What Epic Adventures Will You Tackle in 2019?
EN Goes Epic!
First off, I'm super stoked to see so many ENers embracing epic adventures and think 2019 is going to be another great year for the team! There was a big group interested in the Austin Rattler ultra until the race date got moved. EN will be representing big time at Leadville this year with @Dino Sarti and @John Stark tackling on the Leadville MTB 100, and me, @Tim Sullivan, @tim cronk, @Scott Giljum, and @Clark Mitchell taking on the Leadville Trail Run 100. Like Rich used to say, "use your fitness to do cool shit!"
My Adventures for 2019: Playing in the Dirt
I'll get the party started... Last year I started off focused on triathlon training leading up to Ironman Santa Rosa and then pivoted to ultra training leading up to the Wasatch 100. The theme of this year is "Playing in the Dirt." That is, all my adventures will be off-road.
Without further ado, here is what I have on tap:
- Moab EN Epic Camp in March. This will focus on off-road adventures with mountain biking and trail running in one of the most magical places on the planet. The campers include: me, @tim cronk and Heather Weber, @Dave Campbell, @Mark Stahlkopf, and @John Stark.
- Zion 100k in April. I was planning to do the Rattler King (the 100k MTB Saturday followed by the 66k run Sunday) with the EN crew, but the dates were shifted to overlap with Zion. I had already signed up for Zion, so that knocked me out of Rattler. Zion 100k is a Western States qualifier for the first time. I figured I scratch another Utah ultra off the list and get my ticket punched early for Western States. @Scott Giljum is also considering this race. I'll probably do some shorter distance races leading up to this, but it's going to depend upon how my schedule shakes out. I'm trying to juggle my schedule to join @tim cronk next week at Arches 50k.
- Leadville Trail Run 100 "The Race Across The Sky." If you're the one or two people who've followed my adventures over the last couple years, you'll recall that my Leadman run ended at mile 50 of the Run 100 due to a fucked up knee. I made it through all the other Leadville races. This will be my redemption race. I'll also do the Run Camp in June along with @tim cronk, @Scott Giljum, and @Clark Mitchell.
- Moab 240. Yes, two-hundred-and-forty motherfucking miles! This sounds insane, even to me. I signed up when registration opened New Years Day before the hangover wore off. @Francis Picard needs to pull the trigger and register for Moab 240.
The wild card is I'd like to do an endurance MTB race or gravel grinder to motivate me to hit the cycling training hard. I loved the MTB/ultra format of Rattler King. Leadville has a race called the Silver Rush King that is similar. You ride the Silver Rush MTB 50 on Saturday and do the Run 50 on Sunday. I did the MTB 50 as part of the Leadman, and it was pound-for-pound the toughest ride I've ever done. I actually thought it bordered on unsafe. I'm also intrigued by the Belgian Waffle Gravel Grinder in May. It's something like 130 miles of mixed surfaces through San Diego county. Any endurance MTB races or gravel grinders I should consider?
Comments
Not sure if it all qualifies as epic but, my key races this year are endurance mountain biking events. Just to make it harder I plan to use my fat bike for (almost) everything.
· Feb – Polar roll fat bike race (Michigan): https://thepolarroll.com/
· March - Moab with the EN crew
· April – Bary Roubaix 60 mile gravel race (Michigan): https://barry-roubaix.com/
· May – Bear 100 mile gravel (Wisconsin): http://thebear100.com/
· June – Al camp (Colorado)
· June – Lutsen 99er (Minnesota): https://www.lutsen99er.com/
· July- Door County Tri (Wis) I should probably swim some before this 😊
· August – Ride across Wisconsin (road bike): https://www.rideacrosswisconsin.com/
· August – 12 hours at Road America: https://www.roadamerica12.com/
· September Marj Gesick 100 Mi (Michigan): https://marjigesick100.com/
Well... I am not yet epic. As of now my focus is totally to get a Leadville coin at Rattler. This is my last resort to get in ahah..
This weekend I hope to get into Vermont 100.
