Sometimes life takes you on a new path and you leave behind your dreams and aspirations. This is what happened to me.
I married young at 19 years. I realised 9 weeks later that I had made a terrible mistake and courageously packed up and left with the help of my parents. Suddenly a big gap was created in my life, a marriage disaster and lots of time on my hands.
However, being a positive person I needed to channel my energy into something constructive and started riding a road bike that I found in my father’s garage. It was November 1983, and I couldn’t wait to get home from work and go riding in the warm summer evenings. As the weeks went past, I became slimmer, fitter, and faster, it was such a wonderful feeling. I did some competitive cycling at school and would often ride past the velodrome and watch the track racing. I wished I was good enough to ride as I loved the speed and being competitive. When I got home and I would visualise myself racing around the track.
I have always believed, that “when you focus on what you want, you attract it.” During one of my visit’s to the velodrome, one of the guy’s offered to lend me a track bike, and NZ top cycling coach at the time, Max Vertongen offered to train me. Four months later, in February 1984, I became track cycling National Women’s Sprint Champion.
Over the next three years, I had varying success. I was selected to represent New Zealand at the Australian Games where I won gold. However, it was a struggle to train and I had a mortgage and worked full time. I found training after work in the dark during winter a daunting challenge. I learnt that my specialist sprint event was not being included in the Commonwealth Games and decided to retire from the sport at 22 years.
Life continued and exercising and keeping fit was part of my lifestyle. However, deep down, I loved to compete, race, and challenge myself, and exercising without a competitive purpose was not overly fulfilling.
At age 27 years, I decided to make a come back, and after limited training, placed second in the NZ National Track Cycling Championships, women’s sprint and was selected for a NZ team. However, four months later, my much loved Dad who did everything for me, was killed when warming up for bike race. I decided to end my involvement with the sport.
But, at age 40 the competitive desire was still burning inside. Living in New Plymouth at the time, I thought I would train for a triathlon. As part of my preparation I entered some local cycling club races. A casual remark from a female club member put me back on a serious cycling path. She zoomed pass me in a race and said “how she felt sorry for how slow I was riding up the hill”. That was all I needed to hear. Later that year (2004), I won the National Women’s Road Cycling Championship 35-44 years and successfully defended my title in 2005.
I married young at 19 years. I realised 9 weeks later that I had made a terrible mistake and courageously packed up and left with the help of my parents. Suddenly a big gap was created in my life, a marriage disaster and lots of time on my hands.
However, being a positive person I needed to channel my energy into something constructive and started riding a road bike that I found in my father’s garage. It was November 1983, and I couldn’t wait to get home from work and go riding in the warm summer evenings. As the weeks went past, I became slimmer, fitter, and faster, it was such a wonderful feeling. I did some competitive cycling at school and would often ride past the velodrome and watch the track racing. I wished I was good enough to ride as I loved the speed and being competitive. When I got home and I would visualise myself racing around the track.
I have always believed, that “when you focus on what you want, you attract it.” During one of my visit’s to the velodrome, one of the guy’s offered to lend me a track bike, and NZ top cycling coach at the time, Max Vertongen offered to train me. Four months later, in February 1984, I became track cycling National Women’s Sprint Champion.
Over the next three years, I had varying success. I was selected to represent New Zealand at the Australian Games where I won gold. However, it was a struggle to train and I had a mortgage and worked full time. I found training after work in the dark during winter a daunting challenge. I learnt that my specialist sprint event was not being included in the Commonwealth Games and decided to retire from the sport at 22 years.
Life continued and exercising and keeping fit was part of my lifestyle. However, deep down, I loved to compete, race, and challenge myself, and exercising without a competitive purpose was not overly fulfilling.
At age 27 years, I decided to make a come back, and after limited training, placed second in the NZ National Track Cycling Championships, women’s sprint and was selected for a NZ team. However, four months later, my much loved Dad who did everything for me, was killed when warming up for bike race. I decided to end my involvement with the sport.
