EPIC TRAINING SYSTEMS- 2006 Everest Challenge Race Report

EPIC TRAINING SYSTEMS

Endure, Excel, Achieve

2006 Everest Challenge Race Report

Saturday September 23, 2006 Day 1
120 miles 15,465 feet of climbing

Results for the 2-Day Everest Challenge

RESULTS 38 out of 65 Cat 4/5 starters 19 DNFs

R ESULTS 116 GC out of 153 finishers ,31 DNF's TOTAL 184 STARTERS

Sunday September 24, 2006 Day 2

86 miles 13,570 feet of climbing

Climb #1 Mosquito Flats

22 miles 6,200 feet of gain 2 hours 27 minutes

Total work 1666 kj

Avg watts 190 watts

At 10,250' it is the highest paved road in the Sierras. The run in is 11
miles long. The first 8 miles is neutralized. The climb is 22 miles,
average grade is 5%. Maximum grade lower half 9%, upper half 11%.
source, event website

I felt confident that all the training I had done was going to pay off so
when the first break went I followed. That only last about 5 minutes and
I was blown out the back. I continued on the climb at my pace and was
passed by the same people I had passed just a few minutes ago. You
think I would learn.

I see the climb up to Mosquito Flats as two separate climbs. The first 7
miles then there is a dip about a mile which is followed by a shallow uphill
grade and then the last 10 miles. I like to go easy on the first climb just to
see how I'm feeling and then "turn it on" on the last 10 mile section.

I didn't have the same altitude issues I did last year. I just paced myself
up and conserved energy because I knew it was a long day.

On the climb up I was dreading the descent. I could feel it getting colder
and colder. The decent was very cold, in the 30's, but you only have to
grin and bear it for about 10 minutes or so. Once you fall under 7,000 feet
it starts to warm up.

Climb #2 Pine Creek

8 miles 2500 feet of gain 1 hour 10 mins

Total work 742 kj

Avg watts    193 watts

Pine Creek to 7,420' in 8 miles, average grade is 7%, max is 9%, extended
sections of 8%. source, event website

I like this climb. It is very scenic as it takes you through a canyon. You
see the mountains reaching for the heavens on either side of you as you
climb and climb. Sure it is only 8 miles but the grade is steady and most
of it is 8%.

By this time the lead boys were long gone and I figured I might as well
pace myself and settle in for a long day. Sure I had illusions of finishing
higher in the General Classification (GC) but I could see that all
disappearing.

I was still feeling good after the second climb and I was ready for the last
climb. I had been riding alone for hours already.

Climb #3 South Lake

20.4 miles and 5400 feet of gain 2 hours 53 mins

Total work 1586 kj

Avg watts 173 watts

Then it's up to "Bishop Creek to 9,835' in 20.4 miles, average grade 6%.
While this is not the highest spot or most vertical gain, the last mile has
two short sections around 15% grade and will certainly test your strength
and endurance and desire to stay on the bike. Bottom half has extended
sections of 8-9% grade, max grade 9%." source, event website

I find this climb to be psychologically difficult because you can see the
climb ahead for miles and miles. Last year I had a lot of "hot foot" on this
climb and had to dismount and take my shoes off for a few minutes.

The hardest section of this climb is when you turn off the main road and
you get through some of the gentle grades on your way to the lake. You
will hit ramp after ramp that pitches up and up. Many times I see riders
dismount. By this point, I am so glad that I have a compact crank with
53/39 and 11/27 cassette.

One way I was able to definitely know that I was in better shape this year
was that when I got to the top of South Lake I could eat the food they
were grilling. I had a grill cheese sandwich and a cup of soup and felt
better right away. Last year I couldn't eat a thing for hours after the event.

TIME FOR FIRST DAY 8:43:28 PLACE 62 out of 65

Climb #4 Glacier Lodge

9 miles with 3900 feet of gain

Total work 1586 kj

Avg watts 173 watts

Day Two starts outside Big Pine with a climb up towards the Palisade
Glacier. The temperature at the start was 33F degrees. Starting
elevation 3,940' finishing elevation 7,800'. The run-in is 4 miles long.
The first 3 miles are neutralized and marshaled through the first stop
sign and across the Highway 395. The actual climb is 9 miles with an
average grade of almost 8% (max is 11%). There are extended portions
of 9-10%.

I noticed the group at the start line was a little thinner than the day
before. It wasn’t until later that I found out that many riders had DNF’
d and were not starting on the second day. In the end, 19 riders in
the Cat. 4/5 fell victim to the rigorous climbing of the Everest
Challenge.

