Altitude training
Every year or so I like to do Mt Evans Hill climb. Its a bike race that starts in Idaho Springs off of I-70 at around 7,000ft. The Finish at the top of Mt Evans and the route is along the Highest paved road in the US. Your finishline is 28 miles of climbing to 14,180ft. Now I am sure plenty of people have hiked a 14teener. But this is different.
I am a triathlete riding Cat 3 a pretty competitive group just under the Pro1,2 guys who just ride. They are not training for 2 other sports. I knew what to expect and as we gradually climbed I wiggled my way from last place to the front. Made some small talk with a few I knew, and from there on No one wanted to help with the pull up the hill, around mile 5 it kicks from 4% to 6% grade and thats usually where some fun begins. Around mile 7 I made a slight acceleration just to see the response. Everyone responded. Then another kid made an acceleration and so I picked up the pace and road his wheel I looked back and I was the only one to go with him. About 300 meters later he asked me to come around him and help out. I came around and put the pressure on. Every tree lined turn I would gently accelerate. Out of sight out of mind. Within a few miles I would no longer see any of the Cat 3′s. I applied pressure whenever possible consistantly pushing the pace. Because I know at some point the altitude will start to hurt. Every switch back I would take a glance back and see no one. I was flying up the mt catching other categories. I would pass people in the citizens category who would be talking with a sudden change in their discussion to Holy …. I flew on. Higher and Higher until tree’s and plants can no longer grow. I was floating above the clouds and now I was burning my fuel and was beginning to reach where the blue skies above turn dark blue almost black because the ozone is just so thin. I hit summit lake, a false flat with a down hill before it really kicks back up. I looked back and saw them, the hunters and I was being hunted. Mile 22 came and so did 13,500 ft hit me like I was pedaling through sand. I was hardly breathing and hardly moving, I felt sleepy, and light headed. I took a quick drink of water and my muscles, my entire inner core freaked with lack of Oxygen. The kid leading the charge said I “I Finally got you”, good I had to make him work for it. His last US race before he goes to Belgium. I climbed and climbed and the final few kilometers are just ridiculous with switchbacks. You see the top straight above you but you cant get there, you just keep pedaling telling your body to breath. Any response any pick up is dearly paid for with agonizing energy loss. I finally made it. I had beat my previous best time and I was ever closing into that mark of under 2hrs. But this time it was 2:03.55 a 6 minute improvement. 6th in the category.
Jim Hallberg, Longmont CO
Next race is Boulder 70.3
