boston Marathon, and, of course, I had to do it. I continued training and ended up doing 12 marathons, including 4 Boston marathons, over an 18-year period.

At 49 years young, I had my first hot flash at the Boilermaker 15km race in Utica, N.Y. It was as if someone poured a bucket of water over my head. I was drenched, and a couple of minutes later, my skin was dry, but my clothes were soaked. I experienced these hot flashes that came on intermittently and suddenly, never lasting more than a couple of minutes, for about 3 years. I had to bring extra clothes to work, just in case. I didn’t let these hot flashes prevent me from running. However, my running was not like it was; I had slowed down and didn’t perform as well in races.

I went through a period when I thought my racing days were over and this negative self-talk contributed to my not-so-great performance in races. It took me about 2 years to realize that I had to adjust my goals in racing and throw my ego out the window. I chose to consciously remind myself to be grateful for being able to run and accept the fact that I was not going to continue getting PBs with age… duh. It took me that long to embrace aging and celebrate my accomplishments. Interestingly, these thoughts and feelings pertained only to my running.

In my fifties, my husband and I became empty nesters and traveled a fair bit. I retired and started training for triathlons because I had the time to incorporate swimming, running, and cycling into my training schedule. I did a few triathlon training camps in Florida and started to do regular group rides and open water swims in addition to my running. I loved this cross training and I truly believe it has helped me to stay healthy and keep injuries at bay. My hot flashes subsided and I began setting new goals. I completed several running and triathlon races. To my surprise, I rediscovered my speed and usually ended up on the podium in my AG (age group). Woohoo!

The last 5 years can be summarized as me having the time of my life with my husband, my sons, and my 2 precious granddaughters as well as continuing to train for running and triathlon races. In 2019, I qualified for the World Triathlon Championships which were supposed to be held in Edmonton, Alberta in 2020 but the pandemic necessitated a postponement to Bermuda the following year. I was getting excited to compete in Bermuda but the event was postponed yet again because of the pandemic; this time, the World Triathlon Sprint Championships were to be held in Montreal, Quebec. After 3 years of training for this event, I was getting closer to crossing this goal off my bucket list, but unfortunately, I was involved in a bike crash and broke my elbow, 6 weeks before the race. Upon being cleared by the orthopedic surgeon, I competed on June 25, 2022. Needless to say, my swim was mediocre but I completed it and I was glad it was finally done. I didn’t let these setbacks (pandemic and broken arm) prevent me from accomplishing my goal.

I’ve been called a Zwiftie, a term I wholeheartedly embrace because for me, Zwift racing is a convenient, effective and efficient way to keep my cycling fitness as high as it can be. This is especially true when the weather for outdoor riding is unfavorable (e.g. snow, ice, rain, wind) or when I have an injury, like a broken arm. I don’t really have a convenient and traffic-free route outdoors for cycling workouts. I like Zwift because workouts and hard rides are much safer to complete as I don’t have to worry about automobiles or traffic lights and signs. Moreover, the weather in my basement is always good, so I never have to ride in the rain unless I really want to. There are no potholes, flat tires, or the potential for a crash caused by careless drivers or cyclists. Last but not least, I have met so many wonderful virtual friends on Zwift and I even had the pleasure of meeting one of my Delirium teammates IRL. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love riding outdoors and I have a wonderful group of friends with whom I ride on a weekly basis, weather permitting.

Words of Wisdom

The longer you live, the more attention you need to pay to little nagging injuries. My days of running and cycling through pain are over. My days of rolling out of bed and heading out for a run or ride are over. Instead, I have incorporated a regime of dynamic stretching, foam rolling, strength training and mobility exercises through Pilates, Power Barbell, and Core, Balance and Stretch classes at my local gym.

