Annie Foreman-Mackey

“Caminante, no hay camino. Se hace camino al andar. (Traveler, there is no path. The path is made by walking.)” – Antonio Machado

Name: Annie Foreman-Mackey

Nickname: Annie-LongLegs, Banannie

D.O.B.: June 26th, 1991

Birth city and state: Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Current City: Hamilton, Ontario / Woodside, California / my suitcase

Height: 5’7”

Specialty: TT / breakaways / working for the team

Previous sports: swimming

Years racing: 4

Colleges attended: McMaster University, University of Toronto

Degree: Bachelor of Health Sciences, Masters of Public Health (in-progress)

Personal Website link: N/A

Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/formacannie/

Facebook link: N/A

Twitter link: https://twitter.com/formacannie

A native to Kingston, Ontario, Annie grew up on the edge of Lake Ontario. She swam her way through high school and a Health Sciences degree at McMaster University before eventually being lured from the pool to the bike. She gradually found her place in the sport after getting her feet wet in triathlon, mountain biking, road racing, and eventually track cycling. In 2016, Annie had the opportunity to race with the Canadian Team Pursuit team en route to the Overall World Cup win, as well as a bronze medal in the individual pursuit at Track World Championships. On the road, Annie has worked with The Cyclery–Opus, a local Canadian team, whose underdog determination was exemplified at Canadian road nationals, where she won the road race solo on the back of some very dedicated and selfless teammates. Annie is excited to see how she can grow and develop as a cyclist in the next few years, and can’t wait to open her next cycling chapter as part of Twenty20!

Off the bike, Annie is a passionate “public health nerd”, who strives to address health inequities and advocate for socially responsible health policy decisions. She is currently riding her way through a Masters of Public Health at University of Toronto.

Career Highlights:

  • 2016 Canadian Road Champion
  • 2016 UCI Track World Championships – Bronze, Individual Pursuit
  • 2016 UCI Track World Cup Series – Overall Winner, Team Pursuit
  • 2016 Canadian Olympic Team Pursuit – Alternate

2016

  • Canadian National Championships – 1st, Road Race
  • Canadian National Championships – 5th, Time Trial
  • Chrono Gatineau, UCI 1.1 – 10th
  • UCI Track World Championships – Bronze, Individual Pursuit
  • UCI Track World Cup Series – Overall Winner, Team Pursuit
  • Canadian Olympic Team Pursuit Team – Alternate
  • UCI Road World Championships 5th Team Time Trial

2015

  • Gastown Grand Prix – 2nd
  • Basschat Kermess, Belgium – 3rd
  • Canadian National Championships – 6th, Time Trial

What inspired you to become a bike racer?

I love the dual nature of cycling – physical and mental toughness – as well as the intermingling of both the team and individual aspects of the sport; there is beauty in setting your individual aspirations aside to support the team’s best result.

Who is an inspiration to you in your life, both on and off the bike?

I admire close friends/family who are carving out meaningful spaces for themselves in the world, who thoughtfully and deliberately create a path regardless if there is one before them to follow.

Favorite meal when training?

The “Annie Classic” (veggies, eggs, cheese, toast)

The best thing about being a bike racer is?

Working closely with an array of people who may be very different than you off-the-bike, but who are unified by a similar goal on-the-bike. Racing as a cohesive unit. The freedom and exhilaration that initially brought me to love riding continue to form the undertones of my training and racing.

What is your biggest accomplishment on the bike?

Probably Canadian road nationals in 2016. Our team went in with the intention of winning the jersey and was fully committed to the team goal, regardless of who got to be the one on the podium. This was such a pure team win, and it was an honour to represent the team on the top step.

Favorite cross training or off-season activity?

Hiking, open-water swimming, trail running.

Best tip for a new bike racer?

Ask LOADS of questions. Ride with many different people. Seek to help others improve along the way. Make mistakes. Be vulnerable. Be assertive. Focus on developing your process goals. And have fun!

What are one or two things that you do daily that are the key to your success?

Aim to sleep at least 8 hours per night. This is something that I still have to be very intentional about (I can be a night owl…). I also strive to approach each situation with a “beginner’s mindset”: being intentional, deliberate and from a place of learning.


If you weren’t bike racing what would you be?

I would probably be delving further into my interests in health, equity, and social justice.

If you could spend 10 days anywhere, where would it be?

My “happy place” can be found in Canadian Shield lakes or up high in the Sierras.

TWENTY20 has an emphasis on education with the initiation of our Junior Scholarship program Ride 4 Education in 2015. http://teamtwenty16.com/education.htm

Why is continued education important?

Education is an invaluable avenue to gather “tools for the toolbox”. It provides a safe environment to feel uncomfortable, confused, and the opportunity to navigate those feelings. It sets the stage for cultivating knowledge, seeking to be informed, and challenging the status quo. Continued education provides the space to be open and the opportunity to explore diverse perspectives. Being a student-athlete has reaffirmed my belief in the transferability of skills in both directions – from academics to athletics, and vice-versa – and has helped me strive to be a lifelong learner in everything that I do.

Favorite things to do off the bike:

  • Hiking/adventuring/camping
  • Seeking out lakes/rivers to swim in
  • Exploring new music
  • Cooking/sharing space and meals with friends
  • Reading/learning

Top 5 warmup/pre-race songs on your iPod:

These are constantly changing… but the current selection includes:

  • Stay Gold (First Aid Kit)
  • Thirteen Sad Farewells (Stu Larsen)
  • Baby I’m Yours (Breakbot ft. Irfane)
  • A Long Time (Mayer Hawthorne)
  • Fight for Everyone (The Leisure Society)

Favorite things to eat:

  • Seaweed Salad
  • Pho
  • Hearty salads
  • Peanut butter
  • Anything with homemade pesto!

Tell us something about yourself that people may not know:

My teammates have been known to make fun of my ketchup consumption… I also love playing violin in string quartets.


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