COLORADO SPRINGS — Some of the mountain bike racers at the Pikes Peak APEX are proving age does not limit ability to compete.
“I think it's encouraging for women to know that I'm racing at age 72,” said APEX racer, Charlotte Miller.
Experience in racing comes with time and when you have been racing for decades experience grows into wisdom.
“When I began racing, there was no such thing as women as pros,” said Miller.
That was in the 1980s.
Now in 2024 qt the Pikes Peak APEX women and men share the same courses for the three-day mountain bike race.
Miller has finished previous APEX races.
“The fact that it's in my backyard makes me eager to get out and prove to myself that I can still ride these trails.
She likes mountain bike racing because it keeps both body and mind fit.
“It requires such intentional focus in order to navigate through the single tracks.”
Each course is studied.
On the downhills she will be cautious.
The uphill sections are her strength.
“I love to climb. So each of these courses has a significant amount of climbing,” said Miller, “Over the three days, we'll be putting in 61 to 62 miles.”
Experience in racing comes with time and when you have been racing for decades experience grows into wisdom.
To first timers and the young up-and-comers the long time racer offers advice.
“They might be nervous. And nerves is good, as long as you put those nerves forward into the race and stay positive.”
There is competing against other racers and then there is Miller’s approach--she want to beat her own times from previous races.
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