Reposted from @worldbycycling . 11 days, 14 hours, 6 minutes. My priority goal for the @silkroadmountainrace was to improve on my effort in 2018, and with a much harder course I managed to shave 2 days off my previous score. Of course, how well you do on an event like this can’t be measured in numbers. It’s not about what place you came, or even if you finished. The SRMR is a test of character. It’s not a pass/fail exam, it’s an encompassing challenge that will introduce you to yourself and show you what you’re made of - the good and the bad. Your overall results in the competition are just a formality in the end. I came back to take the test again and find out which of my weaknesses I had improved on. I was fairly confident I was a much better rider, and although I had aimed for a 10 day finish, I’m overwhelmingly delighted to be going home with a hat. But the real results were the bits that occurred out there between me, myself, and I. I’m really proud of how I held myself together this time, and the improvements I made in three years. There’s always work to be done (if you’re willing to take the test), but it’s been a confidence boost to see the changes. Ultimately, I think a lot of people challenge themselves in events like this in order to improve themselves in some way, and anyone who attempts the SRMR, no matter what result they receive, will get a huge dose of that. #cyclinggirl 📸 @usmanovdanil 📷from @jennytough #WorldByCycling https://www.instagram.com/p/CTj6ypALTVA/?utm_medium=tumblr