But, at age 40 the competitive desire was still burning inside. Living in New Plymouth at the time, I thought I would train for a triathlon. As part of my preparation I entered some local cycling club races. A casual remark from a female club member put me back on a serious cycling path. She zoomed pass me in a race and said “how she felt sorry for how slow I was riding up the hill”. That was all I needed to hear. Later that year (2004), I won the National Women’s Road Cycling Championship 35-44 years and successfully defended my title in 2005.
However, my love of track cycling was still burning away inside. Once again, the principal of “when you focus on what you want, you attract what you need to make it happen” occurred. My wonderful husband Rory said, “Why don’t you give the track ago again.” I said, “Don’t be ridiculous, we live 160kms away from the nearest velodrome.” Two weeks later I was the owner of a second hand track bike (the same model I was riding 20 years prior!), and we made the two hour return journey to the Wanganui velodrome to train and compete each week. At first I worried about making a fool of myself, and I was absolutely terrified riding around a steeply banked track, but with time I made the breakthrough. Being an “out of towner and an older female” I was so appreciative of the support, encouragement and received from the Wanganui club track guys.
Three years later in October 2007, I entered and competed at the UCI World Masters Track Cycling Championships in Sydney. I absolutely loved every moment of my preparation. Being a speed cyclist I spent a lot of time in the gym. Focusing on the big picture, I attracted all the right people and circumstances into my life. My husband, son, and I moved to Palmerston North and I started working at the Massey University gym. Early morning starts and a mid-day finish allowed me time to train in the afternoons before my son finished school. I worked with Christchurch based cycling coach, Hamish Ferguson, for 12 months and at 43 years he helped me achieve faster times in training than when I was riding 22 years ago. For me, this was such a personally satisfying achievement that whatever happened at the World Masters would be a bonus.
As well as physical training, I put a lot of focus into my mental preparation. It all came together perfectly, when I achieved the big win becoming the UCI World Masters Women’s World Scratch Race Champion 30- 44 years, beating former Olympic and Commonwealth games riders many years younger than me. Success also came with two silver medals in the Sprint and Pursuit and bronze in the Time Trial.
Success isn’t a solo journey. My win wouldn’t have been possible without the love, time and support from my husband Rory. Many others who contributed with their time, support, comments and suggestions that made a difference. Challenging yourself to be the best you can be, I believe is one of the most fulfilling ways to live your life!
Three years later in October 2007, I entered and competed at the UCI World Masters Track Cycling Championships in Sydney. I absolutely loved every moment of my preparation. Being a speed cyclist I spent a lot of time in the gym. Focusing on the big picture, I attracted all the right people and circumstances into my life. My husband, son, and I moved to Palmerston North and I started working at the Massey University gym. Early morning starts and a mid-day finish allowed me time to train in the afternoons before my son finished school. I worked with Christchurch based cycling coach, Hamish Ferguson, for 12 months and at 43 years he helped me achieve faster times in training than when I was riding 22 years ago. For me, this was such a personally satisfying achievement that whatever happened at the World Masters would be a bonus.
As well as physical training, I put a lot of focus into my mental preparation. It all came together perfectly, when I achieved the big win becoming the UCI World Masters Women’s World Scratch Race Champion 30- 44 years, beating former Olympic and Commonwealth games riders many years younger than me. Success also came with two silver medals in the Sprint and Pursuit and bronze in the Time Trial.
Success isn’t a solo journey. My win wouldn’t have been possible without the love, time and support from my husband Rory. Many others who contributed with their time, support, comments and suggestions that made a difference. Challenging yourself to be the best you can be, I believe is one of the most fulfilling ways to live your life!
For anyone who wants to reunite their sporting desire, it’s never too late. In 2008 the World Masters Track Championships will again be based in Sydney 14th-18th October 2008 and in 2009 the World Master’s Games are in Sydney featuring 26 sports.
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