Day 2 begins with a steep climb averaging 8%. The challenge (yes I
used challenge) is that there is only a two mile warm up and then bam
you are into the first climb. 9 miles of steady 8% grade. I was
determined to ride a little harder today. I noticed that I felt fine after
day one.

At the foot of the first climb the pace quickened. I jumped on the
break and was feeling pretty good. Just then my friend Todd says to
me, “Are you going to stay up here today?” I shrugged and said “yeah
let’s see how I feel.”. Well that lasted only a few minutes and out the
back I went.

This is a great climb. If I lived locally I would do this climb often. It’s
long enough to hurt, yet short enough to do often.

I finally figured out how to keep fueled at EC. Let me explain.
Typically I like to drink a bottle, or two if it’s hot, while I descend.
The “challenge” at EC is I think the aid stations are too far apart. What
I did on the second day was I would fill the two bottles on my bike and
then take a third with me on the descent. I would chug down the extra
bottle and eat two or three gel packets and then still have two full
bottles when starting the next climb.

Climb #6 Ancient Bristlecone

21 miles with 6200 feet of gain

Total work 1827 kj

Avg watts 175 watts

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest at 10,100' in 21 miles, average grade
6% (max in the lower half just touches 14%, max in the upper half
just touches 17%). There are dozens of 9-12% rollers in the bottom
third. The last 3 miles averages 10% grade.

Climb # 3 has to be the toughest climb of the day. It is the greatest
amount of elevation gain of any of the six climbs. It is a relentless
climb for a good 10 miles and then you climb another 10 miles.

The first part of the climb is very deceptive. It doesn't look all that
steep but it is. The rollers pitch up to 10-12% and then you think you
get relief when you roll down the other side but it's a steady 6% uphill
all the time. It really is a tough climb. And this is the second year in
a row that the winds pick up just as I start the climb. Not to mention
you are tired. I lost a lot of time on this climb.

But this is one beautiful climb. As you go through the "narrows" the
road turns into one lane. Unbelievable to have a road come down to
one lane. You go through these rock formations on either side and
then it opens up on the other side to a flatter spot.

You turn off the main road and head into a park area and you find
your last aid station. I was feeling so good through here I actually
took a hand-up and kept going. I was determined to beat last years
time. And I had enough cushion so I wanted to build on the lead I
had created.

I have to tell you the last 4 miles are really tough. The last 3 miles
especially, they average 10%. Basically, the 34 x 27 gear ratio is your
savior at this point. You have been climbing for 2 days have over
28,000 feet on your legs and you now have this steep and steady 10%
grade to contend with. I was tired but I felt much better than last
year. There was one guy up ahead that I kept chasing and came with
in 17 seconds of catching him.

TIME FOR 2ND DAY 6:23:57 Placed 34th out of 46 finishers

Climb #5 Waucoba Canyon

8.5 miles with 2600 feet of gain

Total work 681 kj

Avg watts 197 watts

Next we head up the Death Valley Road/Waucoba Canyon to 6,545' in
8.5 miles, average grade 5% (max just touches 12% in the roller in the
"narrows", 11% in one corner before that).

This is the easiest of the six climbs. You have come off of a good
fast descent and are feeling pretty good. I like the course on the
second day because you pass by your car twice. After the first climb
as you start the second climb you can stop at your car and use your
car as your SAG. Another good thing about passing by the cars is the
“fans” cheering you on as you go by.

Anyway back to the climb. Sure it is 8.5 miles but the avg grade is
only 5%. There are rollers that pitch up but it is a good recovery
climb. It is possible to make time on this climb or regroup with other
riders. I tried to ride with a few riders but couldn’t find a pace that
was compatible. I tried not to stay too long at the top but filling bottles
and grabbing gels still seems to take longer than I want.

SUMMARY

Here is the down and dirty if you don't want to read the extended race
report. I trained really hard for this race with the primary goal to improve
my time and secondary goal of placing higher than I did last year. I also
was realistic about the event and wanted to use it as a training event for
the Furnace Creek 508 race just two weeks later. Well I was 1 hour
and 6 minutes faster than last year but moved from 30th to 38th in
the 4/5 Cat. I felt so much better during the race this year as evident by
being able to eat at the top on each of the final days climb.

What follows is a description of each of the six climbs and a graph
detailing each climb. I hope more and more people find out, and do this
great ride in some of greatest climbing California has to offer.

I can't wait to do this again next year!!