This week we continue ’5 questions with a pro’ with endurance racer Sonya Looney. Sonya presently lives in Boulder, CO but originates from Albuquerque, NM. She attended her home town school, the University of New Mexico, where she raced collegiately and received a degree in Electrical Engineering in 2005. She then continued with a masters in Electrical Engineering in 2007 from the University of Colorado, while beginning her pro career. Sonya races for the Topeak Ergon Racing Team and can be seen at most of the top endurance races every year. When it comes to racing one of Sonya’s greatest achievements just happened last week, she was chosen to represent the United States at the Marathon World Championships in St. Wendel, Germany on August 8, 2010! Congratulations Sonya, and thanks for being this weeks subject of ’5 questions with a pro’.
Career highlights:
2010- 7 podiums finishes, 1st at Baily Hundo, named to Marathon World Championships team
2009- won 24 hours of Old Pueblo (coed team), Quachita Challenge 60 miler,
and Pierre’s hole 100 miler
2008- podium finishes at all endurance races
2007- 5th overall Mountain States Cup plus several top 5 podiums
2006- 24 hour team national champion
1. How old were you when you first started racing mountain bikes?
20. I grew up playing other sports. I played soccer in elementary and middle school, tennis through high school, distance running at the end of high school and through college until cross training for running got me into cycling.
2. Where is your favorite place to ride? Just for fun or race course.
I love riding the Colorado Trail sections around Salida and the trails around Breckenridge. I crave big mountains, fun technical singletrack, and huge views
3. What is your favorite moment in your racing career?
Wow, I have to pick one moment over the past 7 years?! One was at the short track at Sea Otter last year. I was called up to the first row, I got a great start, and was riding in 8th place. It didn’t last more than a lap, but it was really cool to be near the front of a race like that and I rarely can even ride in the top 10 at national cross country races. The end of every endurance I race I do is also great moment. I love the sense of accomplishment of completing a very tough course and getting on that podium (or winning!). I often have a rush of emotion at the finish because I put my whole heart into what I was doing. The best one so far this year was at the Gunnison Growler. I had a terrible first lap, but came on very strong during my second lap and being able to overcome it all left me welling up with tears right before crossing the line (no one ever sees 
)
4. If you weren’t a pro mountain bike racer, what sport would you most like to play professionally?
Tennis! I was going to play in college, but I got a stress fracture my senior year of high school (I was overly motivated playing tennis several hours a day, running every day, AND going to the gym) which put me out of business for 6 months, and being out that long killed my tennis career. I plan on going back to tennis and play on a league someday. I still love to play!
5. What is your favorite song on your Ipod or mp3 player right now?
I usually love techno, but I’m loving the song Troublemaker by Akon, because I’m kind of a troublemaker myself.
You can learn more about Sonya Looney at www.sonyalooney.missingsaddle.com
