No run today.
Ultimate Challenge Cycle Ride
~113.3 miles
~12,750 ft elevation gain
7:04:18 total time, including 5 stops and wait time
Finish time ~1:40 PM
This has become a staple event for me. It's my fourth consecutive year doing it and honestly, its one of the days I most look forward to during the year. Why?... Because its just fun. You've got the Tour of Utah atmosphere (the ride is just the amateur version of the same route (the "queen stage") the pro Tour riders do a few hours later). There are lots of peope, especially in LCC, and just a lot of energy surrounding the event. Its really not a race, though some folks like to push and be among the first to finish. Though you get a race bib, the event is not timed. That fact, combined with the fact that there are several distance options - Full course (starts downtown SLC ~113 miles), half course (starts in Coalville ~60 miles), and a short course (starts at the swamp lot) - and they all start at different times and end at Snowbird, makes it difficult to approximate where you rank in terms of finishing placement. If I had to guess, I was probably in the top 10%-5% of finishers for the full route.
The course started just east of the Rio Grande building downtown. It winds a few blocks west and south before heading directly East up past the north side of East High School, Sunnyside, and then up Emigration Canyon. Then over Little and Big Mountains, down past East Canyon and north to Henefer. Then around Echo, Coalville, and Wanship. South past Rockport and to the turn-off to Brown's Canyon. Up Brown's and to Park City. Then up Deer Valley to Guardsman, down BCC, and south on Wasatch Blvd. Then the final climb to Entry B at Snowbird.
Started the ride with Dayne (a friend and member of last year's Lotoja team). We stayed together through the start of Brown's Canyon, Then I rode ahead and was alone up 3/4ths up Guardsman when I caught Robbie, another friend and last year Lotoja teamate. On his way to the start, he forgot his glasses and had to go back home to get them (in Foothill). He started about 20 mins early from his house and got picked up with the first peloton of riders. He rode with them to Park City before the group got strung out. I finally caught up to him on the Guardsman climb. We rode down BCC together where he met his family at the 7-11 at the bottom of the canyon for a stop. I continued on alone to the finish.
Overall, I felt great. Took the first part of the ride to Park City conservatively. Probably even more so than last year. Ate throughout the ride to keep energy levels up - Mostly soft Nature Valley bars - must have had at least 8 of them. Also fruit. Took a full EFS flask (~400 calories) at the base of Brown's and felt great going up that climb at a good modest clip. The Deer Valley/Guardsman climb was tough as usual, but I think I paced it pretty wisely. I passed a lot of people and didn't get passed on that climb. Was careful not to blow my wad on that climb and have nothing left for LCC (like had happened to me 2 years ago).
LCC was also hard, but I felt good and kept moving at a good clip. The cooler weather and slight tailwind definitely helped. My dad met me at the base of the canyon and handed me a Coke, which was wonderfully refreshing. I did a lot of passing up the climb and only got passed once at the start of the climb by a dude who was just flying. I truthfully don't think he was part of the Ultimate Challenge ride. He wasn't wearing a bib and just looked fresh.
I was surprised at how many super strong women there were in the ride. Many were toward the top finishers. Several who were part of the TOSH team. They are super awesome ladies. Very strong and fit.
Anyways, super fun day and ride.
| 