In early September, Kate Courtney took on a new challenge at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships by competing in the marathon distance for the first time in her career. Known primarily for her strong performances in the shorter cross country and short track races, Courtney surprised the cycling world by winning the grueling 77-mile marathon event, earning the coveted rainbow jersey for the second time in her nearly ten-year professional career. This victory was not just another win on her record; it symbolized a profound shift in her mindset and approach to the sport.
Courtney, now 30 years old, described the marathon race as intensely competitive and brutally demanding. “The competition at the sharp end is so high and the course was brutal, so I was productively intimidated,” she said. Unlike in previous years where pressure to win might have weighed heavily on her, this time Courtney was able to focus solely on herself and her race strategy. This change in mental outlook was crucial in helping her stay calm through a race that featured an agonizing hour-long final climb, a 20-minute hiking section over a boulder field, and even a flat tire on the last descent that could have ended her chances.
Reflecting on her journey, Courtney revealed that in the past, she had set impossibly high standards for herself. “I felt like I had to be on every podium to feel success,” she admitted. This self-imposed pressure often led to perfectionist preparation, but on race day, she would feel mentally unbalanced and disconnected from the training that had brought her there. This disconnect between preparation and performance had been a recurring challenge in her career.
Everything changed in late May when Courtney suffered a broken wrist after the third race of the season. The injury forced her to step back from competition and gave her much-needed time to reflect on her approach to the sport. “Initially it felt like my season was going off the rails,” she said. “But in retrospect, I really needed the time away.” This break was the first time Courtney had missed a World Cup race since turning professional, and as a result, she dropped out of the world’s top 20 rankings for the first time since she was 16. While this was hard to accept initially, it became a pivotal moment for her growth.
During this period of recovery and reflection, Courtney shifted her focus from chasing results to engaging more deeply with the process and challenges of training and racing. “What I’m looking for now isn’t just results, but instead to engage meaningfully with the challenges and invest in the process,” she explained. This new philosophy allowed her to view races as opportunities rather than burdens, releasing her from the weight of external expectations.
Her physical therapist and strength coach, Matt Smith, played a significant role in her comeback. Knowing her wrist wasn’t ready for the intense demands of short, technical races, he suggested she try something different: the Leadville 100, America’s most prestigious long-distance mountain bike race. Courtney was initially skeptical but quickly embraced the idea. The shift to a longer, endurance-based event offered her a refreshing sense of freedom. “I found so much freedom in the new challenge. I focused on feel, not numbers or structure. Low external pressure, high intrinsic drive,” she said.
Courtney returned to competition on August 9 at Leadville. Despite an early headwind and new race rules limiting drafting opportunities for women, she set a blistering pace on the climbs and ultimately shattered the long-standing course record by nearly ten minutes. This victory was a clear sign that her new approach was working, both mentally and physically.
Shortly after her success at Leadville, Courtney traveled to Switzerland with her coach and mechanic to pre-ride the Marathon World Championships course. The two weeks leading up to the event were the most enjoyable of her career. She knew her endurance fitness from Leadville would translate well to the seven-hour, high-climbing marathon race. Mentally, she focused solely on her plan and the course itself, free from distractions or pressure.
As a newcomer in the marathon discipline, Courtney flew under the radar, which allowed her to race with a sense of freedom. She took a bold risk on the second-to-last climb by breaking away solo. When she suffered a rear sidewall flat tire on the final descent, she remained calm and hoped the tire would hold until the finish line. “Those moments are earned, but also given. Things that are out of your control have to go right