It seems strange to be writing about this as it is a blizzard outside, we went skiing Saturday, and I have been getting e-mail updates for Ultimate Challenge 2016, but alas life is what it is and today I am continuing on with my saga of an event from 2015. . .
to read about part 1, click here
I’m sad that there are not more pictures,
Superman was driving, and thought Charcie’s husband was getting pictures, but it turns out he didn’t get as many as we thought. . .
allow me to say it again, it’s a sad day
very sad indeed
I feel it fair to tell you all,
There are not many pictures of this event and I learned something new, there are a TON of “Ultimate Challenge” events across the nation. . . who would have guessed?
and interestingly enough. . .
one of my blog pics made it to the google search image list
. . . imagine that
some of the pictures here are from Charcie, a professional photographer
aka: Milestone Photography and from the Ultimate Challenge fb page
Now, picking up from where I left off from last time,
I had just reconnected with the Velocia group. . .

This just so happens to be Becca’s bike!
It was a comfort to my heart knowing that my support crew was not going to be far off if I needed something. . .
so I got rid of EVERYTHING. . .
except nutritional essentials.
Because he had come up the way I was going down, he warned me of a couple of hazards down the road and off I went. . .
happy that everyone was together.
The little Actress was the perfect support as she cheered me on and rang her cow bell. . .
a wonderful sound for a cyclist.
East Canyon – A short little climb
- 1.6 Miles
- 361 foot elevation gain
- Average Grade 4.1%
- Max Grade 10.5%
Heidi is a strong rider, stronger than any one of our group and ended up forging ahead of us.
I attempted to keep up but simply couldn’t hang, but was glad she did go ahead, it would have been a long miserable day for her had she stuck with us at our pace. . .
so now our group was down to five.
My glasses quickly became unusable as the mist covered them in water making it so I couldn’t see, at all.
I ended up taking them off.
We were working together, sort of. . .
communication was a HUGE problem.
It was at this point we realized, what we already knew:
Often times, hindsight is a difficult lesson to swallow.
or rather: should have
. . . these problems are the things we will iron out before LOTOJA.
As we approached Henefer, I was finally able to shed the arm warmers and leggings, as the day was finally beginning to warm up.
WHEW!
Here was another major hindrance in our group.
Becca, however, was planning to use the actual support provided at the rest stops by the Ultimate Challenge Peeps but Kim and Kathy had their support crew stop a couple of miles from the designated support stops, leaving Becca in kind of a bind for nutrition, and no potties either.
We, at least I was unaware of her concern and frustration at the immediate moment, it wasn’t until the next stop that she brought it up. we had plenty of water, and extra nutrition but the situation wasn’t sitting well with her.
it certainly wasn’t what Becca was planning.
While I was grateful to have my wheel back,
there still wasn’t time to look at my power meter,
it was no one’s fault,
but I was annoyed now.
This ride was one , that SPECIFICALLY inspired the purchase of a power meter
. . . I wanted
Wanted
WANTED
to KNOW what kind of watts I was pushing up Marsac/Gaurdsman
It was tragic,
There is no other way to tell it
It was a tragic realization that I would not have power data,
and now no cadence either
Did I mention how frustrating this was becoming. . .
because it was,
and I or Superman were powerless to fix it.
and I or Superman were powerless to fix it.
As we approached Coalville at 9:26 I shouted my hallelujahs and waved to the city peeps as they watched us ride through their town, waiting for their city parade to begin.
We made it and my heart soared with encouragement. . .
I found myself relishing in the fact that the streets were lined on both sides with townsfolk there watching us ride by and sort of cheering us on while they waited for their town parade to begin.
I found myself relishing in the fact that the streets were lined on both sides with townsfolk there watching us ride by and sort of cheering us on while they waited for their town parade to begin.
we were on track,
barely,
but we were doing okay!
. . . and the wind.

Our little group was managing to do okay, but the wind was costing us dearly.
It was going to be close as it was, but the wind certainly was not helping our cause.
knowing that we were well ahead of where I was two years ago at this point and I was confident we were going to finish.

