Race 8 Performance MVP: Julie Young
Meet Julie Young, first place finisher at Johnson-Springview and our Race 8 Performance MVP. We’re featuring the newly crowned 2024 Series Champion because of her lifelong dedication to racing and training at a high level and her love for cyclocross and the community. She doesn’t just come to race, but also to support and encourage the other athletes around her. Performance Bicycle is proud to help us honor Julie with a $100 gift card as our Race 8 Performance MVP!
How long have you been racing cyclocross and how did you get into it?
I raced very sporadically and infrequently, when I was racing road as a UCI international/world tour level pro/national team rider. BUT, I had no idea what I was doing, and was a bull in a china shop.. Then about seven years ago a friend told me about the Sac CX series and Clint’s CX skills clinic…I went and have been hooked ever since.
What is your “day job” and how do you balance the training needed to compete at a high level and all your other responsibilities?
I own Julie Young Training and train endurance athletes across disciplines from trail runners and XC skiers to triathletes and cyclists…the majority of my clients are cyclists – road, gravel, mtb and CX. I run the Kaiser Sports Medicine Endurance Lab, where as a sport scientist I do range of physiologic and metabolic testing and assessments as well as provide motion capture bike fits and gait analysis.
I love moving in the outdoors (aka training) and love the self-challenge. it has always been a part of my life, it is lifestyle.. I prioritize it in my day, because it makes me feel good mentally and physically, it provides clarity of thought (I feel like I solve a lot of problems out on my bike) and makes more productive in the other walks of my life. With my coaching business – I wake up early, work several hours on developing training plans then typically head out for a ride, run or xc ski (depending on the time of year).. then come back, mentally and physically recharged and ready to dive back into work for the rest of the day.. I also feel it is valuable for me to continue to train and race, as it helps me walk the walk with my athletes, and stay in touch with what it mentally and physically takes to race and perform.. I also love seeing my athletes in race action at the races.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome in your cycling career?
I think everyone has adversity to overcome.. for me during my pro career there were definitely challenges – injuries, disappointing/discouraging performances — but I think the sign of a champion is how they deal with challenges/ how they use them to move forward… for me I tend to use challenges as opportunities to learn. They motivate me to work harder to keep improving.
Tell us about your race bike! What is it and how have you personalized it?
I am boring.. Just a white Specialized Crux! I like to keep it understated and let my legs do the talking 🙂
What are your goals for this season?
Have a ton of fun!