A week ago today my neighbor mentioned that his friend was looking to sell his registration for LOTOJA the following Saturday. Now, around these parts, LOTOJA has a mystique all its own. Its the longest sanctioned one day race in the United States and cuts through 3 states (Utah, Idaho and Wyoming) covering 206 miles with 10,000 vertical feet of climbing. Most racers train all year by riding multiple centuries (100 mile races) to build their long distance legs and master their nutrition regimen.
Now, I just started riding in July and have never ridden longer than 60 miles but something inside of me told me that I not only could do LOTOJA, but that I had to do LOTOJA.
The registration hand off was shaky all week, but Thursday I got word that it was a go. All Thursday my friends, who are much smarter and far more experienced riders than me, tried to talk me out of it. “You’re crazy and unprepared” “LOTOJA destroys people” “Let’s ride it together next year, but you’ll kill yourself this year”. They rallied friends who have ridden LOTOJA to try and dissuade me from doing it. I listened closely to what they all had to say, asked a lot of questions about what they’d do or had done to finish and talked it through with AMR. Despite all the people saying I couldn’t or shouldn’t do it, that little voice kept reassuring me I could pull it off.
At noon Friday I picked up my registration packet, by 1:30 I met up with my brother in-law (who was going to be my support crew) to create our list of supplies and by 3:30 we were on the road to Logan, Utah. We found the only hotel room available in town and set out to map my ride for the following day.
I woke Saturday with calm nerves and an excitement to get on the road. I crossed the starting line at 7:04 am and spent the next 12 hours in the saddle and managing my nutrition. I felt strong throughout the day and despite some soreness in my feet (from new biking shoes) I had no out-of-the-ordinary pains or cramps. I honestly couldn’t have predicted the sense of accomplishment I felt in crossing the finish line in Jackson Hole and don’t really have the words to do it justice now, but pure electricity from the top of my head through my toes is about the best I can muster.
I learned a lot about myself on the road between Logan and Jackson. It was a mental, physical and spiritual experience that will be a personal touchstone for many years to come. I also had a truth that I’ve followed throughout my life reconfirmed along the route. When that voice inside you speaks, and affirms that you can accomplish something that others say is impossible or crazy, you will be well served to listen and act on it.
