Interview with Monique Sawicki

Typically athletes go through an "up and coming" phase for a certain time before bursting onto the scene and putting their stamp on a sport. One athlete who seems to have skipped that whole phase is Monique Sawicki, who totally dominated the women's field in her first ever 24 hour race at Spokane on May 28, and beat all but 4 of the men's field. She was one of only two riders in a field of over 70 to complete 12 laps at the recent Jansport 12 Hours at the Summit at Big Bear Lake. The 2004 NORBA Marathon Series National Champion seems to have instantaneously raised the level of play in ultra-endurance racing, so Ride424.com sat down with Monique to find out what makes her tick.

1) Based on your results at numerous events this year you seem to be juggling the demands of both ultra-endurance and cross-country racing better than anyone out there. How are you managing this? Are you sure you're human?

Monique Sawicki: Yes, I'm human! When we were getting ready for the first marathon at Texas this year, we found that the promoters created the Supergrind which was the crowning of the Pro that could do the marathon, time trial, short track and cross-country the fastest. This sounded hard, so of course I wanted to do it and my coach was excited because he felt this would help me with my marathons. It was my first year as a Pro and would be my first mountain bike time trial and short track, and my first national cross-country race ever. I was pretty nervous, but ended up loving it and doing pretty well. So, at the next nationals and at Sea Otter, I jumped in for the training and the experience. When we have the time and opportunity to jump in on the cross-country races, I will do it, but my focus is still endurance.

2) Tell us a little about Team Mata, who is involved, what are the team's objectives, who are the sponsors, etc.

MS: Last year Team Mata was created by both my husband Ron and I while we were camping out in Mammoth before Nationals. We knew 2005 would be the year that I would turn Pro and going independent was how we wanted to do it. The name of the team was given by Ron. Mata is my Maiden name, which means to conquer, and he felt this was a great way to join my family in the adventure, being that they have been such a huge part in my athletics while I was growing up. And of course, I loved the idea.

Team Mata is a team that is made up of the athlete (me) and three other people that I could never do this without. First, my training partner and manager (my husband, Ron, who is an expert racer and is really fast!), my coach (Dr. Brandon Grove, who is a great friend who is really smart), and my agent (who is also a great friend and an adventure racer, Ed Shapiro). We came together this year for the love of two things, riding a bike and winning!

This year our team objectives are to finish out the year by winning as many titles as possible and for 2006 our objective is to stay independent and go full time.

Team Mata is sponsored by Titus Bikes, Kenda Tires, DT Swiss, FSA components, Squadra clothing, SRAM, Magura, Fox, Julbo, ProTech, and Crankbrothers.

3) How do you approach 24 hour races? Are there times you expect to go faster & slower, or is it a time trial for you with a very flat pace?

MS: Well, being that the NORBA National Solo 24 was my first 24 hour race, I didn't really know what to expect, only that it would hurt a lot. As far as the approach, I had done two 12 hours prior to it and the idea was to approach it the same way, but with more food. I start off with a couple of solid laps and then settled in to a nice steady pace and take a break when the race is nearly over. I go in thinking that it is just a really, really, really long marathon.


Not a bad way to end your first ever 24 hour race.

4) When the inevitable emotional low point hits in a 24 hour race, what techniques do you use to bounce back?

MS: Besides having Ron on one side of me repeating that it is almost over and to just go out and do one more lap, and Ed on the other, pointing to his calf muscles and telling me that he could do 19 laps, I shut out all thought and tell myself that if I don't go out there again I am going to regret it later on. The race is a mental game and I don't let the mental beat me.

5) What is your favorite event, and which events are you targeting for the remainder of the season?

MS: I am like a kid in a candy store! I want to do everything! Mountain bike racing, road racing, the Ironman, Xterra, Adventure racing...if it is a challenge and it is hard, I want to do it! For the remainder of my season, the focus is the NORBA National Marathon Series, the 24 Hour Solo World Championships at Whistler, the one day NORBA National Marathon Championship and possibly (if my legs allow me to), the Everest Challenge.

6) Let's talk a little about the business side of the sport. You see the sponsorship situation from the perspective of an endurance and cross-country racer. How do you think sponsors value racing success in the two arenas? Does either branch of the sport get more or less respect?

MS: As for my sponsorship, I was picked up as an endurance athlete and because I had the 2004 NORBA National Marathon Series title. Our goals for 2005 started out with holding on to my marathon title and getting the one day NORBA National Marathon Championship title. The sponsors were excited about that because a title is worth a lot to them. When the season began and I started racing in different arenas and showed success, this got them really excited and they really started to believe and see value. It seems that a cross-country racer could be in the top 10 and be seen as very valuable by sponsors and of course the top 5 are gold, but in the endurance world you have to win. The value of endurance racing seems to be growing in the US, but isn't anywhere close to what it is in Europe.


Another day at the office for first year pro Monique Sawicki

7) In the same "business" vein, what could promoters do better to help grow the sport of ultra-endurance racing? Is there anything you see them doing wrong, or doing really well?

MS: Unfortunately, I think that the problem is far beyond the reach of the promoters. Culturally, we are raised to go to stadiums with our hot dog and coke or sit on the couch at home and watch a football, basketball or baseball game. We are unlike Europe where bicycling is held in the same respect as the sports that I mentioned.

There is one wrong thing that I see, and that is the lack of cash prizes. Mountain biking in general, the athlete pays an entry fee and when he or she wins, they receive a medal or a plaque. The sport is expensive and the athlete needs to survive. When you look at road races, generally, at every race there is a cash prize. And how many road racers are there?

On the positive side, endurance racing has become incorporated at many different races throughout the country. It is growing and hopefully, it will continue to grow.

8) Do you listen to music while you ride? If so what is your favorite race music?

MS: Yes, I do listen to music while I ride, it can be both inspiration and my company. I kind of listen to music that is all over the board, rock, pop, alternative, folk, inspirational. If I like it, I listen to it.

9) What is your favorite comfort food during 24 hour races?

MS: I don't really have a comfort food that I used. I mainly lived off of liquid food for the whole race. I did have miso soup in a water bottle once and that was really good, but I came to a point where I knew I was hungry, but nothing really sounded good. Our focus during the race is my nutrition. I take in what I need to so that I can keep going for the 24 hours and when the race is done I eat what makes me happy (which is just about anything and lots of it!)

10) What is your favorite non-cycling activity?

MS: Just about anything that is extreme and outside! If Ron and I aren't flying down the side of a mountain on our mountain bikes we find ourselves caught on the side of a 14,000 ft. peak wondering how (or if!) we are going to get down.

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Given her talent and enthusiasm for long hours of suffering on the bike, you can expect to see a lot more podiums this season with Monique Sawicki on the top step. Thanks for your time Monique, and good luck with the rest of the season!