We'll get around to how training on Zwift has myriad benefits, but first, it's relevant to point out that I took up Masters alpine ski racing two years ago at the age of 51. During the first year after I met my husband, I would go to watch him race and volunteer in different roles at the races we would travel to in our van. But if you grew up with a competitive spirit, you understand that it is pretty much engrained in your soul, and standing on the sidelines is not your thing. Are you with me?

This was my second season jumping into races here and there, making my way down the course—turn left, turn right, red, blue, red, blue—don't fall down was my mantra. I starting skiing at the age of three and grew up skiing in Colorado. I've always thought of myself as a pretty darn good skier, yet as I'm slowly progressing in the sport of ski racing—I wish I had grown up in the gates because I want to go faster and I want to win!

The...

A tasty nutritious recipe! You can customize to your taste with seeds and berries of your choice! @karenmalkinhealth SUPERFOOD SMOOTHIE

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients: 10 ounces of cold filtered water

2 scoops Vegan Protein Blend Vanilla

1 teaspoon raw cacao nibs

1 tablespoon goji berries

1/2 teaspoon maca powder

2 tablespoons Karen’s Superseed Medley (hemp seed, chia seed, ground flaxseed)

1/4 raw red beet cut up

1/2 cup frozen organic mixed berries or frozen fruit of your choice

1 handful raw dark leafy greens such as spinach or kale

1 tablespoon MCT Lean MCT Oil or coconut oil Ice as needed

Directions: 1. Using a Vitamix or high power blender, add 2 scoops MCT Lean Vegan protein blend to 10 ounces of cold water and blend.

2. Add cacao nibs, goji berries, maca, Karen’s Superseed medley and blend for about 1 minute.

3. Add beets, greens, frozen berries, MCT Lean MCT oil (or coconut oil), and blend.

4. Enjoy! 

JOIN HALEY BATTEN'S HUB

Seek excellence with Haley on her journey to Paris. HALEY'S HUB is built to create a shared learning space for young athletes to help them go beyond the “norm” in racing and life. We will explore what it takes off-the-bike to prepare for big goals and have a whole lot of fun along the way.

• Monthly Zoom chats with Haley’s HUB
• Communication platform too ask questions and engage with the HUB
• Focus on “off-the-bike” preparation by discussing three realms: BIKE, BODY, and BRAIN. 
• Learn from specialists as we discuss a range of topics - from fueling strategies to school scholarships.
• Create community in a shared mission to seek excellence.

We are launching this new KX3 offering this week!  

What an incredible CAPE EPIC race for our KX3 athlete/coach Haley Batten and her teammate Sofia Gomez Villafane and their Specialized team! 

Congratulations to Haley's coach, Kristin Armstrong for excellent preparation! 

After eight grueling days the tough pair won the overall Cape Epic and several stages!  Race report coming soon! 

Enjoy a few images from Michal Cerveny

The Absa Cape Epic’s route is one of life’s ever-changing constants. No two editions, in the race’s 19-year history, have been the same and that tradition holds true for the 2022 edition of the Untamed African MTB Race. In 2022, the challenge begins in Lourensford Wine Estate, before traversing the Hottentots Holland Mountains to Elandskloof. After two stages of rugged riding on the trails of Greyton, the race heads towards the mountain biking mecca of Stellenbosch. 681-kilometres and 16 900-metres of climbing after setting off from Lourensford, the Absa Cape Epic...

Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY24 athlete Marlies Mejias Garcia took a solid victory at the GF Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. With over 1,000 competitors Marlies finished 1st woman and was 17th overall. She will head to the USA soon to compete with her teammates in Speedweek and Arlington weekend.

Marlies is coached by KX3 Lifestyle and Coaching co-founder, Nicola Cranmer 

"Tough race for me during last weekend’s UCI Esports World Championships on Zwift Never have I suffered more during a race. At least I had the best cheer squad! Also was super stoked to see 3 USA teammates in the top 10. Feeling incredibly humbled and thankful to have had another opportunity to represent the U.S. We’ll try again next year."- Shayna Powless (KX3 Athlete L39ion of LA athlete) 

Valley of the Sun was my first race of the season and with the team. After the tt Melisa one of my teammates (and also a KX3 athlete coached by Coach Emma White) was in first and so the juniors were tasked with keeping her in the GC. We got to work as a team (not perfectly of course) to try and bring back some attacks in the road race. The crit was where we got to do more stuff. Most of the juniors had specific jobs and mine was to attack whenever I could. I had so much fun in this race I got to attack around seven ish times, not all of them were good attacks but they were still helpful. I’m the end thanks to my other teammates also doing their jobs well and Melisa’s hard work we finished with her still at the top of the gc! Overall a pretty successful race with a lot of firsts." - Mahika Peterson, KX3 Athlete

Mahika is coached by Coach Kaitie Keough