Meet our April EDGE Athlete of the Month - Annie Byrne! We’re so pumped to follow her cycling season after a helluva lot of hard work this winter, she’s hot out of the gates (seriously, this gal has been sweeping up first place podiums at the early season races!)
I started racing in 2012 so this is my fifth year. I raced a lot my first year, then started training and raced even more my second year. Then we opened BFF Bikes so I couldn't get out as much or really train during the last two years with the shop bring brand new. Now I'm training again and hope to do some bigger races this year.
I rode a bike as a kid and in college to get around, but when I moved to Chicago I did not touch my bike for several years. Then in the spring of 2007 my place of work was participating in the city’s annual Bike Commuter Challenge. My employer was the reigning champion of this competition and took it very seriously so everyone was STRONGLY encouraged to participate. I borrowed a crappy bike that was too small for me and rode to work. Within the first five minutes, I realized I must get a bike ASAP. It was a FAR more enjoyable commute than the train, took less time, not as scary as I thought it would be, and was great to be outside and get some exercise. That summer I started doing longer recreational rides on the weekends, and it just gradually escalated. The more I rode, the more I loved it.
My first race was the Gapers Block criterium, now known as the Skyway Classic. It’s a very beginner friendly race, so was a great experience. It’s four nights in a row and I raced all four nights. I was hooked after the first lap on the first night.
Last summer I did a fixed gear criterium and it was amazing. On a fixed gear bike there is no coasting or shifting so it’s very different from typical road races, and it’s longer and more technical than track racing on a velodrome. I loved it.
Sprints, no question.
Currently, scrambled eggs with spinach with sweet potato hash with avocado.
I’m really proud of what we’ve done with the BFF Bikes Racing team. I love seeing so many women get into racing, set and reach goals for themselves, and do things they never thought was possible.
One mantra that always seems to do the trick when I’m really hurting is “You got this, you love this, this feels goooooooood.” Convincing myself that I enjoy the pain-- that it actually feels good-- helps me push harder.
I need to reassess my goals! I just had a great first race and reached a goal to win a race and successfully breakaway from the pack. I *should* really have a goal focused on improving my sprint… that is a limiter for me and I want to reach my full potential so I have to address that. Also I really want to learn to do the Madison race on the track, which is a partner race where racers take turns riding laps and fling one another to exchange. It terrifies me but looks so fun.
I think in 2016 the team is going to reach new levels of team strategy and tactics and you’ll see lots of podium photos! Also personally I hope to get more teammates racing with me at the track!
Drinking coffee in the boots.
Ice bath.
It’s made me a better athlete! I love the environment at Edge and knowing I can go there makes me excited to workout and train harder. I always look forward to days I get to go to Edge.
It took me a LOOOONG time to learn to ride a bike without training wheels. I finally got it when I was 10 years old!
As I trained for the Rio Paralympics, EDGE was the perfect place for me to recover in between my grueling workouts so I could perform my best day after day. It all paid off when I earned a bronze medal in Rio! Whether it's for bike, run or strength training, recovering in a pair of recovery boots, drinking a cup of coffee or chatting with the members about their past and current races, it is one of my favorite places to go - EDGE Athlete Lounge has become my second home!
I use EDGE for both training and recovery… having the Woodway treadmills and a room to do weights and other-related strength exercises when I need them is very helpful and convenient. Without question, utilizing EDGE on a consistent basis has helped me stay injury-free. In fact, as someone who has a history of being injured, since joining EDGE, I have yet to experience a significant injury. I attribute that largely to having ready access to state of the art recovery tools that EDGE provides its members with.
I will be racing the Boston Marathon in April, a race in which I am targeting a sub-2:30. Bearing that Boston goes according to plan, I intend on attacking a 2:25 clocking at the 2017 Chicago Marathon! Furthermore, I am planning on breaking 15:00 in the 5K and 1:09 in the half-marathon
EDGE helped me fight my way to the title of North American Cycle Courier Champion in 2016 and I’ve got 2017 in the crosshairs. As a full time bike messenger and a professional cyclist, my schedule allows very little time to give my muscles a break. The amazing staff and facilities at EDGE have allowed me to give my body the much needed recovery it needs between rides and have helped me ride farther, ride harder, and ride stronger than ever before. Fresh legs TRULY bring FAST TIMES!
