11/07/2023
Final thoughts on 6-12-24 WTTC,
I came into this race with zero expectations, and the only goal being to survive the 12hr mark and to honor my dad on the anniversary of his death by riding his bike in this event.
That being said this race is something else. The temperature shifts from day to night, the dryness of the environment, and the unrelenting sun make this race and venue a challenge for anyone. I have never gone from not being able to feel my fingers, to having my amazing crew dump ice on every part of my body in under 4 hours but that's what happened here. The air would literally suck every drop of moisture off your body so you went from being totally soaked to bone dry in under 10min in the 90 degree sun. At one point I had to stop or risk heat stroke and have my crew put ice bags all over me to prevent overheating.
It was a struggle but I loved every minute of it because of what I was doing it for.
Would I do it again? Maybe when the memory of that crazy place fades a bit. I can't even imagine what the 24hr riders went through. But still despite all that most of the people there had a smile on their face as they were putting their bodies through hell. Ultra cyclists are something else and it was a privilege to share the road with them. It's an experience I will remember for a long time.