Presently, I do 3 to 4 runs/weekly including speed work and 4 to 5 rides/weekly including a Zwift race and/or workout. My rest days from running and cycling have been Mondays for many years, because my long endurance runs and/or rides are on Sundays. I believe the wisdom that has come with aging for me has allowed me to stay injury-free by making sure I have a proper warm-up and cool-down when I run and ride. I also treat myself to monthly massages. I have had my share of injuries over the years, like sprained ankles, plantar fasciitis, and hamstring tears but thanks to my wonderful coaches and physiotherapist, I followed their advice and allowed my injuries to heal fully before returning to running and/or cycling.

I eat well and my diet consists mainly of healthy carbs, fish and chicken (no red meat), and I love devouring a bag of chips every once in a while. I sleep well, at least 8 hours/night with no naps.

Finally, I don’t let my age dictate what I can or can’t do because when I put my mind on a goal, I do everything in my control and power to achieve that goal. Sometimes there are setbacks, in which case I reassess and, though it may take longer, I don’t give up. Once I commit, I persevere and eventually, if it’s possible, I get there. I am proof that women can race in their sixties. For women new to Zwift racing, get clearance from your medical doctor, get a personal trainer or coach, start building a mileage base, join a women’s team, then sign up for a race. Ride on!!!

Hometown: Swindon, Wiltshire, UK 

How did you get into cycling? I joined Her Spirit as I wanted to do a triathlon before my 50th birthday. I bought myself my first road bike for my 49th birthday and did my first triathlon a few weeks later. I’m now in training for my first (and only) Ironman with support from the Her Spirit coaches.

How many years have you been racing on Zwift? About 3 years.

Are you part of a Virtual team? Yes, started with BRT and EVO, now with Galaxy Cycling Club.

What do you love most about racing? I like pushing myself out of my comfort zone.

What is your favourite style of race (e.g. points, scratch, iTT, TTT, Chase, duathlon)? I prefer longer races and anything with a few punchy climbs.

What is your favourite Zwift women’s race series? Tour de Boudicca as I enjoy the team aspect and you can challenge yourself as an individual as the races are all different. 

What is your most memorable racing experience, inside or outside or BOTH? Inside, crossing the line first on the Glasgow Crit race in the last Tour de Boudicca which was unexpected as I was focussing on my training points. My daughter was next to me cheering me over the line which is what made it really special to me. Outdoors, my first duathlon was great fun. I was terrified and I was terrible at it. I even got overtaken by a guy wearing an Elmo costume!

What is your favourite food to eat post race? Chocolate milk.

What advice would you give to a woman entering her first Zwift race? Learn to enjoy the process rather than the results, and then every race is a good race.

Hometown: Breda, the Netherlands

How did you get into cycling? I used to play volleyball and football when I was younger, but because of injuries I had to find another sport, so I bought my first bike when I was 29. I started out with some shorter-distance rides, just enjoying the scenery and being outdoors. Not long after that I met my partner and we started riding together and distances got longer and longer. Although I was really enjoying the riding, I always missed a competitive element, and I found that in Zwift racing a few years later. After a while racing on Zwift made me curious about IRL racing, so last year, at 39, I finished my first full season of gravel racing.

How many years have you been racing on Zwift? I started Zwift in October 2019 and I did my first Herd Beginner Race in the first week. I have been racing year-round on Zwift ever since. 

Are you part of a virtual team? Yes, I’ve been racing with the Herd Racing League since I started riding on Zwift. A big part of the races I’ve done were with my Zwift Racing League team The Herd of Little Penguins. Several women on that team have been racing and riding together since the first ZRL season and I love being a part of that team. Occasionally you can see me riding with BEAT added to my name, which is my IRL team BEAT Cycling Club that also has an e-racing team. 

What do you love most about racing? Pushing your limits and sometimes surprising yourself with what you can do. 

What is your favourite style of race (e.g. points, scratch, iTT, TTT, Chase, duathlon)? I don’t really have a favourite style of race, but I like to mix it up. I do like the tactics involved with races – making a plan, individually or with my team, to get the best result possible and trying to execute that plan during a race. 

