Tours Travel

Vanderkitten Racer Melissa Sanborn – Living the Professional Cyclist’s Dream (Part I)

Dr. KC Wilder: What are some of the best parts of being a cyclist?

Melissa Sanborn: Win. And, the physical form that I gain. The team tactic makes it interesting. The best part about bike racing is that it is very competitive. I feel healthy when I do it. I honestly don’t know how much I really attribute to team tactics being one of the best parts of being a rider. I know it’s something I’m good at and it gives me a sense of accomplishment when I’m at my best.

KC: When you say “competitive,” what do you mean?

MS: Challenging. I like the challenge that I can achieve greatness when it seems unlikely at times. I intend to do something and I don’t like to fall short. Part of the competition is that it keeps making me stronger. I think I’m competitive with myself. There is a kind of internal competition going on.

KC: What is it like to live the lifestyle of a cyclist?

MS: It’s not glamorous. It can be a bit tiring. Sometimes people like to talk about racing and training, and other times it just gets old. People sometimes like to live vicariously through what I do. I feel like I need to work on my patience. My elevator speech. How far do you travel? Do you know Lance? How far is a criterion? Not very lucrative in women’s racing. I receive help with travel, but I am responsible for some of my travel expenses. By winning races and doing well in some races, you can give yourself back a little bit. I’m pretty laid back, so I try to adapt to the situation I find myself in. It’s frustrating to talk about bike racing all the time. It has been a good opportunity for me to travel, see some interesting things and meet wonderful people. And, seeing a cool side of the field. It’s like a job. You go to a town and do your job. You don’t do a lot of sightseeing. It’s a bit lonely sometimes. I miss my family. I feel like I’ve bonded with some of the girls on the team, so it’s nice to have that to look forward to and compete together.

KC: What keeps you motivated on a daily basis?

MS: The lifestyle would change a lot if I was winning bike races. What keeps me going is that one day I will be able to achieve it. I would like to compete in a bigger pro team versus a “young” pro team. That’s what keeps me at it. If they are going to ask me why I run. That’s probably why I run, because I keep thinking I can achieve those goals. When I worked in sales, I was very goal oriented. And, being goal-oriented has carried over to sport. I feel like I’ve had a late start in cycling. I was 27 years old when I started cycling. Although I don’t think age has much to do with it. It’s athleticism, willpower, drive, passion. It really is about the willpower to achieve those dreams. I think there is a lot of self-sabotage that happens in sports. I see it in my clients, and sometimes I see it in myself. There are several good riders who are still in their 40s. I still think about the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. I mainly take it year after year. Last year was horrible because I was sick. This year, I’m healthy and now I just need to get some results. It is very important in racing not to let your mind wander. And, to take risks.

To be continued… (see Part II).

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