Athlete Profile: Karen Hanlen

2014 Oceania Mountain Bike Champion, Karen Hanlen had a battle to secure her spot in the 2014 Commonwealth Games Team, where she joined Queenstown’s Karen Fluker in the women’s line-up for the cross country race in Glasgow.

Karen Hanlen and Kate Fluker both finished in the top eight, their result hard-won after a few minor crashes on course. Hanlen had a strong finish and crossed the line in sixth place in a time of 1:43:31, just four seconds behind fifth place English rider Alice Barnes and four minutes behind winner Catherine Pendrel of Canada. Hanlen had a solid start to the race, putting Pendrel under pressure early on, but once Pendrel past the Kiwi she never looked back. 

NZ Triathlon and Multisport wanted to find out about Karen’s battle to regain her form and how she has strived to reach the top again, to finish sixth in the women's cross country race at Glasgow 2014. 

NZT&M: You were a late selection into New Zealand team for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. How did it feel to be in the Team to go to Glasgow?
KH: It was an amazing achievement to be selected to race for NZ in the 2014 CWG, and I was so excited about competing and giving it my absolute best!

NZT&M: Why were you not in the initial selection?
KH: I needed surgery to repair arterial claudication (blockage) in my leg arteries – a vascular disease specific to elite cyclists who train a lot of miles.  We had to see whether or not I could come back from surgery successfully or not in time to prepare for the Games.

Karen won the women's elite title at the 2014 Oceania Mountain Bike Championships near Christchurch. In the women's cross country race, Hanlen went up against fellow Olympian Rebecca Henderson (Australia) and Queenstown's Kate Fluker. As the race progressed, Hanlen cut Henderson's lead back to 30 seconds and, in a thrilling last lap, the New Zealander grabbed the lead.

KH: I was SO happy to win, and felt really lucky to have an incredible support team that made it possible. To win this title for the third year in a row is very special to me! Oceania champion is a prestigious title that selectors consider as part of their criteria for the team.

NZT&M: You have just had Vascular claudication surgery of both your external iliac arteries.  Has the surgery made a difference?
KH: Yes, absolutely! I'm normal again! I still keep thinking it's too good to be true, as it has been over two years since I have been symptom-free. My surgeon, Professor Roake, is amazing, and he has helped many elite NZ cyclists with the same condition as myself return to top level.

NZT&M: How tough was it coming back from this?
KH: It has definitely been a challenge. I think the hardest thing for me was having to do what I was told, as the risk of damaging the repair is very real, so I had to sit still post-operation for ten days, which was torture as I felt fine. My mum stayed by my side for the entire ten days partly to make sure I was ok but mainly to make sure I didn't sneak off for any midnight runs! Once I was given the all clear, I have had incredible support and guidance from my coach Paul Laursen, and HPSNZ/ BikeNZ Doctors: Sarah Beable and Bruce Hamilton. I couldn't wait to start training again.

NZT&M: How did you prove your form to selectors?
KH: Physically I was tracking well in terms of recovering my performance (monitored with power output in every training session), and I also passed a medical exam which showed I was healing up well.

NZT&M: How many years have you been riding mountain bikes?
KH: I started in 2010 when I began entering multisport races. I’d always thought it looked like a fun sport but had never had the opportunity to try. I absolutely loved it from the start- especially the uphill climbs.

NZT&M: What was your first race like?
KH: I graduated from multisport to my first official cross country mountain bike race in 2011 (the National Cup in Tauranga, which I won). From there I was hooked, but had a lot of work to do on my technical skills. I think I crashed in just about every race I entered that year.

NZT&M: What have been your major competitions so far in your MTB career?
KH:
2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games: 6th
2012 London Olympics: 18th
2012 South African World Cup: 8th
3 x Oceania MTB Champion 2012, 2013, 2014
2 x National MTB Champion 2012, 2013
3 x Taupo Cycle Challenge 84km - Huka XL MTB Champion
3 x Motu 160km Cycle Challenge Champion

NZT&M: Did you compete in any other sport previously?
KH: I played representative netball for Bay of Plenty and the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic development team but also multisport, mountain running, touch, golf, volleyball, athletics, basketball... pretty much any sport going at the time!!