What is your favourite Zwift women’s race series? There are several great Women’s race series, but for me the best ones are those that have a mix of racing styles, like SHEries, Tour de Boudicca and Iceni series. I also love the big fields and strong competition in Zwift Racing League. 

What is your most memorable racing experience, inside or outside or BOTH? That must be the gravel world championships in Italy last year. The course, with lots of steep climbs, didn’t really suit me and it wasn’t my best race of the season, but riding in that amazing landscape in an orange jersey and with all those strong women from all over the world was the best experience ever. At one point I was riding in a chase group with riders from USA, South Africa, Australia, Canada, France, and many more countries and even though it was hard and my legs were hurting, the only thing I could think about is how amazing that was. 

What is your favourite food to eat post race? I do a lot of my races in the evenings, so I rarely eat after and just take a recovery shake. But during long endurance rides I love having a piece of apple pie and a nice poke bowl after. 

What advice would you give to a woman entering her first Zwift race? Be prepared for a hard start. After that, just give it all you’ve got and have fun.

Hometown: Hulsberg (Amstel Gold Race region! The race even comes past my house, well almost…) 

How did you get into cycling? My dad has been my inspiration always! He used to be an amateur mountain biker himself, meaning it wouldn’t surprise me if I cycled even before I could walk. Guess my dad is also where I get my love for mud! Although I do prefer a gravel bike to a mountain bike. 

How many years have you been racing on Zwift? I got into it during Covid times! I used to only do spinning in the winter, but didn’t take long before I was hooked. 

Are you part of a virtual team? Yes I am. 3 actually . This crazy thing started when I was training to go up Mont Ventoux 3x in one day! I needed more motivation to do tough trainings. So I already rode with the Dutch Team NL and then I started looking for an APAC team and ended up in HERD. Recently I decided I wanted something different than ZRL for a season which is how I ended up riding for DIRT as well in DRS. 

What do you love most about racing? The teamwork it brings and how it’s brought me so many friends from all over the world! Next to that I love how it pushes me further then I would be able to push myself in any workout. 

What is your favourite style of race (e.g. points, scratch, iTT, TTT, Chase, duathlon)? Hmmm… this one I really have to think about. I just did amazingly well on a points race today when writing this so I was inclined to say points. However I think my all time favourite is something DRS brings in their racing! It’s called TTR and it’s a normal scratch race with draft, but in this race your 4th rider over the finish is the one that counts. This requires good communication skills and it’s just amazing for teamwork.

What is your favourite Zwift women’s race series? I’d have to say Boudicca! It brought so many amazingly talented riders together! It had me in such a high the whole weekend! 

What is your most memorable racing experience, inside or outside or BOTH? Another tough one! I think the most memorable race experience was actually quite recent! Each year Team NL does club Championships. So last year it was a hilly race in Yorkshire and this year they went for tiny races. I knew my competition well, they are my team mates after all! So I had a plan in mind: surprise them on the first out of 4 races! Good I came second, but I did surprise my biggest competitor! She ended up taking race 2 and 3, but I could secure second place in both. Final one, uphill finish! My time to shine bottom to top! I caught her just on the line! We were gonna be close and we each started counting our own points. Unbelievable, but over 4 races we ended up tied for first! Race control did not think this could happen and we had no idea how to deal with it so the only logical thing to do was share the tittle! 

What is your favourite food to eat post race? Oh I usually just have whatever high protein stuff is in reach, but a snack I really like is actually very simple and I recommend it to everyone. Slice up some cucumber. Mix a can of tuna on water base with some mayo and sriracha sauce. Viola an easy high-protein snack that is great whenever.

What advice would you give to a woman entering her first Zwift race? Even if you think you can’t sprint for the points, sprint anyway! Turns out it takes a lot more effort trying to catch back on than to sprint with all you have in you (at least it does for me). Oh and dare to draft since you can save so many watts!

Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama

How did you get into cycling? I started off in college/Uni with triathlons because I wanted to keep doing a sport to keep me active.

How many years have you been racing on Zwift? About 3 years!

Are you part of a Virtual team? I race for Wahoo Le Col but also am a part of Level E-sports for the ladder leagues and such.

What do you love most about racing? I love the challenge of it all – the dynamics of it all whether it be the physics side or race tactic aspect. Always learning and love it!

What is your favourite style of race (e.g. points, scratch, iTT, TTT, Chase, duathlon)? Scratch, iTT, and TTT because of my Ironman triathlon background.

What is your favourite Zwift women’s race series? Zero clue haha.

What is your most memorable racing experience, inside or outside or BOTH? Probably crossing the line at Ironman World Championship as a top Age Grouper and my brother being at the finish line to catch me. Completely epic experience!

What is your favourite food to eat post-race? Curry or pizza! Yummm…

What advice would you give to a woman entering her first Zwift race? Just keep racing and showing up. I raced for the men’s team and was constantly humbled each week, but it (eventually) made me a stronger athlete and I was able to meet lifetime friends from it all as well.

Hometown: Paris

How did you get into cycling? For my 27th birthday (I’ll be 29 in 2024), I wanted to make changes in my life to make it more… healthy after almost a decade of professional couch potatoing! My brother gifted me a smart bike as I always liked to ride a bike as a child. As riding near a big city alone can be quite dangerous with no experience, hence the direct entry to the Zwift world. In fact, I began road cycling a few months after! Quite a unique way into the cycling world.

How many years have you been racing on Zwift? I really began Zwift races a year ago.

Are you part of a virtual team? I am part of Foudre since the beginning and I also began to ride with Hexagone’s Women’s team a few weeks ago to learn the highest level of women’s Zwift racing.

What do you love most about racing? I love to lose myself in a race. When nothing else matters… I feel my body and my mind in a way that I can’t describe, they are there more than ever and also, it is like I am not myself anymore. And then, if I succeed to win the race, it is just a rainbow of very strong emotions. I love it! I also like to speak with the other racers/teammates in Strava/WhatsApp. I think we really push each other to become stronger and everyone is always very nice. I really like the spirit in Zwift, especially between women. We really root for each other.

What is your favourite style of race (e.g. points, scratch, iTT, TTT, Chase, duathlon)? I like scratch and points races on flat/hilly races! I like to show my raw power. I don’t really like individual TT and mountain races as steady power is not really my cup of tea. I think I’d like to do more TTT as the common effort and the strategy needed is really interesting.

What is your favourite Zwift women’s race series? I really liked the Zwift Women Racing series that occurred this past Spring/Summer. The Tour de Boudicca in the beginning of January was also great as doing 3 nights of racing in a row is not so common! The third one is the French FFC championships, we unfortunately have a very small crowd at the highest level of French women Zwift racing but I must tell you that the women that are there are world-class! The common point between those women’s series is that the field is very strong and it makes me want to work harder and become better.

What is your most memorable racing experience, inside or outside or BOTH? When I won a sprint in the Boudicca series by 0.05s after a very bad launch! It was quite epic, especially with the broadcast comments behind! Also, even though I don’t go very often to « outside » races, a girl recognized me from Zwift as she saw broadcasts and my results. It was a real surprise, I felt like a star.

What is your favourite food to eat post race? Guacamole and waffles filled with chocolate.

What advice would you give to a woman entering her first Zwift race? Do not forget to buy a heart rate monitor. The beginning of a race is almost always very fast so brace yourself! Do not forget to warm up and fuel yourself. Even if it is a « short » effort (compared to outside races), you will need water and carbs! More importantly, to not hesitate to talk to the other women and ask questions! You can also join a team to share your pain… hmmmm… experience.

Hometown: Sevenoaks, Kent

How did you get into cycling? My bestie got a road bike and also started Zwifting, I copied her as it all looked very fun! 

