From the Field: Tulsa Tough
From the Field: Tulsa Tough
Words: Jolene Holland | Photos: Casey Lee and Bruce Layman
More than just racing.
At the start of this year, the prospect of racing felt not only unlikely, but it was low on the priority list of things to give energy to going into 2021. There’s a lot to sort out going into a race season, even for my local women’s team, Ultra Violet, but simply LIVING felt like trudging through the Upside Down. There was an undeniable pit in my stomach, and it felt like I was constantly trying to run away from the lurking demogorgon that was depression. I’m sure many of you can relate to that feeling of being suspended in time, wanting to plan for a future without knowing what was ahead.
Fast— and I mean super-sonic-space-ship-fast-because-holy-sh*t-did-life-pick-back-up-in-a-god-d*mn-jiffy—forward to this June. My teammates and I fully embraced Vaxxed Girl Summer and were gearing up for the best party of the year that also happens to be a bike race, Tulsa Tough. At the beginning of the year, most of my team decided they couldn’t commit to racing, but by June everyone was amped to race and headed to Tulsa, Oklahoma for a weekend of insane crit racing. My racing and planning efforts were so delayed up to this point that I had yet to secure custom kits for the team, so I did a last minute tie dye session for a full set of DIY Rapha team jerseys and Voilà! We were ready to race, baby!
I knew this year at Tulsa Tough was going to be different and special. The last time I was at the race, I had trained hard and was focused solely on ripping it for one of the professional crit teams. This year, I played a different part: team director, friend supporter, daughter, amateur racer who hadn’t trained, and general good vibes setter.
The temperature in Tulsa was blistering but it didn’t stop the sweat-soaked hugs when seeing friends and family for the first time in well over a year. My heart exploded seeing my teammates in their Cat 4 and Cat 3 races out there giving it their all. There was so much belly laughter that turned to tears and many post-race Venga Bus dance parties.
There was Legion and Ayesha McGowan showing everyone Black Excellence at Tulsa, in the peloton, and beyond. There were young girls who watched the race and snapped photos with us. There was the LGBTQ+ bar packed with a bunch of silly cyclists cheering and adoring the performing drag queens and kings.
Words: Jolene Holland | Photos: Casey Lee and Bruce Layman
More than just racing.
At the start of this year, the prospect of racing felt not only unlikely, but it was low on the priority list of things to give energy to going into 2021. There’s a lot to sort out going into a race season, even for my local women’s team, Ultra Violet, but simply LIVING felt like trudging through the Upside Down. There was an undeniable pit in my stomach, and it felt like I was constantly trying to run away from the lurking demogorgon that was depression. I’m sure many of you can relate to that feeling of being suspended in time, wanting to plan for a future without knowing what was ahead.
Fast— and I mean super-sonic-space-ship-fast-because-holy-sh*t-did-life-pick-back-up-in-a-god-d*mn-jiffy—forward to this June. My teammates and I fully embraced Vaxxed Girl Summer and were gearing up for the best party of the year that also happens to be a bike race, Tulsa Tough. At the beginning of the year, most of my team decided they couldn’t commit to racing, but by June everyone was amped to race and headed to Tulsa, Oklahoma for a weekend of insane crit racing. My racing and planning efforts were so delayed up to this point that I had yet to secure custom kits for the team, so I did a last minute tie dye session for a full set of DIY Rapha team jerseys and Voilà! We were ready to race, baby!
I knew this year at Tulsa Tough was going to be different and special. The last time I was at the race, I had trained hard and was focused solely on ripping it for one of the professional crit teams. This year, I played a different part: team director, friend supporter, daughter, amateur racer who hadn’t trained, and general good vibes setter.
The temperature in Tulsa was blistering but it didn’t stop the sweat-soaked hugs when seeing friends and family for the first time in well over a year. My heart exploded seeing my teammates in their Cat 4 and Cat 3 races out there giving it their all. There was so much belly laughter that turned to tears and many post-race Venga Bus dance parties.
There was Legion and Ayesha McGowan showing everyone Black Excellence at Tulsa, in the peloton, and beyond. There were young girls who watched the race and snapped photos with us. There was the LGBTQ+ bar packed with a bunch of silly cyclists cheering and adoring the performing drag queens and kings.