Gay’s love for fitness emerged later in life. Growing up in Huntley, Wyoming, before the era of Title IX, opportunities for women in sports were rare, limited mostly to P.E. classes. Years later, as her sons became involved in inline speed skating, she decided to join them at the age of 44. Although the competitive starts often left her wondering, “Why the heck am I here?” She found the sport a welcome break from the pressures of work.

Injuries from running eventually led her to rediscover cycling, a passion she’d nurtured since childhood. At 62, Gay competed in her first Wyoming Senior Olympics and was immediately hooked. She began traveling to cycling camps across the country, investing in Specialized S-Works bikes, and setting her sights on becoming a top competitor.