The Bud Harris Oval in Pittsburgh, PA was one of the biggest training opportunities for me in the past few years. My mom would pick me up from school every Tuesday, starting when I was ten, and drive me there to gain valuable experience. I was always the smallest and youngest junior that participated and I was very intimidated. Luckily, I can say that the women there were very welcoming and they supported me by giving tips and being courteous. I want to give a big thanks to not only the women, but the officials and the marshals. When I first started racing there, I remember a marshal would always ride with me, tell me what gear to be in, give me a little push, and be super helpful. I learned how to be safe when riding in the pack and common strategies of a criterium. I got lapped multiple times in the beginning and slowly progressed each year. When I could finally hang onto the women and older juniors, I was able to actually be a contender. I continued to get stronger and think strategically. The third year was an amazing breakthrough. I was able to break away from the pack with a few of the other juniors and hold my own. When I look back, I can't believe how far I've come. I decided to sign up for a series pass and commit to an hour and a half drive after school every single Tuesday. With serious determination, I ended up as the women's overall series winner! After such a big accomplishment, I went back this year and entered the men's C race. I had no idea what to expect. At one point, the pack was holding an average speed of twenty five plus miles per hour for thirty eight laps and I actually held on. I wasn't a contender on the last lap but staying in the pack was an accomplishment all in its own. A big thanks to Pittsburgh for all of your support!
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