Spring Awakening: The Art of the Slower Comeback
Spring is officially in the air. Here in Colorado, winter was largely non-existent, which meant far less playing in the snow than we had hoped for. After missing a significant portion of the fall due to appendix surgery, I was truly looking forward to a winter spent playing in the mountains.
We managed to get out most weekends for backcountry snowboarding, but between dangerous avalanche conditions and a "weird" snowpack, we only found a handful of days filled with those amazing, deep powder turns. To balance it out, we spent time in the Arizona desert with friends, trading the boards for mountain bikes and dirt bikes.
The Road to 50 Miles
Training is officially ramping up. I am currently working toward a 50-mile race this summer. My goal isn't to be fast—I’ve realized I don't have enough time to simultaneously work on speed and significant mileage ramps—but rather to complete a distance I haven't tackled in a very long time.
As an endurance coach, I'm finding that my own journey helps me relate more deeply to the ebbs and flows my athletes experience. Here is how the training currently looks:
Strength First: Strength training has been a non-negotiable priority. I am noticing significant improvements in my power, which feels incredible.
The Reset Logic: I’m finding that my body needs a "reset" or de-load week every 4-5 weeks, and I’ve learned to be okay with that.
Exploration: We’ve logged a lot of miles mountain biking through New Mexico and the border regions of Colorado. The trails are an absolute blast!
Finding "Home" (Internally and Externally)
The last couple of years were a whirlwind: moving, frequent illness, learning to live with a genetic disorder, and working a ton. Finally, it feels like we are settled into our home. We ended up in a neighborhood filled with amazing people—most of whom are fellow mountain bikers! I never thought it was possible to have neighbors who are this much fun to chat and play with.
Beyond the physical move, there has been a significant internal move. I have worked through my PTSD, though some days require a conscious effort to practice what I have learned through Shamanism and Buddhism.
Trauma never truly leaves you, but it can become a beautiful part of who you are once you make peace with it.
I believe I went through those challenges so I could use that past trauma to help others. It had to happen for me to have the beautiful life I have right now.
The Evolution of an Athlete
When I was racing at the elite level, I carried an enormous amount of stress and trauma that I hid for almost a decade. Back then, I just annihilated myself to deal with my internal suffering until I broke, then repeated the cycle. My body never had a chance to just "be."
Interestingly, not having trauma on a daily basis was actually hard for me to feel at first. Now, I find I am more sensitive to stress than I once was. But there’s a power in that sensitivity:
Instead of pushing through, I rest through. Instead of hiding my feelings, I acknowledge them. This approach means a slightly slower comeback, but it also sets me up for a fun, healthy, and active future.
A Vision for 2026
Through coaching, I have the honor of working with people from all over the world, and I truly enjoy learning about different cultures. I work with anyone regardless of who they love, how they identify, or what they believe. To me, humans are humans—all are worthy of the same love and attention.
My wish for everyone is that we can one day put our differences aside, find forgiveness (finding forgiveness for those who did unspeakable things to me was the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever done for myself), be kind and just love one another.. Most of all, I wish everyone the ability to love themselves for who they are. People often hurt others because they are hurting; remembering that helps me maintain empathy and compassion (with firm boundaries to protect my own energy).
May 2026 be a year filled with health, healing, love, and endless alpine trails.
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." – Martin Luther King Jr