Jane's story: Summer season

BaseCamp athlete Jane Finsterwald shared her experiences in the 2025 summer season.

BaseCamp...what a great community! How inspirational it is to be able to share in the journeys through victory and challenge and accomplishment. Each of you keep me coming back every day. I live in gratitude!

My story is not a race but a journey and about the coaches (yes plural) and individuals who have helped me. I have a neurologic disorder that provides an additional challenge to living life and completing goals. I had a great season last year with my Base Camp coach (thank you, Tina!) and felt like I would step it up this winter to longer races and some big goals. Working with the BaseCamp program and great input from Len and Liz, I felt like I was on track. (Even a small bout with COVID only slowed it a bit...)

In March it all came to a head, and all of the compensation I was making physically just gave out. I was back to the beginning to trying to pedal without a spasm..... almost eight weeks of convincing my body (and mind) that this is something I love and accepting that whatever I can accomplish is a small victory.

Enter Brian Hammond. Accepting me as I am. Working to help me find those same strengths that had me on the bike again. He helped me evaluate everything that critically affects my neurologic system, most importantly my sleep and all that affects it. Providing workouts that felt like accomplishments in themselves -- talking me off the shelf a time or two......working through setbacks and what to accept and what to challenge.

He even felt I could tackle a bit of racing -- I stayed short as fatigue affects my coordination. I found -- again -- that I love racing -- challenging myself in the company of others with the same goals. Although the placement is just a pin on the journey -- it meant a bit to be first woman at KowTown Gravel 30 mile and 3rd woman for the FoCo 32mile.....

I was able to participate in the BaseCamp Boulder Gravel Skills Weekend and once again was enriched and empowered by the coaches and especially the BaseCampers putting themselves out there to learn and succeed. There is nothing quite like the leadership and camaraderie of this community. It is so special....

One more slightly longer race this year and again hoping to build this winter, within the community and hopefully Mallorca...to new goals and, more importantly, friends.

Thank you Tim, Kathy, Tina, and Brian, and each and every BaseCamp member that brings it every day!