Preparing for Peak Performance
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| World XC Championships 2016 - Riding the Intense Hard Eddie 29. A technical rugged track with steep climbs. With a light nimble bike time could be made or maintained with attacking the hill. Many chose dual suspension bikes. |
Intensive travel and some incredible racing opportunities have taken over the past few months of our team energy. Mike and I are happy to report All is going really well as we strive for our goals and carry on with our season...
It was really rewarding to work towards and feel a peak performance for my 14th (!) World XC Championships in the Czech Republic in early July. We spent a few weeks prior camped out in the Italian Alps living at elevation - training, resting, eating, focused keeping a balance. Our time in the mountains was a respite from the competitive ring, a necessary re-build after an extensive early season schedule.
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| The soothing sounds of water surrounding us... |
We had finished up the battle for the Olympic selection with the past World Cup races, and I was not selected to go to Rio. I was not disappointed, because the riders chosen earned it. It was definitely exciting to be so closely involved on the race circuit, seeing the incredible levels of fitness and drive... With only 30 women and 50 men in the world selected to represent in Rio, there were some heated battles going on! Depspite near back row starts and traffic, I gave my best efforts, know that 'winning my row' was always a good sign... It was a huge honor to take part in what could easily be a once in a lifetime experience of making the Olympic Long Team pre-selection. It also made me feel really lucky to have already been to the Olympics twice! Mike and I are stoked to have given our best shot at the attempt and remain excited and on the track for all that we have coming up.
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Elevation training in the Italian Alps |
I did, however, make selection to the US National Team for World Championships and was really looking forward to give my best effort. It is always an honor to wear the stars and stripes and especially fun to race in front of such enthusiastic crowds. 50,000 people came to check out the weekend's activities in Nove Mesto! The energy and noise were so loud at times it was a challenge to stay focused! The thrill of racing on such a technically grueling track, are memories I will cherish forever. I gave my best effort moving up from my start position in the fast peloton of the worlds best, eventually finishing 30th.
I was very happy to have a strong performance and good sensation of my top form. To be able to give repeated hard efforts and then be able to recover quickly while riding some crazy technical piece - this is the type of peak fitness we aim for all year!
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| Mike was amazing support all week - dialing my bike, keeping logistics smooth so I could focus on the race. |
I was very happy to have a strong performance and good sensation of my top form. To be able to give repeated hard efforts and then be able to recover quickly while riding some crazy technical piece - this is the type of peak fitness we aim for all year!
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| Burning calories and replenishing... part of the balance! |
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| The lake in Lenzerheide, Switzerland and my Spider 29 by Intense - Kenda Karma Tires |
Despite the searing heat, I enjoyed racing hard on the challenging tracks at the XC World Cup in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. After being caught up in a typical start clog (running bikes down first single track chute, scrambling across rooty lattice into tight switchbacks, riders down, tangled in a pile of bikes and women… I finally got going to find my rhythm on an incredible race track. My Intense Spider Comp 29 soaked up the bumps and I navigated the lines Mike and I carefully practiced all week. I loved the sensation of giving it, flying over the "Lenzerheide Cliff", flowing the trails, digging deep to catch one fast rider at time. Stoked to move up from my initial start loop position (somewhere around 45 to finish all 7 laps in 1:42) to 37th position on the day!
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| Mary McConnleoug. #TeamKENDAintense |
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| Front porch wrenching... a common sight |
I felt a lot of contentment completing these big XC races with good form this season, and excited to bring my fitness to a new arena… I decided join Mike in the Enduro World Series and was really looking forward to learning more about ripping my enduro bike down hills.
Safe and happy trails!
Mary and Mike
Team KENDA - Intense
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| Enjoying an organic Guayaki Yerba Mate shot before World Championships... amazing energy boost!! |
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