How many years have you been racing on Zwift? This is my 3rd winter of racing!

Are you part of a virtual team? Yes! Kent Velo Girls cycling club (KVG on Zwift) is a real-life club with over 150 members who ride together outside. We have 4 Zwift Racing League teams, and I race in ‘Pink’ who currently race in C1.

What do you love most about racing?  Being part of a team, where we all have different strengths but most of all we work together for each other.

What is your favourite style of race (e.g. points, scratch, iTT, TTT, Chase, duathlon)? Ooh that’s tricky! Actually, I love points, scratch, and TTT for different reasons. Points I think is the most fun for planning team strategy, but TTT is our chance to really work together in a race and we can encourage each other on Discord. 

What is your favourite Zwift women’s race series?  Tour de Boudicca! Was my 1st time racing it this year, loved it.

What is your most memorable racing experience, inside or outside or BOTH? Winning my first-ever race back in December ‘22!

What is your favourite food to eat post-race? Immediately after can’t eat a thing!! The following day I am always starving and love a good bit of cake. 

What advice would you give to a woman entering her first Zwift race? Find a supportive team with experienced racers, so much of racing is about race craft and not just all-out power! Then just throw yourself in, try different things, and have fun. In racing you either win or you learn.

Other topics include how to win your next ZRL race, and Dustin’s 51-watt sprint.

Links discussed in this episode:

• Zwift Insider Women’s Racing
• Em Nyquist’s Youtube Channel
• Em Nyquist on Instagram
• Anna Russell’s YouTube Channel
• Gabriela Guerra’s Twitch Channel
• Beccah Niesen’s YouTube Channel

Please e-mail any feedback or questions to: WatopianWeekly@gmail.com

Hometown: Kalamazoo, Michigan, currently in Madison, Wisconsin

How did you get into cycling? My twin brother was a high school cyclist, while I was an equestrian athlete. Unfortunately, I lost my equine teammate to a neurodegenerative infection just before my brother transitioned out of competitive cycling, and when he went away to college, I began commuting to community college on his race bike – a bike that I raced on up until I broke the frame during my 2023 season. The only thing I learned was how much I actually hated bike saddles, in comparison with real saddles. Eventually, I also went away to college, and had reinvested myself into running and swimming, having also been a cross-country runner with one brother, and a swimmer with another brother, while in high school. Following college graduation, unlucky experimentation with a mountain bike, a busted helmet, and a torn quad muscle, put running on the shelf for me. Toward the end of my crash recovery, I found my twin’s bike in my parent’s garage and resurrected my fitness by agreeing to accompany my mom on the 500mi, 45th annual RAGBRAI, with a total of three rides, post-crash, under my belt. It wasn’t until the following year, in 2019, with much more training and another agreement to accompany my mom on the 46th annual RAGBRAI, that the sport finally struck gold.

I can confidently credit the strangers (now friends) I shared tandem bikes with during that week in Iowa for my confidence on two wheels and the nudge I needed to begin my racing career, just as the season ended in 2019. As everyone knows, 2020 proved to be a worthless year of racing IRL, so it wasn’t until 2021 that I began what I consider to be my “actual racing career.” I briefly raced the outdoor gravel series in Michigan before I fell head over heels (literally at times) for criterium and stage racing, although you will still find me at a local Dirty Donut gravel race defending my title for fastest female in the donut division when the stars align in my favor.

How many years have you been racing on Zwift? Three. I jumped on the Zwift wagon at the end of 2019 to learn how to train for races, but it wasn’t until the end of 2020 that I joined my first e-sports team. I’ve raced fairly consistently for the past three years, as my outdoor season and other platforms have allowed.

