Onward, forward and everything in between?

Today it feels like I’m turning a page. Like finishing a chapter of the season 23’ book. Yesterday’s race in Marseille marked a finish to my early race season. 6th start lines in the past 2 month. Some ups, some downs, good sensations, bad sensations, good luck, bad luck, and everything in between.

@kenoderleyn

I wanted some of the races to go better than they did, but it’s okay - that it sometimes takes more time than I thought. Which made me want to write about progress.
The cycle of the year, as a cyclist, has this flow to it. We reset in the off season, building  fitness over the winter, gaining race fitness in the spring, and then we are ready to go when the World Cup season arrives over the summer.

​It’s easy to get caught up in moment and let every race weekend affect you instead of seeing the bigger picture – the progress. But what is progress anyway? The dictionary says it’s about “onward and forward towards a destination, advancing and improving”.
I’m still building my race form towards Nove Mesto, which is 7 weeks away, so I’m quite deep into the ‘trust the progress’ mantra.

Yesterday I raced in Marseille, France, a HC race with a stack field. Nice test of myself against the fastest women in the world, a little peak into where am at, and what’s still missing. I did 4 consistent laps riding the 10th fastest lap times and finished 10th in the end as well. I always want more, who doesn’t?
On the other hand, I’m also quite happy where am at in March, this season is super long and if want to be sharp all the way to Sep-Okt, I need to time it. I don’t have this superhero body that’s just a machine out there, I can be on occasions, but yea timing ;-)

It’s not what you look at that matters, but what you see.

​I think it was my best race in Marseille, I ever rode, the Lapierre ate the rocks so nicely and I had no mechanicals, just a steady smooth ride. When I looked down on my handlebar and saw the start number 3, it assured me, hi Malene you got this!
It’s not what you look at that matters, but what you see.
Another saying contributing into the progress theme I got going here.  

@antoine.kopyto

So, what now? Today I’m flying home to Copenhagen. The original flight got cancelled, so I got rewarded with a little tour around Europe, checking out Vienna airport for some hours before I can hit my own bed tonight. But hey, plenty of time to write a blog then!
Over the next month focus is on everything above^, step by step we get closer to the targets.
 
And please, could the spring weather also arrive in Denmark soon? Is it too much to ask for... 
 
Xoxo