What Motivates You?

Motivation

You want to change your life. You want to do something big. How do you get the motivation? It's all mental. Change your mind, change your life!

Coming into the hot summer here in Phoenix, I really wanted to, not just maintain my fitness, but build it to new heights! I wanted to be the athlete I always wanted to be! Not having a regular job, I needed something to get me out of bed at 4:30am to ride, hike, or whatever through the hot summer months. It had to be something big, so big that it actually scared me and made me get out of bed before sunrise to get on the bike and put the miles in. I found it in the Arizona Endurance Series. I set my mind on doing the Coconino Stage Race!

250 Miles of bikepacking over 4 days fully self-supported. Photo from Arizona Endurance Series website.

I first found out about the AES events a few years ago and traveled down to Sonita to do the Kentucky Camp race. It was tough. This would be tougher. Have I ever bikepacked before? No. I've raced in circles for 24 hours solo, done Adventure Races up to 24 hours in length, and slept in technical canyons (on purpose) that took a total of 28 hours to complete, but could I complete this race?

Imlay Canyon in Zion National Park

The glimmer of hope was doing Ride the Rockies in 08' with Michelle: 435 miles and 23,000 feet of climbing over 7 days through the heart of the Rockies in Colorado. But we were sleeping in a tent and could use the shower truck after each stage. And that was a road ride!

2008 Ride the Rockies

I knew I could train my body, but it was my mind that needed training. I needed an intermediate goal. I found it with the 12 Hours at Night Mountain Bike Race. It was a 12 Hour race that would take place from 8pm to 8am in Prescott, AZ and I'd be doing it as a Duo team with one of my best friends, Mark O'Brien.

The thing about duo races is that I think they're harder the doing it solo. I've done both and the duo can be rough. Solo sounds crazy, but you just pick a pace you can sustain, take breaks when necessary, and stay mellow. Racing as a duo, I tend to ride harder, and rest less. You have just enough time between laps to check your bike, fill your water, and put down some calories before heading back to the exchange tent to wait for your lap to start. Towards the end of the race I would find myself crashing out on my cot for 15-20 minutes while Mark was doing his lap. But this is what the mental game needed. Get up when you're comfortable in bed and do another lap, and another, and another...

2011 12 Hours at Night

The race went better then either of us expected. We both felt strong throughout the race and had no trouble continuing through the usual rough 2-4am laps. And to top it off, we ended up on the podium - 2nd Place in Male Duo!

2011 12 Hours at Night - Male Duo Teams

Things are coming together, but more needs to be done. We all have areas for improvement no matter how small they are. This race showed me many things that are working well for me, but also a few areas that need improvement. Train your weaknesses they say, and that's what I'll be doing.