MSLA XC, Pro XCT C2-Missoula, MT

Missoula is where this all started.

When I tried my first UCI race 2 years ago at Marshall Mountain, it was exactly that: I was just going to try one race at that level and maybe never do it again. I knew it was completely beyond my training and comfort level but just couldn't resist the temptation to see what might happen.

Lining up with the riders I'd read about in Mountain Bike Action or watched on Red Bull TV for the World Cup circuit was more than I could comprehend, and perhaps to a fault at times, I LOVE a challenge.

At that point, I wasn't all that sure where I wanted to go with mountain biking. It had rekindled my love for training and my desire to strive for improvement, but I figured my time in competitive sports had come and gone. In college I had been recruited to play Division 3 Ice Hockey, a sport that I had loved dearly until it began to take more than it gave.

Bikes on the other hand, were becoming increasingly fun and had become a breath of fresh air when my life needed it most. I made myself a promise at that point: If bikes ever stopped being fun, the racing was over. I wasn't going to lose my favorite passion to staleness or overwhelming expectations. So I jumped into the deep end that day- and man, am I glad I did.

Something else about Missoula though, its a place that I can never seem to spend enough time exploring. This time we had the lucky fortune of staying at the Missoula KOA campground- I've developed a particular fondness for these clean and family oriented campgrounds. We even splurged and opted to stay in one of the cabins (only about $50 per night) with access to a pool, hot tub, showers, electricity, fire pits and friendly campground hosts everywhere you turned. For dinner we cooked in but made a point to stop by Blackcoffee Roasters for their amazing roast selections and toast. No really, their toast is worth a stop, all on its own (just ask my husband.)

With a heavy winter throughout the West, the rivers were barely lower than flood stage; a veritable tragedy for my husband and I (who are avid fly fishermen). We managed to console ourselves by counting local fly shops (although we stopped after hitting double digits) and reading about the local Blue Ribbon waters that surround the valley. It is safe to say that we need to return in order to better inform you of Missoula's bountiful and scenic trout waters.

This year, my goals for Missoula were pretty straightforward: (1) Don't crash (2) Try to hold a steady position. My rib cage is still a bit creaky from my glorious OTB (over the bars) and "through the meadows" tumble last year, and as Race director Ben Horan puts it, “MSLA is always a real test of where you are at on any given year” so I simply hoped to better my result from last season and hold on to some freshness in my legs for the short track the following morning.

​Race day brought us a brief mountain rain storm, followed by sunshine just in time for the Pro Women's staging. It was so powerful to see familiar faces, family and dear friends to either side of me as we waited for the whistle to send us off- a big reminder that our racing community is a family. We look out for each other, encourage each other (even on course!) and respect the journey that each of us have opted to embark upon, regardless of destination.

Racing is the reward for all of the hard work that we (and our families and support teams) put in over the course of a season. It sets you free from your thoughts, and is SO INCREDIBLY HARD that nothing else in the world can penetrate your mind, except maybe a crash. That in itself is a kind of absolute freedom, and is extremely hard to find anywhere else. What better way to celebrate that kind of experience than to share it with others who are passionate about the same pursuit?

In the end, the XC race was a solid one for me; I've found a new spot further up in the field this season but continue to sit just outside the top 10. This year has been a very different experience for me, and I am constantly learning how to deepen my appreciation for what real patience actually involves (hint: its not just waiting for all of your dreams to happen in one season.) One good winter can make great improvements for a rider, but it will take more than a few of those to assemble the skills, endurance and experience necessary to create a World-Class rider. With that being said, I'm already SO EXCITED for this winter and next spring.

Much love to my husband, family and support crew for helping make this journey possible!!
If you happen to be traveling to the Oregon Coast during this GORGEOUS summer weather, please stop in at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort for Chef's amazing oyster bar or check out their summer deals for the beach side accommodations.

Stay tuned for Angel Fire!!

XOXO,
Fairlee

Photo: Kenny Wehn

Rose Grant's sweet new antlers

Huckleberry Lemonade from the Lochsa Lodge

Home sweet home for the weekend at KOA Missoula