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Back to square one

3/26/2020

I’m written this blog from my home in Denmark, on a Thursday in the end of March, under normal circumstances this would probably be a post-race blog from my experiences between the tape. But this is very much not normal circumstances.

Where to start? I haven’t been sure about what I wanted to write and how to write it, in the right way. Because suddenly my little sport world seemed so insignificant. And to be clear - right now it is. But on the other hand, this is my blog, this is my thoughts, my little world. So without negleting the health crisis we are facing right now, I think it’s okay to address how it feels from a perspective of an Olympic chaser?

I told them it felt like a Ludo game. My game was going super well, the little red token had almost cleared all the squares on the way and was just waiting for the final turn before entering the ‘house’ (aka. olympics).

So much has happened over the past weeks, that my brain has been under a serious overload. It has been filled with uncertainty. And one thing, that can make our brain go nuts, is when we can’t predict what will happen next.
I have had sometime to swallow the disappointments of cancelled races, events, camps etc. and yesterday the big O. Every day on the bike for the past many months I have been thinking about the Olympics, how to get there and how to ride my fastest there.

Now that goal is gone.
Or that’s not entirely true. It’s just on hold.
Seeing it with the positive eyes, it’s one more year to get better, stronger and faster. Seeing it with less posit.. no wait. Let’s not even go there. Because you know what? This was out of my control. And if I know something important about sport, it’s to control what you can and let the rest to itself.

It’s hard to put the right words to describe the feeling, but yesterday when I tried to explain my parents, I told them it felt like a Ludo game. My game was going super well, the little red token had almost cleared all the squares on the way and was just waiting for the final turn before entering the ‘house’ (aka. olympics). And then out of nowhere one of the other players (corona) hits my token and sends me all they way back to my yard, in the game. Got damn it! You almost smelled the ‘house’ and suddenly you are back to square one.

It might sound silly, but it’s the true feeling. It’s frustrating, awfully unlucky, but it’s a part of the game, and there is nothing else to do than keep rolling the die and work your way back towards the ‘house’ again.

So that’s what I try to do. Because one thing is for sure, you will never get there if you give up now.

/Malene

there is nothing else to do than keep rolling the die and work your way back towards the ‘house’ again.

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A plan

2/23/2020

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My race pace doesn’t come to me like amazon prime (In a joking mood huh?), it takes more than one race to get where I want to be. And that’s okay. That’s actually just how I want it to be.

Team KMC Orbea

I have never really understood how some riders can just be freakin’ flying straight from the first start line of the year. I have so much respect for it, because it’s hard for me to do. I’m firm believer of goal-setting and I do everything I can to be prime on the days of my goals, that everything else becomes steps on the way. It’s really about progress and timing for me. Mediterranean Epic and Banyoles was the perfect start into my season, seen with my eyes. At the 4-days stage race (Med-Epic) I felt strong all 4 days, felt good on my bike and had 4 super consistent days. Grabbing 60 points too (7th overall). Coming home from the race with a lot of high-pace training in the bank, couldn’t have replicated that by myself in training.

I had 5 days to recover from the last stage at Med-Epic to the xco race in Banyoles. I spent the days filming at home with Orbea (video will be out on their youtube channel in the spring), and then off to Banyoles to see the course and try to find some race-legs again. Filming is fun, but also tough (especially when you just did 4 days with a 1000tss!), but I dedicated my days fully to the project and tried to recovery as good as possible between the video sessions (10hours sleep + 30 minute naps!).
I hope you will like it, when it goes live.

Banyoles Race Report

I arrived to Banyoles Thursday evening and went straight on the course, trying to find a good setup.
It’s the time of the year where my team meets for the first time, and it felt good to get started with the whole crew. Last year I rode the Oiz (fullsuspension), but this year I was determined to ride the Alma (Hard Tail). I have some goal races later this season where I might want to use the hardtail, so I saw this race as a good opportunity to test it out. I think it’s important always to have a couple of smaller goals for each race. Hydration, bike set up etc etc! (Plus the color just makes you want to ride it!!)
As the race started I immediately felt how other rider’s legs just where spinning faster and more powerful than mine, so I thought; how do I get the most out of this?

saw 30 minutes and thought well that’s 60 minutes left to get faster.

