Hey there, fellow trailblazers! Buckle up because I’ve got a story to share about my wild ride at the Sumter National Enduro in Sumter, South Carolina. Let’s set the scene: imagine me, groggily waking up at 4:30 am, loading my bike, and embarking on a 2.5-hour drive to Sumter. Picture this: I roll up with a solid McDonald’s gut and not nearly enough coffee in my system, and one to always leave things to the last minute, I needed to get my rear tire needs changed at the Kenda tent. Classic case of “always prepared”… or not!

 Anyway, there I was, with my trusty KTM 300 XC, diving headfirst into the women’s amateur category. Spoiler alert: I rode sooooooo bad! Maybe I should’ve realized what I was getting into – after all, it was my first national race, and boy, was it a doozy!

Now, let’s talk about Test 3 – the stuff of legends, my friends. There was this cool section where I found myself riding through the aftermath of a controlled burn. The smell of charred wood, the black ash lining the sandy single track – it was like a scene straight out of a movie. But of course, being the klutz that I am, I couldn’t help but gawk and promptly launched over the handlebars, face-planting into a pile of ash. Note to self: less gawking, more racing!

Tests 4 and 5 were no walk in the park either. Midway through Test 4, my old lady back decided to throw a tantrum, and all I could think about was my buddy’s advice to pre-medicate with a banana, Red Bull, and painkillers. Next time, Kari, next time! Despite the pain, I powered through, probably annoying every kid under 25 as I struggled to keep up. I had to pull over multiple times, and when I finally finished Test 5, I practically collapsed off my bike, laying on the ground and having a “Kari moment” in my helmet until I mustered up enough oomph to head back to the pits. Talk about a pain flashback to the Virginia City GP!

But let’s keep it real for a moment. Did I place well? Let’s just say my finishing position wasn’t exactly podium material. But you know what? I’m not one to shy away from a challenge. Oh no, this is just the beginning.

Next time, mark my words, I’ll come back – stronger, faster, and ready to kick some dirt. Maybe I’ll swap out hitting the gym for some extra gardening (let’s be honest here). And you better believe I’ll be back to tackle those trails with a vengeance.

Next time, mark my words, I’ll come back – stronger, faster, and ready to kick some dirt. Maybe I’ll swap out hitting the gym for some extra gardening (let’s be honest here). And you better believe I’ll be back to tackle those trails with a vengeance.