NZT&M: What made you change to MTB?
KH: In 2010, I decided to enter some mountain bike races to improve this aspect of my multisport racing, and to my surprise, I often won. These results motivated me to pursue the sport more seriously.

NZT&M: You are an Olympian – how was it to be in the New Zealand team in London?
KH: Very special. This was a childhood dream for me, and such an amazing honour to be a part of the New Zealand team. The support and atmosphere in London was incredible, and without being biased- I think NZ is the best country in the world :)




NZT&M: You contemplated retirement after being unable to overcome issues that would result in a slow opening lap in your races, accompanied by leg pain? How hard was it to struggle through this? How did they diagnose the issue?
KH: My symptoms started in 2012 and got progressively harder to bear, not to mention frustrating, as I felt fitter and more technically able with each race but was not recording the right times. The fact that we couldn't figure out what was happening with my health was extremely difficult. The eventual diagnosis followed various other potential issues I was tested for by exercising under lab conditions including asthma, exhaustion, dietary, anxiety, you name it! BikeNZ were extremely supportive throughout and together with my coaches, husband and parents, convinced me not to give up. HPSNZ and their lead Medical Director Dr Bruce Hamilton were also involved and suggested a test for vascular claudication which came back indicating this might well be the major problem.

NZT&M: Has it finally gone?
KH: Yes, I certainly hope so! It is the best feeling to be symptom-free again after so long. I am really excited about racing again, and still find it hard to believe :).

NZT&M: Where is home for you?
KH: I was born and bred in Whakatane and count myself lucky to still live there today. Almost all my training takes place on the stunning tracks, roads, hills and forestries in the area.

NZT&M: How often are you away?
KH: It varies and depends on whether I’m competing in any of the World Cup events, which get very expensive when you’re travelling under your own steam and not as part of a professional racing team, and can require weeks away from my family and time off work.

NZT&M: What is your training regime?
KH: That’s top secret.  Kidding.  It’s a nice blend of everything – long rides, recovery rides, technical rides, some gym work, and loads of different interval sessions – fortunately I have a coach who knows what he’s doing so the sessions appear in the right order at the right time.

NZT&M: What is the competition calendar for MTB?
KH: I think there are around nine World Cup or World Championships races each year, starting in South Africa in April and running through to the World Champs in September. I also compete in the NZ Cup series at the start of the year and the Oceania Championships tend to take place prior to the World Cup series.

NZT&M: You are also a mother. How old are you children?
KH: Caleb is 7 and Aramia is 5

NZT&M: How do you balance being a Mum with your MTB career?
It is a definite challenge, made possible through the support of my family and a lot of organisation and communication around training and race commitments.

NZT&M: You also balance a job into this mix?
I studied physiotherapy at AUT University in Auckland and have since worked as a Physiotherapist at Whakatane Hospital.

NZT&M: Do you have family support?
KH: There is no way I could be here without the unwavering support of my husband, Mark and parents Alan and Merle. They sacrifice a huge amount to enable me to train and compete and Mark and I have pretty well put all our other aspirations on hold, (other than raising our children), so we can focus on my mountain biking. I also have an amazing biking family that really goes above and beyond including my coach Paul Laursen and support team Rod Siegel, Julia Skleryk and Simon Smith, my sponsors Specialized NZ, Whakatane Cycle Centre, Mackie Dental Specialists and Icebreaker, my Iwi Ngati Pukeko and Ngati Pikiao.

NZT&M: What are your goals for the future?
KH:  I look forward to continuing to compete in NZ and representing my amazing sponsor Specialized NZ, as well as travelling abroad to the World Cup and Championship races. Rio 2016 is certainly in my sights :)

Images: Rob Young (Facebook.com/YoungRobPhotos)


Originally published in New Zealand Triathlon & Multisport Issue 99, November 2014