For the past two years, I was racing my bike full-time until last October, when I made a big transition in my life. I got into nursing school (starting in September 2026), and I began working part-time at a local Trek dealer.
Reflecting on My Last Year of Training & Racing Like a Full-Time Pro
Towards the end of April, I was finishing up a big racing block, ending with a great result at BWR. I was starting to fire up my training for one of the biggest gravel races in the world: Unbound. I had been thinking about the race since I was selected for the lottery last year.
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My Experience Racing 3 Weeks Back To Back
April was a very busy month for me I had a race every weekend, and all three were A events. Early-season training leading into April was a rollercoaster of ups and downs. Early winter, I did some of the highest volume I’ve ever done, then later on, I spent a few weeks battling a sickness and injury.
Getting injured- Dealing with my worst nightmare
This is my last year I have to solely focus on chasing professional cycling. I spent last year building up my fitness, experience and lining up sponsors for this year to give myself my best shot at finding career success. Then in February I was hit with my biggest fear being an athlete, an injury.
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Training & Racing Like a Pro: Everything I’ve Learned In The Last Year
It’s been about a year since I decided to dedicate myself to becoming a professional cyclist and I wanted to write about my time with this endeavor.
Over the past year, I’ve matured and grown more than I ever have in such a short period of time. It’s hard to recognize myself from a year ago. Pursuing this dream has been my north star; in the pursuit, it feels like everything within me has fallen into place. Here’s the good, bad, and everything else I’ve experienced.
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Finally Getting To The Front
5th place may not be winning the race, but it sure feels like it to me. I love the analogy of racing commonly being referred to as a puzzle. That is exactly what racing feels like, especially in gravel.
Balance
Please help me welcome to the blog for the first time, Mr. Jacob Velasco!
Throughout the past few years, I worked towards my Associate’s degree at Sierra College. As I got closer to finishing my degree, I started to see a lot of growth and success in cycling. I knew this time was the best opportunity to give “ going pro “ my best shot.
Thoughts on Motivation
I spent a lot of time thinking about motivation last year.
For most of the cyclists I worked with during 2020, motivation was in short supply. Perhaps that’s why this small video made such an outsized impact on me.
Whatever you’re doing right now, stop and check it out: unless you’re driving. Why are you on your phone when you’re driving? Anyways, check it out.
To Coach is to Teach
I’ve been teaching or coaching in some form since shortly after my sophomore year in college.
Youth soccer camps, basketball, physical education, and health. When I first started coaching, technology resided at the fringes of each of my coaching relationships. Fast-forward nearly twenty years, and the core of my cycling coaching is rooted in technology.
Working From Home: A Personal Evolution
I’ve been working from home for the past eight years. For the most part, I love it, but now and then, the distracting allure of YouTube or non-stop screeching from my kids leaves me pining for a stuffy cubicle in an office building.