Becoming a New Mom and Mountain Bike Racing with Catharine Pendrel

Catharine Pendrel, a three-time Olympian and 2016 Bronze medalist mountain biker, became a new mom this year. In this episode, Sonya and Catharine discuss training during pregnancy, process-oriented goals, overcoming adversity during the pandemic, and more.

Pendrel grew up riding horses and later bicycles in Canada. In addition to her Olympic appearances, she has two World Championship titles for Canada and 40 World Cup podium finishes. She lives and trains in Kamloops, British Columbia, and races professionally for the Clif Pro Team.

In 2017, Pendrel and her husband Keith Wilson formed Pendrel Racing, a cross-country mountain bike development team created to provide opportunities for the next generation of Canadian mountain bike racers.

Key Takeaways

• Process oriented goals
• Adversity during the pandemic
• Approaching training during pregnancy
• Returning to the sport after a C-section
• Returning to racing with a baby
• Shifting expectations
• Dealing with self-doubt
• Olympics