The van has become my comfortable kennel this summer. It has everything I need to race enduro, train for self-supported bikepacking adventures and to travel near and far.
Its no secret that I'm moving to the Inland Northwest, AKA Spokane, Washington. I may or may not be ready to leave Colorado (depending on what kind of a day you catch me on). Either way, I've loved living here for the past (almost) decade. Its been real. And before I go, I wanted a last hurrah. So I have committed myself to the CTR (Colorado Trail Race), 539 miles and 70K feet of pushing/pedaling myself across the state as fast as I can.
Read more about why I'm doing this and about the fundraising I'm doing here and give a donation to The Check-In Foundation if you're so inspired.
The race starts in 5 days. Lot's of friends have been asking me if I feel ready. Here's a version of my standard answer: I feel like I was born to compete in the CTR, and I also feel like this is the sort of thing that no one is ever really ready for.
This is an update on training, which has very much been a mental as well as a physical endeavor.
If you wish to follow my (slow and steady) progress starting next Sunday, July 29th at 6am, you can follow my dot on this website.
Read more about why I'm doing this and about the fundraising I'm doing here and give a donation to The Check-In Foundation if you're so inspired.
The race starts in 5 days. Lot's of friends have been asking me if I feel ready. Here's a version of my standard answer: I feel like I was born to compete in the CTR, and I also feel like this is the sort of thing that no one is ever really ready for.
This is an update on training, which has very much been a mental as well as a physical endeavor.
If you wish to follow my (slow and steady) progress starting next Sunday, July 29th at 6am, you can follow my dot on this website.
Setting off from Loma, feeling strong at the start of the Kokopelli trail My first overnight bikepacking trip was somewhat rushed between selling our house in Frisco and moving our last van load to Spokane and racing my first Scott enduro cup of the season. And it resulted in a brief disaster. I attempted to do the Kokopelli trail from Loma, Colorado to Moab, Utah by myself just before the Moab Scott Enduro Cup. I got off to a great start, but I forgot to pack a few little things (like fuel for my stove). I had heard from a friend that the usual water refill spot at Westwater had been capped, so I would need to stash water along the route. Due to a lot of driving to deposit some water jugs, I got a late start (like 2pm). I still managed to knock out 40 miles in some pretty high temperatures before nightfall. I have never done well in the heat, and by early evening, I was battling a migraine. I collapsed at my water cache in Westwater around 9:20pm and promptly emptied my stomach of everything I had eaten over the previous 7 hours (which wasn't much). I spent the night shivering in my bivy, and woke up feeling hung-over. As soon as my eyes glimpsed the sun on the horizon, I knew I had to call it. Thus began my foray into the world of bikepacking.
I tried to see this as a success as it was a learning experience and my first overnight. But I honestly felt like a failure and I decided to lower my expectations and to have a successful next mission.
I tried to see this as a success as it was a learning experience and my first overnight. But I honestly felt like a failure and I decided to lower my expectations and to have a successful next mission.
Aftermath of first overnight. *Warning: Actual emesis may be visible in this photo.