As we rode through Wanship I was starting to feel the legs become a little more resistant,
they were feeling the impact of the wind,
the climbs hadn’t even begun, we were only at 3000 ft,
the climbs hadn’t even begun, we were only at 3000 ft,
we still had 10,000 ft to climb, and 50 miles of pedaling left.
The wind was slowing me down, no doubt, but as a group we were getting it done.
We turned the corner to go around Echo Reservoir, the wind blew even harder
Honestly, the wind had been challenging,
now it was worse.
My only recourse was to hunker down and move forward.
Forging ahead taking 2 min pulls each, this strategy saved me from blowing up.
I didn’t complain
In fact I was happy with this arrangement,
it made me look charitable. . .
or should I be totally honest,
I needed it too
eh . . . I like charitable better
I took note of the time and a quick mental calculation
said we would be close to finishing on time.
I reminded myself there was no room to complain. . . just keep moving
so pedal I did.
I was concerned about what the wind would be like as we
approached The climbs out of Park City.
With few options left,
and
a prayer in my heart I continued forward.
and
a prayer in my heart I continued forward.
We turned again to the ascent to Rockport, the wind had been bad,
but now it was devastating.
It’s always nice when your coach thinks you are doing okay
SIDE NOTE: |
After the ride, he later confessed that he didn’t think we would make it, but was pleased and glad that I did. A great coach doesn’t deliver devastating predictions while suffering in the thick of a fight. . . He was pleasantly surprised at my finishing report .
|
. . . I was okay with it all
|
As we turned the corner to Brown’s Canyon, the wind seemed to pick up in force,
again.
and it was taking it’s toll. This is where I recognized the blessing of a blown tire that morning.
I was riding so well, so strong, that I very likely would have done what Heidi had done and gone ahead of the group on my own, then when I hit this wind to battle it out on my own, it would have destroyed me. It would have been here, at this point in the ride the group would have caught up to me and I may not have been able to keep up, besides I would have felt odd by picking up with them at this point after ditching them in the beginning.
That flat allowed me to charge up immigration and Big Mountain and realize I needed to reel it in and stay with the group. This is where I am once again grateful for a Heavenly Father who knows my needs before I do and intervenes with setbacks to help me, while still allowing me to succeed.
Without dispute, the most difficult part of the ride was ahead. . .
I began to back off a little so I would have enough strength to face what was coming.
the knowledge of 10,000 feet left to climb
was quickly becoming reality
and it was coming soon.
we were 60 miles and 3000 ft into this ride and had 50 more miles with over 10,000 ft of climbing left. . . barely over half way in distance,
yet, less than 1/4 of the climbing was done.
Browns Canyon –
- 2.6 Miles
- 536 foot elevation gain
- Average Grade 4%
- Max Grade 6.7%

Charcie, is professional photographer ~ aka: Milestone Photography. . .
her camera shows the difference. . .
Brown’s Canyon is something people talk about as being big and hard, but it’s not a big deal . . . kind of like Sardine Canyon from Logan to Brigham, a relatively easy ride .
unless, like today we rode into a relentless headwind!
. . . for most of the ride to this point.
I ate a wrap and offered one to Becca who was excessively grateful for the nutrition, it quickly became unanimous that turkey and cheese wraps smothered in Best Foods Mayo and Sweet Baby Ray’s mustard sauce was the new GOTTA HAVE IT food for a long demanding ride.
Honestly,
they were absolutely delicious and our bodies drank the nutrition instantly!
but it was reality. . .
The wind was still relentless, but I mentally focused on nutrition and final preparation that would get me over the top of Gaurdsman.
This time we did stop at the designated rest stop. This fared well for Becca and they had ample potties. . .
As we made final preparations
filling up on water,
nutrition,
potty stop,
and a wish of good luck and encouragement from our support.
As we approached them they had determined they weren’t going to finish in time. Taking into consideration that Kathy was struggling with an injury, she and Kim decided to end their ride in Park City. We didn’t stop to convince them otherwise, it was imperative we keep moving.
Now there were only three of us together.
I was completely okay with this
Charcie, Becca, and myself work well together and today was proving to be no different
As I stated earlier, we ride quite a lot together.
his cheering us on truly gave me a boost.
We were here, it was now time to forge ahead
We rounded the assisted intersection. . .
in reality part of the reason I pay registration fees is because
I LOVE and appreciate
assisted intersections.
Traffic is held at bay while I have the privilege of riding my bike
. . . it is totally awesome
. . . I ride for those moments!
We arrived at the point where I crumbled two years ago. . .
As the road began increasing in grade, and I approached the first round-a-bout I was still pedaling and didn’t feel like I was going to die,
I was still mentally in the game
. . . I found solace in this realization
We reached Marsac and I was still going.
I wasn’t dying, no walk of shame.
I had pre-determined that I was NOT going to walk any portion of this ride.
approaching the 14% grade I stopped for a few seconds and got going again
. . . no walking, only a short rest
. . . I was still going.

I made it to the first turn up the switch back and then more 14% grades.
Knowing from experience this was tough,
the fact that I was pulling it off was exhilarating!
I was doing it and was getting excited.
As we climbed this mountain, we didn’t know for sure where we were at individually, as an unwritten or expressed policy, the goal was to survive, knowing full well that stopping unnecessarily, or going too slow waiting for someone else could prove fatal, going to fast, would be suicide.
We simply knew that we needed to surmount this hill, and that we supported each other as we all worked independently toward the same goal of . . .
completion.
We stopped at a flat section which read 5% grade.
. . . it’s warped, but yes,
5% feels like a treat and you feel like you can go forever
after climbing 10% – 14% for over 1 1/2 hours.
We quickly resumed riding and reached the second round-a-bout that went up to the summit of Empire Road.
By now, I had determined that we wouldn’t make it to the finish line before the pros, and going up this road at a painfully slow pace of 4-5 mph gave me plenty of time to think of a plan.
As I told Becca my plan
. . . she was hesitant.
Thanks for stopping in, the next post will finish my report of this ride.
I will look forward to seeing you next week!
Thanks for stopping in, the next post will finish my report of this ride.
I will look forward to seeing you next week!
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