Ride Across The Sky

There are many challenges in life. Some, like disease or a car wreck or unexpected business failure, come out of nowhere and we all handle them to the best of our ability.

Other challenges are ones we set for ourselves. I'm not talking about "goals", although that's certainly part of a challenge, I'm talking about challenges that border on the edge of impossibility when one sets them but are, nevertheless, accepted and attempted. Goals on steroids!

The look of success

About a year ago our son Allen (48) decided to set a challenge for himself to compete in the "Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race Across the Sky".

Leadville is the highest incorporated city in North America at 10,152 ft (3,094M). It is located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains about 100 miles from Denver.

The race attracts some of the world's leading road and mountain bike riders. Levi Leippheimer holds the record set last year taking it from Lance Armstrong who set the record the previous year (finishing the final 7 miles with a flat tire).

Allen trained incredibly hard over the last 10 months with the aid of a professional trainer. Daily, his trainer located in Colorado and a Leadville racer and Iron Woman Champion herself, took his training stats online from a GPS unit attached to his chest as he trained in Oregon. Over this time period he rode more than 3500 miles.

On August 13th Jill and I along with Allen's wife and youngest daughter, his sister and niece were at the starting line in Leadville at 6:30AM. Allen's neighbor, training partner and Oregon coach, Greg Domenichinni was there to meet Allen at various checkpoints to encourage him and resupply his water and energy needs.

Last minute advice from Greg 6:15 AM

To get into the race one must enter a lottery. Believe it or not over 7,000 riders from around the world entered. Only 1,900 were selected and 1,600 actually started the race. To receive the coveted silver and gold "Race Across The Sky" belt buckle one must finish in under 9 hours. To be rewarded the silver buckle one must finish under 12 hours. If a rider has not finished in 13 hours they are asked to leave the course. 1,276 riders finished under 12 hours. Allen's goal was to finish under 11 hours... he finished in 10 hours and 31 minutes with an average speed of 9.5 mph and placed 651st out of 1,600.

This incredible result was achieved despite discovering a few miles into the race that he had no rear brake... none, nada, zippo. This greatly reduced his downhill speed as he had to constantly "feather" his front brake to control his speed and keep from running up on other competitors or dropping over the edge of a cliff.

Check point with only 40 miles to go!

Here's some things that will help put this remarkable achievement into perspective. The race peaked at 12,600 ft. (3,840M) at the Columbine Mine. Over the one hundred mile (161km) distance, the riders climbed a total 13,000 vertical ft. (3,962m). The grade in some sections was so steep the riders had to dismount and carry their bikes on their shoulders. Riders must finish the race with the bike they started with and must do their own repairs along the way, although they can get parts and tools from their support team.

Oh, I almost forgot... Allen only has one totally functioning leg. The other was damaged in a surgery a few years ago when a spinal cord tumor was removed. The injured leg functions at best about 40%. Although you'd never hear it from him you should also know that due to some digestive surgery a few years back he needs to take in roughly 40% more fluids to stay hydrated... a critical component in a race at this altitude.

I can, I know I can! Staying focused

10 hrs and 31 minutes later ... Success!

Wife Susan and daughter Kate at the finish

Coach, friend and neighbor Greg

Support team L to R: John, Jill, Susan, Greg, Kate, Allen, Leslie, Laurel

 CONGRATULATIONS ALLEN
Silver Buckle Winner
Leadville 100 MTB 2011
"Race Across the Sky"