By showing their strength in Ski to Sea, they hope to build confidence in others

Kirsten Jensen, 39, has two children – a 4-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter. Balancing motherhood, bike racing and full-time work at Western Washington University as an education instructor is hard, but Jensen said racing is an external motivator to stay healthy and keep exercising.

“I feel like I’m a better mom when I’ve been exercising,” she said. “I feel like I’m more patient. And I feel like, when my kids see me racing –especially when my daughter sees me racing – I just feel like it’s good modeling for her, about feeling strong and healthy.”