Bike riding is not just one of my sports, it's pure passion. I have trained for years and I am still in love with the sport. I trained and trained but I never felt like I quite had my life hobby until I went to my first Velodrome Nationals in Carson, California.

I arrived at the velodrome in Carson, California very excited to ride. The wind was blowing furiously when I stepped out of the plane, but the sun was shining across the asphalt. We went straight out of the airport to the black rental car. We cruised out of the dealership onto the freeway on the way to the Velodrome. When I walked into the building, I took a look around at my surroundings when the euphoria sunk in. The room had banners covering the ceiling and bleachers surrounding the velodrome. I walked around the top of the bleachers trying to visualize my races ahead. I left after this to go meet up with some friends who were also riding at Nationals. Sadly, both of them were in the mens race so I couldn’t talk to them about my race the next day. We went to the hotel around nine and said our goodbyes so we could be rested up for the exciting day ahead of us.

I awoke the next morning with sunlight streaming across my face. The day had begun and so had my nerves. I went to go eat breakfast with my parents which didn’t help with my nerves either. All my parents could talk about was my competition and their standings in the nation. Most of them competed last year so we could look up their standings. Next we left early to go to the Velodrome so I could warm up. When we arrived, the place looked so different. Instead of a deserted velodrome like I saw yesterday, the place was packed with people trying to get ready. When I finally got down to the Velodrome, I instantly found my friends. We had a whole section for the Oregonians. I put my stuff down and got changed into my kit and rode up  to the entrance to the track. The only Velodrome I had ridden on was concrete, but this track is wooden. When I got on the track I instantly felt a difference in the ride. The track felt faster in the turns because of the material, also the handling of the bike was a little more sketchy. Before I knew it I was lost in my thoughts and my coach was yelling at me to get off. Once I did, my own little bubble evaporated and the realization kicked in that I was about to ride my first race. They checked out my bike to see if it had the correct set up and was sent to the the railing to start the race. The next thing I knew, the starting gun going off and the race beginning. The race was 16 laps and I was in a great position. At two laps to go I heard my coach yell at me to start sprinting. So I stood up and sprinted. That lap was the fastest lap I have ridden in my life. Three girls went over me, but the first one went back in the lane. I crossed the finish line with a fourth place. I started to slow down and got off the track when my coach ran up to congratulate me. When I got to my rollers to cool down, a voice went over the overcall, “Hello folks, after further review, the first place fider in the ladies 13-14 race went back into the lane which is illegal so she is getting last in the race.” I looked straight at my coach when I heard this and he informed me that now I got third in the race. My friends started freaking out about my race and were so excited for me. I walked up to the podium and received my third place medal. We left after that with my friends and went to eat. We all did so well that day so we went to the beach to go swimming. We rode the waves for a while and had a good time until we had to go to bed for the next day.

I woke up feeling hopeful. The night before at dinner, my parents were talking to me about standings and what were all the outcomes. I ate breakfast and then left for the second day of racing at the track. I got warmed up quickly and got my bike checked out by the race officials. Once they gave me the all clear to race I migrated to the starting area. My first race of the day was 36 laps which is equivalent to six miles. That may not seem like much, but at the high speed that we were riding at, the whole race was practically a sprint. I got stuck in a bad position for most of the race and was caught in the wind. I finished the race in 8th place. My finishing place was not so bad but if I wanted to get an overall medal than I would need at least a seventh place in my final race. This  race was the one I was most worried about, a two lap sprint. Even the slightest distraction can affect your race time. I started out with an amazing start and a blistering first lap, but my second lap was not as excellent. My hand twitched and that affected my steering and lost me three placings. I ended up with an eighth place. I was devastated because I thought that my chances to medal in the overall podium was gone. I packed up my things and said goodbye to my friends and went to leave. When I was walking towards the exit, they were putting up the results. I told my dad that I wanted to check what placings my friends got because I knew that I lost. So I walked up to the sheet and saw my name in the fifth place spot. I medaled! There was a podium for the overall standings and I was lucky enough to be on it. We left after the cameras disappeared and hung out around California.

My nationals experience changed my life because I learned about how to never give up and do your best. I felt like I didn't do my best in the final race and  I lost my chance to medal, but I didn't want to accept that so I went and checked my standings. We as a society should not give up so easily and should believe in ourselves more. I did my best and I couldn't be happier.