Are you part of a virtual team? Used to be, yes. I was an original member of the Finesse Wahoo women’s team back in 2020 when an IRL friend connected me to local Zwifties. Then Agowatt was born in 2021, I helped build a women’s-only squad with friends I made during my first ZRL season. Agowatt is where I also began building my skills for becoming a Directeur Sportif (DS) and race/course/strategy analyst, and bike guru. Eventually, I went on to build out the lower category women’s teams of Absque Fines p/b Wolfe; again with more wonderful friends from adjacent teams. Having recently parted ways with AF p/b Wolfe, I currently guest ride and DS for a few teams where I have friends: BMTR and Coalition to name a couple.

What do you love most about racing? Selfishly, the adrenaline, and non-selfishly, the teamwork. I go into a race with expectations and a goal—sometimes it’s to win, sometimes it’s to create chaos and test out tactics. I build relationships with each of my teammates so we can play to the riders’ strengths and come out with positive experiences, even if the goal is simply being a menace to boring racing. I firmly believe that everyone is good at something, but you have to be willing to get uncomfortable and figure it out. The best part about racing Cat B and lower is that the breadth of talent widens, so the strengths become more diverse. Higher diversity means more cards to play with, and for a strategist, this means more unexpected outcomes for our competitors.

What is your favourite style of race (e.g. points, scratch, iTT, TTT, Chase, duathlon)? The Team Time Trials will always have a special place in my heart since some of my most fond memories with teammates and friends have been our “Sip ’n Pull” social WTRL time trials. Grab a snack and a beverage (usually wine or margaritas) and let’s noodle around the Greater London Flat while socializing.

For pure racing, give me a scratch race any day! I love driving my sprint home.

What is your favourite Zwift women’s race series?  Hands down, it is the Tour de Boudicca Stage Race the Warrior Games hosts each year. As an IRL stage racer, TdB is the top event for women to experience stage racing from the comfort (and discomfort) of their own homes. It is scored as a true stage race, and it is the same event across the categories (the race category A races is the race category D will race).

What is your most memorable racing experience, inside or outside or BOTH? Inside: Winning the Queen’s Stage of TdB in 2022 will always be a very bright, glimmering memory because I’m not a climber by physique, only by heart. It was neat to experience my heart win.
Outside: Setting the world records for fastest female relay team across (and back) my home state of Michigan, with two of my closest friends and our wonderful record officer, will always be a beacon of light in my memory. There is nothing that brings friends closer than suffering toward a common goal. 

What is your favourite food to eat post-race?  If I’m coming from a cold race, a big bowl of Pho, but if it’s hot outside (or inside), a popsicle or ice slushie! I’m not really a foodie, so if I could figure out how to eat the feeling of “laying down with my knees up,” I’d choose that.

What advice would you give to a woman entering her first Zwift race? I would begin with a few questions, then some advice.

1. Are you comfortable with being uncomfortable, or are you ready to learn how to operate when uncomfortable? Discomfort is an unmentioned part of racing, yet one of the more frequent feelings during an event. Be ready for it, or how to learn through it. Dissociate from the feeling and you will be pleasantly surprised how far your body will take you.
2. Do you know the game? Zwift is a video game; you are the controller. If you want to become good at playing, you need to practice the gaming aspects of the platform. Learn how to move through pelotons or play with positioning around corners so you avoid experiencing new game-related nuances during the race. Practice riding rollers (rolling hills) and understand the aspects of the draft so you don’t waste energy in events. Learn what a powerup is and when to use it. It also helps to know what type of race you are signing up for… do some background research – so much information can be found with quick Internet searches.
3. What happens when you have a bad race? What happens when you fail, or you have technical/mechanical failures? Will you give up, or will you give yourself grace, get back on the horse, and try again? You will have a bad race, eventually. Sometimes, like for me, it was my first one, and second one… 7th, and 8th one… I was terrible when I first began, but that didn’t mean I always would be. Unfortunately, as breathing bags of biochemistry, we will have our off days even when we come in prepared – especially individuals with menstrual cycles. Discouragement is meant to pass, but you have to let it pass.
4. Why are you racing? List as many reasons as you like, but one of them must be “for fun.” Those who race for the fun of it have already earned a step up in the game.