Last June, in Oceanside, California, I stood on a pier gazing at a huge banner that read, “Race Across America: The world’s toughest bicycle race. 3000 miles coast-to-coast.” I was about to begin this arduous race, alongside my racing partner, fellow Atlantan Kacie Darden. We were the lone females racing in the two-person female team category. Our goal was to finish the race faster than any of the other two-female teams that had ever raced before us.