Hometown: Durango, CO
Education: Bachelors of Science in Exercise Science
University of Tennessee 2005
Athletics:
Current Teams:
ValuAct Capital Professional Cycling Team
USA National Cycling Team
Past Teams:
Colavita/Sutter Home Pro Cycling Team -’08
Fort Lewis Cycling Team- ‘07
UT Varsity Soccer Team- ‘01-’05
UT Varsity Swim Team- ‘03-’05
My athletic story….
I grew up in Durango, CO participating in every activity I could. From track to cycling to swimming and dance, my parents supported me in a lot of endeavors. It was soccer and swimming which really became my loves and I participated in these sports throughout high school. I went on to college at the University of Tennessee where I played on the varsity soccer all four years. I was also recruited to swim for the varsity swim team during my junior and senior years in college. My plan after college was to race in triathlons, which I had been doing well in during the summers between my collegiate seasons. Half way through my senior season of soccer I tripped in practice and dislocated my knee. My soccer career was over, and it was questionable whether I would be able walk properly again. After two major reconstructive surgeries and a lot of physical therapy, I turned to my bike to get in shape again. When I first got on my bike, I was only allowed to ride for ten minutes easy on a trainer. On my first ride outside, I had to be pushed up any small inclines because it hurt my knee too bad to ride with any sort of power. I eventually worked up to pain free riding and climbing and began racing with the Fort Lewis College Cycling team (where I was taking classes to finish my prerequisites for medical school). I found success in road racing and more importantly, I found a sport that I love as much or more than the sport of soccer. My knee injury was such a life changing shock, and I feel so lucky to have finally found the freedom and exhilaration (that I experienced in soccer), in bike racing! After my first season of cycling with FLC I was signed to the Colavita/Sutter Home Women’s professional cycling team. In my first year as a professional I found success in the US and capped the season off with a trip to Italy with the USA National Team. 2009 will see me racing domestically with ValuAct Capital Women’s professional cycling team as well as racing over seas with the US National Team.
