Moab, Utah – Team Type 1’s Kerry White is approaching this weekend’s USA Cycling 24-Hour Mountain Bike National Championships as a personal battle, rather than a competition against thousands of other racers.

White will be the only member of Team Type 1’s Elite team competing in the race in Moab, Utah. The race that begins Saturday at noon will be run in conjunction with the 15th edition of the 24 Hours of Moab, one of the country’s most prestigious mountain bike races. The 39-year-old native of Sydney, Australia, who lives in Vail, Colo., finished third in the solo women’s division at Moab last year.

“Last year, this race didn’t double as the national championship so I’m going to be significantly more humbled this year,” White said. “I do these races because I love to ride my bike. It is not really about results, winning or prestige. It is about challenging myself personally.”

Since her diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 11, White has strived to spread the message that having diabetes should not put the brakes on your goals. In 2007, she was the only solo woman to finish the Race Across America (RAAM), completing the more than 3,000-mile race in 13 days. Twice, she has been a member of the winning four-woman team in RAAM.

“We (people with Type 1 diabetes) know our bodies and having a strong mind dealing with this disease allows me to stay mentally strong throughout a race like this,” she said. “My blood sugar control during these races is usually the easy part. The before and after the race can be challenging, but if I eat right and stick to what works, it is usually very successful.”