I am waiting the good moment to register at Moab 240.
In September I am going again at Frozen Head State park to get briars cut in the Rat Jaw.
@Mark Stahlkopf wow yes your list is EPIC
@Gabe Peterson and @Francis Picard we need to change the title of this thread to What Stupid Adventures will you tackle in 2019? If your gonna be dumb you gotta be tough... These two dudes are tough and well lets just say intelligence is questionable :-) Carry on BAMFo's
Only ONE the Leadville 100..... But I will live vicariously through you guys ....
MOAB 240 is definitely crazy and Stupid. you tell us afterwards if it was awesome. Remember the old days when an ironman was epic?
@Mark Stahlkopf wow, I love that list of cycling events. One of these years, I'll do a cycling focused year, and it will look a lot like your list. I've been keeping that in my back pocket for when I finally get a running injury and need to take a break.
@Francis Picard the Vermont 100k should be a good warmup for Leadville! I'm on the waitlist for BFC. I'd like to check it out to see if I want to take a shot at the Barkley. When I tell civilians I'm am ultrarunner they always ask if I've done the Barkley, kind of like when you say you're an Ironman they ask if you've done Kona. After listening the David Goggins' book Can't Hurt Me and his account of Bad Water 135, I'm thinking I'll apply for Bad Water next year. If the season goes as planned, I'll have met the requirement of three 100+ foot races.
@tim cronk ha, that should be the title of this thread! There is a fine line between epic and stupid. The part that makes Moab seem feasible to me is that I'll plan to sleep. For me, the hardest part of a 100 is staying up all night. I'm not a night owl. By 2AM I'm battling to stay awake. Also, I've wanted to take up fastpacking, and this seems like a good entree. I'm thinking I'll plan some 1-3 night through hike fastpacking excursions as prep for Moab.
@Robert Sabo racing an Ironman at the level you're at will always be epic! 😉
OMG i got a lottery spot at vermont 100K!!
now need to find a 100-120 miler before August 31.
Nothing truly epic this year, just a year of my usual local-ish races and some travel to new countries!
-President's Day Weekend 3-day base camp, Fredericksburg TX "Texas Hill Country"
-EN Mallorca Camp, followed by a week in Belgium (beer, cycling, chocolate, etc)
-Xterra Dallas, Flower Mound TX
-CapTex Oly, Austin TX
-Eagleman 70.3, Cambridge MD
-TriWaco Sprint Tri, Waco TX
-River Cities Sprint Tri, Shreveport LA
-Hotter n Hell weekend (MTB race, 100 mile endurance ride, 100k gravel grinder, 13.7m trail half mary), Wichita Falls TX
-don't know the rest of the sports year, but will end up in Australia for New Years, I hope!
2020 will bring Leadville 100 MTB and the whole year will be focused on it.
R2R2R (April)
Zugspitz Ultratrail 100KM (June)
Looking for one more (Fall)?
now registered for Moab 240
@Patrick Large Enjoy R2R2R, it's majestic, awe inspiring, and epic!
thanks @Clark Mitchell I am pumped for this one for sure!!
After IM Ireland and IM Kona - which are both epic enough for me - I plan to finish the year and start the next one by climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. I will be travelling with my youngest son and daughter in law. The hike starts on 26 Dec with the summit day scheduled for 1 Jan 2020.
@Paul Hough yes Ireland and Kona are epic, but Kilimanjaro is insanity. So much fun! Congrats and good luck.
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Thanks for starting Gabe. I plan on the 100k Zion race with you (my first go at that distance) followed by the Leadville camp and 100 race (also with you AND first go at that distance). Typing that out makes me realize 1. Gabe, you’re going to have a lot of Scott time (god help you) and 2. This year could be great or an epic flame out, but I’m looking forward to the challenge!
@Scott Giljum I would guys that nobody has an epic year without many many "epic flame outs"
so stoked for all of you and looking forward to walking in your footsteps in years to come.
@Paul Hough looking forward to following your Kilimanjaro adventure! That's on my bucket list.