Athlete Biography

Athlete Bio

My first sport had absolutely nothing to do with a bicycle (though the lycra/spandex was similar). I grew up as a figure skater, competing as an amateur from ages 11 to 22. While I made it to the senior level, I wasn’t quite headed for Olympic glory.  In 1997, I turned professional and toured with Ice Capades, Holiday on Ice and Hollywood on Ice after college.  That was interesting. (See book for details).

In high school, I ran cross country in addition to figure skating. I was recruited to run at Division 1 Colgate University, but then ended up on the rowing team instead. I fell in love with rowing, and for a year after the skating tours ended I rowed with the US Lightweight Development Team.  That was a very hungry summer.

In 1998, I began graduate school in Tucson at the University of Arizona. There was no water to row on, and I’d done what I wanted to do in skating, so I looked for a new sport. I joined the UA Tricats triathlon club and quickly succumbed to the endurance lifestyle. After six years as an amateur triathlete, I turned professional and moved to Boulder and Nederland, CO.   I am still missing brain cells from living/training at 8600 feet. During that time, my first book ALL THE SUNDAYS YET TO COME was published by Little, Brown. I guess I still had some brain cells left. But not many.

In 2006, I was given an assignment from ESPN to spend the next two years trying to get to the Beijing Olympic Games.   It quickly became apparent that my best shot was not going to be in triathlon nor any other “fringe” sport, and that cycling was my best shot… that was my strongest discipline in triathlon.  Road cycling, however, is not just about pedaling a bike. There are precisely 7.6 million things to learn in addition to pedaling. I had eighteen months to try to learn it all.  I really needed those missing brain cells. I moved back to Tucson, AZ to train year round with some incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and talented cyclists. They taught me at least 7.5 million things.

In 2007, I “catted up” through cycling’s ranks (Cat 4 to Pro/1) in nine strenuous months.  That was one hell of a pregnancy.  I acquired dual citizenship with St. Kitts and Nevis to race for their country. That is a very long story, best explained in AS GOOD AS GOLD. In 2008, I hit the UCI cycling circuit in an attempt to gain Olympic points. This is where I learned the other .1 million things I needed to know about women’s pro cycling. For example, one hundred international women vying for the same goal will rip out your intestines and make you better all at the same time. For six weeks, I traveled from China to Venezuela to Uruguay to El Salvador in pursuit of my Olympic dreams. In the end, I fell short. The Beijing Games went on with out me. Alas. London 2012, however, is a whole new ballgame.

In 2010 & 2011, I will be racing with the elite team Trisports Cycling/Eclipse Racing out of Tucson, AZ. I will continue to represent St. Kitts and Nevis on the international circuit.  Check out my race calendar and please come say hello if you see me at a race. If you do approach me postrace, you might have to remind me of my own name as well as yours. This cycling stuff really takes it out of a body.  And apparently my mind.

Pre-race meeting with my Trisports Cycling team at the 2010 Tour of the Gila.