This cycling race report is from Heidi Nielson. Thanks Heidi and AWESOME job on this crazy hard race!
Sometime last spring my brother-in-law Geno Smith, talked to me about
doing the
Everest Challenge. Now, at this point, all I wanted to do was
think about it. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into and
I had only heard how hard it was. I took up cycling a little over two
years ago and have had some success, but I am 46 years old and felt too
old to be taking on a goal like Everest. Being the somewhat competitive
person I am, I decided to do it. After all, it is only a challenge or a
ride and I could do anything as long as I did not have the pressure of
racing. So, I embarked on the journey of training for this and also
thought I would throw in LOTOJA (206 mile road race from Logan, Utah to
Jackson Hole, Wyoming) scheduled just three weeks before Everest. I
trained hard for six months and never missed a day of training. I rode
LOTOJA and things went really well for me there and now I was ready for
this ride. The biggest issue came one week before the ride when I was
informed that this was not a ride, but it was a race. For some reason,
this changed everything for me. Remember how I mentioned that I was
somewhat competitive, I actually understated that just a little. I am
very competitive and I wanted to do really well.
So, here we go. What is the "Everest Challenge?" it is a 2 day
stage race that climbs the elevation of Mt. Everest (29,035 vertical
feet). It is all about the climb, which is my favorite way to cycle.
The steeper.... the better. The Everest Challenge is held in Bishop,
California. A hidden treasure of beautiful scenery and incredible climbs
located in the Eastern Sierras. The mileage of the race is about 88
miles the first day and 70 miles the second day. There is hardly any
flat, except when traversing to the next climb. There is support along
the way but I found to have my own support was easier and I could get
the food and supplements that I had trained with. All in all, it was a
well organized race and I truly believe the organizers do everything
they can to run a great and safe race.
I will give you a quick look at the two days that ruled my life for
six months. First bit of advice, DO NOT attempt this without proper
training. I had in place a great team. I have an awesome coach by the
name of Tyler Wren, who prepared me for a race ... not just a ride. He
gave me a great balance of hard work and recovery. His knowledge of the
sport and how to coach was essential to my race. I also ride with a
great team. MiDoule is a group of riders who love challenging
themselves and who have helped me through my mistakes as a rider. Last, I
have an incredible mechanic, Troy. He puts my bike back together far
too often. I am sure he spends more time on my bike than any other.
Day 1 was a 88 mile day with 15,000 feet of climbing ahead of me.
I arose early for a 6;40 a.m. start. My pre-race meal consisted of
McDonald's oatmeal and an Egg Mcmuffin. I take sport legs, some
enduralites, advil and BCAA. It was chilly and the full moon was setting
as the sun was rising. The first climb was pretty easy and I took my
spot on the back of the front pack. I hung with them and felt great
until we hit a very steep portion at the top. I didn't lose too much
ground and the descent was fast and fun.
So, one climb down, five to go. The second climb which was 8 miles
went really well. I felt strong and was sitting in a great position. I
think at this point I was maybe feeling a little too confident. As we
turned to descend this section, I couldn't believe we were already done
with two climbs. The descent was again fast, but this time, I made a
crucial mistake. First, I did not listen when the race instructor
warned us about a really sharp turn half way down. Second, my speed was
far above my expertise. I hit this turn and lost control. I slammed
on my brakes and went flying across the road into a pile of sage brush.
I remember doing a somersault and watching my bike fly over me. My
first thought was, "how will I tell Tyler that all that training was a
waste and that I blew it". I immediately felt my tires, picked up my
bike a ran to the road. Three people were running towards me and I
begged them to get my bike working. I was so mad and just wanted to get
back in the race. To this day, I still can't believe that my bike was
okay and that this amazing man was able to adjust a few things and get
me back on the road. I am the most fortunate person that I did not
injure another biker or that a car was not headed up the road at this
time. If we do not learn from our mistakes, they are not worth
anything. I learned more in that few moments than you can imagine. I
learned that nothing is so important that I would ever risk my life or
someone else's safety or life. I learned that I need to always focus and
be thinking at all times while on my bike. I also learned that I do
have the will to keep going, even when unfortunate things happen.
