Big Sky Biggie 2022, Big Sky, Montana 8/27/22!
by Christine Curtain
So… when the day finally comes, Race Day that is, there are so many things to feel. Excitement, nerves, anticipation, hopefulness, and self-doubt just to name a few. And, when you have been doing this long enough, you know that A + B doesn’t always equal the C that you first set out to achieve!
Christine Finishing the Big Sky Biggie MTB Race in 2022
We prep with some of the most methodical, well executed training plans that are coupled with the most calculated nutrition plans to reach our goals. They are chock full of miles and miles of training, speed work, and even (gasp) rest days. And along with a diet of complex carbs, lean protein, salt tabs and water bottles prepped better than the best science experiment out there, how could we go wrong? We get up early to get those miles in, we opt out of some late-night shenanigans to eliminate the snooze button from our training mornings, and we do all of this because these races and the training that goes into them is how we do our best to achieve our goal. And, that is fantastic, goals are a requirement for some of us, but the reality, at least for me, is that I train with all the above being best case, but sometimes real life turns those training plans sideways or even upside down. And although it has taken me a while to arrive here, I wouldn’t want it any other way!
This takes me to the Big Sky Biggie on 8/27/22 in Big Sky, Montana. A 30/60 mile mountain bike race with no gravel, no road…. just singletrack that starts at 7,000+ft and goes up from there! This was my A race after I didn’t get into the Leadville 100. I was focused, had a very solid spring, and was going to train for the 60 with a vengeance. Flash forward… August arrives, and real life had its way with me. Kid stuff, job changes and the start of my career as an empty nester with two kids off to college for the first time at the same time! Needless to say training wasn’t exactly on the front burner physically or mentally. But here is where the good stuff comes in.
Entering a race when you aren’t totally ready does a number on the body, mind, and the ego (see paragraph 1). We start convincing ourselves that we will be fine one minute until the next when we are convinced, we have never been less fit and ask ourselves why we even do this stuff anymore. We want to go out there because its where we feel most alive, but we don’t because we know we will not post the time, achieve the mph average, or land on the podium like we planned to. But we should… we should show up because guess what? The “average mph” doesn’t matter, where you landed amongst your peers doesn’t matter, and the podium doesn’t matter. What matters is, amid this crazy life with jobs relationships and family, triumph and tragedy, this is our constant. This is something that makes us tick, with people that are your “people”, and it reminds you that you are alive, and that far exceeds the less than “before” average on Strava, the potential non-place on the podium, and the short-term accolades and recognition that may or may not come. But over and above all of that, what I was reminded of in Big Sky on that race day is that it’s the people, the atmosphere, the scenery, the sweet feeling on the other side of suffering, and the reminder that all of this fills me up. It made me grateful. Grateful that I share my life with someone who gets all of this and understands that this is a part of me. Grateful that I have kids who understand and respect what I love. It was a good bit before they realized getting up at the crack of dawn to get miles in wasn’t a normal mom thing and then figured out that it was way smarter to ask for what they wanted after a workout vs before. Grateful for the emotions that being in this world of endurance events has kept me feeling… joy, struggle, anxiety, elation, defeat, humility, and accomplishment. But mostly, I am thankful for the many people that I have had the privilege of crossing paths with along the way which will never go away, no matter where your name sits on the results sheet. #keepadventuring