On this #fueledisfast Friday, we are excited to introduce you to Emily Moreshead. Emily is gearing up to tackle the challenging Leadville Trail 100 MTB race next month after successfully completing the Leadville Stage Race last year. Read on to learn more about Emily!
Where do you live? Cambridge, MA
Are you currently employed or in school (or both)? Currently, I am on a well timed break between jobs as I am heading out west soon to acclimate to 10,000 feet elevation for Leadville. I will start a new role as a Lead Program Manager for a tech company in late August.
What sports do you participate in? My primary sport is mountain biking. I ride for The Hustle Hive; a mountain bike racing and riding team for women and gender-expansive cyclists who pursue the fun side of fast. I also enjoy skiing and adventure racing (multi sport with map and compass navigation). My team won the women’s US National Championship last year in adventure racing which was a 30 hour race.
When did you first start racing? My first mountain bike race was in the summer of 2022. I had been enjoying mountain biking recreationally for a few years and with competitive rowing and distance running in my past I was curious to try racing.
What types of races have you completed? I’ve participated in XC mountain bike races of 6-12 miles, a marathon mountain bike stage race (105 miles over 3 days), gravel races (30-60 miles) and just tried my first enduro.
Where have you raced? Which location was your favorite? I’ve most frequently raced in New England but have also raced in Colorado. Leadville, Colorado is my favorite place to race because there is something special about the big mountains and thin air. The race atmosphere is also super special: other racers cheering each other on and big smiles despite the physical pain of the event. I spent a lot of my childhood summers in Leadville so it is extra sentimental to ride by places that hold a lot of happy memories.
What accomplishments are you most proud of? Finishing the Leadville Stage Race last year was a huge accomplishment. It took months of physical training and learning so much about nutrition on and off the bike. Riding at 10,000+ feet elevation for three straight days is no joke.
What is your favorite food? Least favorite food? My favorite food has to be cookies – any type and I will love it! Least favorite food is anything spicy.
What surprised you most from your nutrition assessment? How much of a difference such small changes could make in my overall performance and well-being. Also how adding more protein to my diet, especially my snacks have significantly changed my perception that I have a sweet tooth. It turns out I just wasn’t fueling my body with what it actually needed!
What changes did you make based on your nutrition assessment? The changes I have made include the timing of eating something post-workout, increasing protein in my snacks, and a plan for nutrition and hydration before/during/after a workout of any size.
How have the changes you’ve made influenced your health & performance? These changes have resulted in significantly faster recovery and allowed me to add more workouts to my week. Before my nutrition assessment I was usually unable to do any sort of activity for at least a day after a big effort. Last year at the Leadville Stage Race I did three big effort days in a row!
What is your next big goal? My next big goal is the Leadville Trail 100 MTB! Now that I have seen the whole course in the Stage Race I am looking forward to riding it all at once. This race is 105 miles with 12,480’ elevation gain. The course starts at over 10,000 feet elevation and reaches over 12,000 feet elevation at its highest point.
What nutrition advice would you give to other athletes? The top nutrition advice I would give other athletes is to invest in a nutrition assessment. I have learned so much about my specific nutrition needs to perform well and feel great. Having a playbook for nutrition and hydration before/during/after a workout saves me so much time during busy training cycles because it is one less thing to think about.
We are so proud of Emily & looking forward to seeing her crush Leadville next month!
