Trail Rider Magazine

Ma helps her push through challenges while step- ping outside of her comfort zone. Keeping the right mentality on and off the track is a test of even the most seasoned racers. "If you're not in the right mindset and feeling confident and comfortable, you can't expect to ride your best. Look good, feel good, go good," she said. For many, the racing lifestyle can be a rollercoast- er ride to say the least. In this sport we have wins, we have losses and some in between, but typically what is cherished the most are the memories friends and race family make along the way. For Miranda, her most memorable race experience was winning her first NESC championship in 2014. To the people behind the scenes who make it all happen, hat's off to you! Miranda has a great support system that includes "my Dad, who deserves a special thanks for everything he does. Also, my mom, my boyfriend, the moto community in general, ZRT thro le, and Fly racing." When asked what advice she could give to a fellow rider or fellow woman rider, Miranda said, "The biggest advice I have for other woman riders is to be suppor ve of each other. There's not many of us so I think it's important to form a bond and to encourage each other. Also, always be confident and don't let failure discourage you; rather use it as an opportunity to grow." Miranda's goal for this year includes trans- ferring to a new school and con nuing her educa on, strap a leg over a 125 and start seeing more podiums! Women's racing has come a long way since the "Powder Puff" days. Not without men on from the sponsors, spectators, and race series that quickly realized these lady racers have the stamina and dedica on that it takes to withstand the gri est of woods and moto tracks. Not only woman riders but the encouragement from all ages, classes, male and female is overwhelming in the racing community as a whole. Let's put eyes on a rider that has been with the J Day community for over two years and has also competed at the local NETRA and CATRA series: Taylor Johnston, 27 years old and currently residing in Russell, MA. She finished 10 th overall out of 24 riders in the J Day Off-road 2020 Women's class. Like many, she started out riding on a smaller pit bike. At 17, and a er watching her brother ride and race for over 10 years she decided to give it a shot on a 200cc in the snow and hasn't looked back since! Taylor is currently running a 2021 KTM 350 SX-F in the J Day Off-road series. There are just as many challenges in racing as there are triumphs. Mental focus being a top challenge for Taylor. "It is so easy to get discouraged when something doesn't go your way, whether it is crashing, ge ng behind a lapper, or not ge ng the results you were looking for at the end of the day. Mental strength is super important for long term results and success, so that is definitely something I've been targe ng this year." Many riders can re- late to losing focus. A big part of staying focused is being mo vated and understanding "your why." Taylor's mo va on is her love for riding. "I think my mo va on is I absolutely love riding. A lot of people who ride or race that don't love it, don't find success." For many, including Taylor, race life is truly a lifestyle and not just a hobby. Throughout the week these racers' days are filled with training on and off the track, wrenching on bikes hours a er the sun has gone down. Apologe cally missing birthdays, holidays and fam- ily to improve their skill and fulfill the "moto life" on race weekend. Racing is not just woods, mud, and bikes, it is fast paced and takes extreme dedica- on. Johnston trains with extensive core workouts, cycling, and at the motocross track. "When I'm training for a race, I target faster terrain, like moto tracks, because that's where I'm lacking. Miranda Mullen Miranda Mullen

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