I rode from this point on with determination to make up the time I
had lost in the crash. The adrenaline was pretty amazing as well. Off to
the final climb of the first day. I believe it was about 20 miles and
it was probably the best climb of my life. I finished strong that first
day and felt great even with the crash and setback. I ended the first
day with a 25 minute lead over the second place woman in the Masters
category. That day, six women finished under the seven hour mark and I
was number six. I was excited and ready to go again the next day.
Day 2.... I was tired and a little banged up. I did not feel so
hot. What did I expect? The only option was to get on my bike and ride.
The first climb of the day was not steep, but it was a steady climb with
little rest. I stayed again with the front pack but was dropped on the
descent. I was a little nervous and did not feel like crashing again.
Also, this decent had a steep drop off on the downhill side. You would
not survive if you went off this side, not worth going fast for. Just to
add insult to injury, I flatted towards the bottom. I was in a
predicament, because of day one's events. My right hand was injured and I
had little power if any in that hand to shift. I knew my hand would not
be able to change a flat. Again, another great guy stopped and changed
my tube for me and had me rolling within minutes.
On the second climb, I was a little deflated but not defeated. I
just pushed my hardest and climbed to the best of my ability at this
point. What was hard on this climb (again because I did not listen) was
the fact that they had added three miles on to the end of the climb.
Mentally I was not prepared for this, but again the only option was to
continue.
So finally the last and final climb. I was spent and done. I had
been told this was the hardest of the climbs, but I was hoping I had
been mislead and it wouldn't be so bad. Just twenty more miles of
climbing and I would be done. It started out as a roller coaster type
ride. Up a steep short climb and then it would level off or go down
slightly. This seemed to last forever, but then with a thousand feet
left to climb it all turned. It turned into the steepest switchbacks I
have ever climbed. There were times when I thought , "Who cares if you
quit?" I really thought I could just get off my bike and walk faster
than I was climbing. Finally, I crossed the finish line and my husband
Chris had to literally pick me up off my bike because I could not lift a
leg to get off by myself. I had just finished the hardest physical
thing I have ever done in my entire life.
I just want to tell you how I got through the last climb. There are
two reasons. The first, I always ride with a name or two written on my
wrist. These names are people who are struggling or suffering with
some sort of earthly trial. One of the names I had on my wrist that day
was Brock. He had just passed away from liver disease at the age of
21. I never knew him, but think what you want, there is a reason I was
able to ride after my crash. The second and most important reason I
survived was my husband Chris. He followed me yelling encouragements and
giving me nutrition and water. His version of me yelling at him to
feed me is quite amusing. I will tell my biking would mean nothing if I
did not have him to share it with. He supports me and loves me even
though I tend to take this biking thing way too seriously. In fact, I
believe he supported more than just me on the race. I heard countless
stories of how he changed this flat or relayed a message for this group.
After the race we would walk in a store and someone would know Chris
because he had helped them. Only those of us who selfishly ride and
train, know the critical importance of a support system and I will argue
with anyone that I have the best. Thanks, Chris. I love you.
The race is over. I feel accomplished and happy. I placed well and
gave it my all. I have given birth to six great kids and a few other
kids have joined our family and I will tell you I am blessed. I love
biking. I love that I have met people like Steph Christensen through
biking. I have great friends because of this crazy sport and isn't that
what life is all about, RELATIONSHIPS. Should you do it? Absolutely!
Never pass up a challenge !!!
Just a side note on nutrtion. My coach, Tyler has me eat every hour. I forgot to eat towards the
end of the race and it really hurt me. EAT,EAT,EAT. That is what he
says. I got a little tongue lashing because we had practiced eating and I
didn't keep to it the last day. Yes, practiced eating !!!
What I like to eat..... Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, protein
bars, bananas and sport beans. I do not love gels and GUS. It is all
very personal.
What I like to drink. There is nothing like EFS for me. I love it.
I did not include all the specifics of the race. You can just google Everest Challenge Bike Race and look it up.