After the start loop the pace settled a bit and I found myself around 25th postion. Okay I do not have a lot of speed in my legs yet, but how do I manage, what I have, the smartest? I looked down at my Garmin, saw 30 minutes, and thought well that’s 60 minutes left to get faster. Each lap I felt better and better. Like the body remembered the feeling of xco. It’s brutal on the body to be honest! As the time went by I kept on counting down the minutes where I could get faster.
It was not about finishing it was about spending each minute I had left to get faster. Ride smoother, smarter, stronger.
And doing those 60 minutes my plan worked, I worked my way up and finished with a strong last lap, spending every last bit I had left, to take home 17th spot.
17th? Well yea that doesn’t sound all glamours. But to be honest I was proud of myself out there. The field of ladies was a tough cookie, but I really felt like the race made me better and better as it went on.

KMC chain

So what can I take home? The winter-base is there, time was not a problem yesterday, the high end pace was the trouble maker. And that, that will come. And for the Hardtail? Alma is a fast girl, noted.

There is a plan, so let’s just follow it and trust the progress?

/M

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Self awareness

1/28/2020

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Self-awareness
noun

Conscious knowledge of one’s own character and feelings.

That’s one of the words I have written in my journal with capital letters. I have to remember that. It is a word on my list of “To Do’s” in 2020. Listen more. Listen more to what my body is telling me, instead of being too obsessed with the ‘tick-all-the-boxes’ style. Being better at doing what feels right.

I saw a patten over the past year, that have made me realize, that I havn’t really always been honest with myself, which has caused me various of problems. So I thought that if I could change something in my behavior, I would see improvements and most importantly be a happier Malene.

That’s all easy to say, but to do? Well, more of a challenge.

When I woke up Sunday morning I wasn’t feeling particular fresh or eager to train (an easy endurance ride was planned). Not even a good morning coffee could get me pumped.

It’s not so easy to stop and feel. How am I today? What decisions can I take today that will bring me closer to my goal tomorrow?
My January training has been going great, 3 continuous weeks of work, a week of rest and now back to work. In my week of rest I joined the national team camp, in the Calpe area, for 4 days. So out of the 7 days, doing that week, I had 2 harder rides with the DK-team. It felt good to ride with the group I know so well, and catch up. Maybe it wasn’t ideal to do a trip in the middle of the week where I was supposed to rest up, but on the other hand maybe that was perfectly ideal?
I came home Saturday late in the afternoon, did the grocery and went to bed. When I woke up Sunday morning I wasn’t feeling particular fresh or eager to train (an easy endurance ride was planned). Not even a good morning coffee could get me pumped.

So I decided to listen.
How am I today? I’m a bit tired honestly.
What was the purpose of this week? The intention was to rest and feel ready for another block of training.
If the intention was to rest up, and I don’t feel fresh to go for this ride. Maybe the best decision, that will get me closer to my goals, is to skip today?
I ended up walking 2 hours in the forest instead, cleaning trails.

So when my I looked back at my week Sunday evening and reflected on it, a smile formed on my face. What a nice week. Seeing the national team, train with them, laugh with them, and then complete the week with sticking to one of my goals. Being more aware of, me.

When Monday came around I felt eager to get back at it.

Now January is almost over and I’m proud that doing the first month of the year I sticked to one of my own resolutions. I actually listened. Jay me :)

/Malene

Sponsor Orbea:

P.S. This goal was also something I spoke with Orbea about earlier this year. If you want to become a Orbea Ambassador read on;

"To find my goals for 2020 I have to look back at the previous year’s ups and downs. What can I change to get better? How can I challenge myself? 2019 was in many ways an insane year for me. From World Cup podiums to injuries.
So I have decided that in 20’ I want to have more mental awareness. Listen more to myself. Ask myself every day ‘how are you, Malene?’.
I think a more mindful approach to my 2020 will take me far. And will be a part of what can lead me to the big Olympic dream"

If you share your challenge with Orbea, you can become Orbea Ambassador for the 2020! You can submit here: https://a.cstmapp.com/p/883160?lc=fremicro1

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