The bike is where I find myself. Once I clip into the peddles it becomes a time where I can reflect for hours at a time with no worry's or distractions, just the road and myself. Cycling has been a passion of mine since the seventh grade. I am a very competitive person and racing came naturally to me. As I became more of a cycling enthusiast I set goals and challenged myself to the fullest. My ambitions became very rigorous and more time consuming. Last season my goal was to be a top five junior in the nation and racing at the World Championships in France and to do this it was time to get serious.
             Since my objectives where so demanding I worked on a schedule for weeks that would prepare me for the task ahead. I remember sitting down with my coach and him telling me to keep on track of the program, don't do more and don't do less and your vision will become reality. I began my training fairly easy with simple rides and gym exercises that would prepare my body for the races to come. I began to feeling stronger every week, but my motivation strived for more. Soon enough 18 hours a week wasn't enough and I need 22 hours a week. The goal became a fixation where sacrificing anything else was not a problem. I gave up lunches with friends and consumed health bars on my bike to fit that extra hour in. I didn't go on family vacations and instead went to cycling training facilities. My day consisted of School in the morning, the bike till sun down and homework till I could not keep my eyes open any longer. I focused on two things the bike and school, I had a one track mind. I felt strong , too strong , too early and that's when I hit a wall.
             My body could not take hour after hour in the pouring rain, it could not take the absence of friends, and instead of moving forward I began to move backwards. I began to suffer aquiles tendonitis in my left leg. I took two weeks off and some how av...