it's been a year already?? the breck epic revisited
Last year in honor of turning 50 years old- I set the goal to "race" the Breck Epic. I figured if I was gonna be old - I might as well be fit. ;)
I use the word "race" lightly because in all honesty, my only goal to was to finish the race. It's been named one of the 12 hardest races in the world (up there with the Leadville 100, Badwater Ultra and the H.U.R.T 100.) I had no illusions that it would be a walk in the park and I did my best to prepare myself.
I trained for over 9 months for that race. During the winter months I went to the ATC 3 times week for killer "functional" workouts that make CrossFit look like childs play.
I would do 50 mile rides on my mtn bike in the dead of the Colorado winter. I would do back-to-back 8 hours rides over and over again on the weekends. I would ride 3x20 minute intervals on my road bike on Left Hand Canyon every Saturday morning. I would do excruciatingly long, boring rides at altitude at a very low heart rate. (it was a good way to get caught up on books by listening to the audio versions) I would ride a lot of high elevation miles to get the "high altitude" legs dialed in. I changed my diet to eat better to fuel my rides, I took a gazillion ice baths.
In the end - I accomplished my goal and more. I ended up on the top step of the podium every day for 6 days straight. And yes - there were *only* 2 of us in my age category and i certainly didn't set any speed records, but as my friend Kay says "everyone was invited" and as my other friend Dana D. says "girrrl! the only reason there were 2 ladies over 50+ is because there aren't many 50 plus-ers that can do that race".
I have had mixed emotions about my "win". For the past year I have felt both very proud and embarrassed by my accomplishment.
I was so stoked by the race - In Sept 2011 - I immediately signed up for the 2012 3 day version (run in conjunction with the 6 day) . At the time I didn't know I would fall in love with running. As the 2012 race day started creeping up, I realized I wasn't willing to stop running to train for this race. So I emailed the race director asking if I could defer my entry until next year and volunteer instead. Luckily for me, he said "yes".
I have just gotten home from Breck. I've spent that last 3 days in Breckenridge volunteering. And looking at it from the volunteer side - I am totally floored that I finished the race.
Every day is a grueling and fun.(if you like suffering) The climbing is stupendous (avg of 40+ miles w/over 6500k elevation per day with the elevation never dropping under 10k). AND the trails are HARD - in order to have fun you HAVE to have some competent mtn bike skills. I guarantee - the descents are the "real deal" - it's not all buff smooth singletrack but descents filled with exposure, big rock gardens, roots and switchbacks. I took some veteran Ironman friends on one of the rides and by the end of one day they were crying for their Mommas.
This is a video of Stage 5. :)
This is a video of Stage 4.
This is a video of Stage 2. The race director says at the start "If you smell ozone (i.e. lightening is fixin' to strike!) in the air - pull the plug"...oh yeah - don't get better than that... ;)
Watch more videos on CyclingDirt
All I can say is "big kudos to everyone attempting this race. It IS hard. It will eat your lunch and test your limits" I'm not sure I'll ever put the time/effort to race the 6 day version again, but after watching the race from the "other side of the fence" - I'm not embarrassed about my win in 2011 (i usually try not to brag about myself) but I fucking earned it!
I use the word "race" lightly because in all honesty, my only goal to was to finish the race. It's been named one of the 12 hardest races in the world (up there with the Leadville 100, Badwater Ultra and the H.U.R.T 100.) I had no illusions that it would be a walk in the park and I did my best to prepare myself.
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| hell yeah!! I EARNED that belt buckle |
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| the back has "bad motherfucker - Breck Epic 2011 - 6 days-251 miles - 42k vertical |
I would do 50 mile rides on my mtn bike in the dead of the Colorado winter. I would do back-to-back 8 hours rides over and over again on the weekends. I would ride 3x20 minute intervals on my road bike on Left Hand Canyon every Saturday morning. I would do excruciatingly long, boring rides at altitude at a very low heart rate. (it was a good way to get caught up on books by listening to the audio versions) I would ride a lot of high elevation miles to get the "high altitude" legs dialed in. I changed my diet to eat better to fuel my rides, I took a gazillion ice baths.
In the end - I accomplished my goal and more. I ended up on the top step of the podium every day for 6 days straight. And yes - there were *only* 2 of us in my age category and i certainly didn't set any speed records, but as my friend Kay says "everyone was invited" and as my other friend Dana D. says "girrrl! the only reason there were 2 ladies over 50+ is because there aren't many 50 plus-ers that can do that race".
 |
| day 5 podium shot - I received a new leaders jersey every day for 6 days straight! |
I have had mixed emotions about my "win". For the past year I have felt both very proud and embarrassed by my accomplishment.
I was so stoked by the race - In Sept 2011 - I immediately signed up for the 2012 3 day version (run in conjunction with the 6 day) . At the time I didn't know I would fall in love with running. As the 2012 race day started creeping up, I realized I wasn't willing to stop running to train for this race. So I emailed the race director asking if I could defer my entry until next year and volunteer instead. Luckily for me, he said "yes".
I have just gotten home from Breck. I've spent that last 3 days in Breckenridge volunteering. And looking at it from the volunteer side - I am totally floored that I finished the race.
Every day is a grueling and fun.(if you like suffering) The climbing is stupendous (avg of 40+ miles w/over 6500k elevation per day with the elevation never dropping under 10k). AND the trails are HARD - in order to have fun you HAVE to have some competent mtn bike skills. I guarantee - the descents are the "real deal" - it's not all buff smooth singletrack but descents filled with exposure, big rock gardens, roots and switchbacks. I took some veteran Ironman friends on one of the rides and by the end of one day they were crying for their Mommas.
This is a video of Stage 5. :)
This is a video of Stage 4.
This is a video of Stage 2. The race director says at the start "If you smell ozone (i.e. lightening is fixin' to strike!) in the air - pull the plug"...oh yeah - don't get better than that... ;)
Watch more videos on CyclingDirt
All I can say is "big kudos to everyone attempting this race. It IS hard. It will eat your lunch and test your limits" I'm not sure I'll ever put the time/effort to race the 6 day version again, but after watching the race from the "other side of the fence" - I'm not embarrassed about my win in 2011 (i usually try not to brag about myself) but I fucking earned it!
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