I came back for redemption. For revenge. For solace and solitude. To embrace whatever those Flint Hills wanted to give. I came back to Unbound XL in search of me. To find my smile, buried deep in the mud of years past. I came back because I love it here, and I needed a patch for the mile 275 DNF scar on my heart. My Kansas riding has been a metaphor for life. Riding the ups and downs. The highs and lows. The successes and failures. The boredom in the mundane and the excitement in that too. As I have said before, Kansas has my heart, and once you give yourself fully, it becomes effortless.

Nine months. I feel like I've gone through a gamut of emotions this year, sorta like my own version of a pregnancy {although I'll never experience this, nor do I intend to compare my challenges to that of mothers.} January feels oh so far away. The excitement and anticipation of a full season, a coach, team, and opportunity seems like it was given to me forever ago. I've reflected a bunch this season, and feel forever grateful for all who have taken me in and called me one of their own. Velosmith, Burnham, Chicago Women's Elite.