MTB and AP

A Day in the Life of One of Team INFINIT's Awe-inspiring Student-athletes 

We asked Team INFINIT Athlete Maddy Frank to take us through a day in the life of a high school senior who also balances life as a Cat 1 mountain biker and competitive cyclist — From training to homework to shopping for waterproof (and more importantly sweatproof) mascara!

Since school started a few weeks ago, I’ve already settled into my own routine of balancing school, work, and training. Taking four AP classes and two regular classes have really filled my schedule and I’m swamped with assignments and homework already.

Being a senior typically brings “senioritis.” But not for me. I don’t want to slack off; I want to end my high school experience on a high note with good grades. However, with maintaining a 4.1 GPA, it’s definitely a challenge! Numerous times I have to take my homework, textbooks and all, on long car rides to races or a bike trail since that’s only when I have time to do it.

It is very easy to feel when you’re over training or working too much on the bike, but it’s not so clear to see when you’re overworking yourself mentally. 

I do love the daily grind of challenging myself academically, but there are some moments where I feel like I want to take a little breather. Working part-time 3-4 times a week at a retirement home as a waitress does give me that 4 hours of “free time” after school, but doesn’t satisfy truly giving my brain a break.

Since school started, the last couple weeks have had me up late at the gym at 9:45 PM, or waking up and riding my bike really early in the morning to make time for a workout - so it’s definitely become a bit of a juggling act! 

Training off-road and on the road allows me to not think about the stress of school. The cycling community, to me, is a gateway where I can hang out with all my teammates and friends that I’ve known since I was little. It’s so much fun to just laugh and goof around at races instead of stressing about school and work.

Here’s what a typical Monday looks like for me:

6:00 AM - Wake up

7:50 AM - School starts

12:30 PM - AP European History class (my favorite class)

2:45 PM - School ends

3:30-8:30 PM - Work

8:45 - 9:45 PM - Gym workout and typically a 30-minute jog

10:00 - 11:30 PM - Homework

11:30 PM - SLEEP!

Race days from 8 AM to 5 PM on the weekends are my favorite days because I get a chance to do what I love with the people I love too. It’s crucial for me to find at least 2 times a week where I goof off, attempt to bunny hop anything on my mountain bike, or do track stand competitions with my biking friends.

Cycling for me has become an identity, therapy, an outlet to express my competitive nature, and even encompasses my social life! Although it is a little cliche, it honestly helps me manage a healthy balance between school, work, training, and life in general.

Yes, mountain biking and road racing do have a serious aspect to them, but other times cycling is a therapy for me to just let loose and laugh! It is so easy to mentally drain yourself when getting caught up in the daily demands of life, but self-care or “me time” for me is so paramount in my success and mental health. It is very easy to feel when you’re overtraining or working too much on the bike, but it’s not so clear to see when you’re overworking yourself mentally. I’ve learned to be proactive and predict when I feel like I’m burning out mentally and just take some time to hit reset.

All-in-all, I’ve learned how to balance my extremely busy life by taking time to do a fun, stress-free activity, whether it’s shopping for the next waterproof mascara or appreciating nature around me when I ride instead of staring at my Garmin. Lately, I’ve been learning how to appreciate the simple things in life and enjoy the cycling community around me.

Cycling for me has become an identity, therapy, an outlet to express my competitive nature, and even encompasses my social life! Although it is a little cliche, it honestly helps me manage a healthy balance between school, work, training, and life in general. The road of life has never been smooth, so I appreciate everyone I’ve met and interacted with along my crazy cycling journey [so far!].