Alongside her sports career, Alison is a biochemist with a graduate degree. Her biggest challenge was overcoming a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a severe crash, which led her to pursue neuropsychology in grad school. Despite her injuries, she made a strong recovery and continued to excel in cycling, though she ultimately found herself not fully healthy. Alison has openly discussed the difficulties of balancing her professional cycling career with personal well-being. Despite outward success, she faced dark and challenging times internally. Her severe crash resulted in multiple injuries and a TBI, forcing her to reassess her identity beyond just being an athlete. This shift in perspective led her to focus more on her overall health and well-being, emphasizing her roles as a daughter, wife, sister, and scientist.
Her recovery has been ongoing, involving mental health research, dealing with lingering effects like PTSD and anxiety, and the support of a positive environment and her husband. She stresses the importance of daily self-care and maintaining a balanced life. Her journey of coping with physical and chronic pain from injuries, especially a shattered pelvis. Despite the discomfort, she continued to race, finding solace in the development of more comfortable bike saddles. She highlighted the impact of chronic pain on her outlook on life.
Currently, Alison is in a great place both professionally and personally, deeply in love with her supportive husband. She enjoys riding her bike and giving back to the cycling community by mentoring and promoting inclusivity, especially for kids and girls. She finds joy in contributing to the sport and being part of the ongoing positive movement in women's sports. Alison views her experiences with both gratitude and a sense of purpose, focusing on how she can use her platform to inspire and support others in the cycling world.
