Adventure Corps Death Valley Double Century

This event was the most challenging thing that I have ever attempted to do. We arrived late Friday night and were the last to check in. Had some dinner and went to bed. I got up at about 5:00 am for the 6:00 start. It was dark, about 60 degrees, and the air was still.

At 6:00 I was off. The first checkpoint was Badwater at 17.7 miles, elevation -282. I stopped there to get a watter bottle filled. So far the ride was fast, especially if you could hook up with a page group, which I did until about mile 40. On this part of the ride I ran in to Kenny and Cesar whom I did a couple of Triathlon relays with last summer with Team Avia (I was the swimmer). At this point a really bad head wind started blowing. It was so bad I was only able to move about 12mph and that was with a group. There were grumblings
among riders to bail on the double and just do the century. I rolled into checkpoint two at Ashford Mills at mile 45.4 . The wind was still blowing. However, there was good news because at the road goes up the pass the wind is said to go. At this point I felt good all the way up to mile 52.6 Jubilee Pass, elevation 1285. The wind went away at about mile 50. This pass was a good climb with a small down hill at the end.

Next was about 10 miles of climbing to the top of Salsberry Pass to reach an elevation of 3315. It was in these 10 miles where I started to feel challenged. I have never had an experience on a hill like that before. My legs took a good beating as my bike was not geared correctly (or I was not strong enough). I was running a double front crank with 38/52 this did not work well because at about mile 55 I was grinding along at a cadence of 40 and moving about 5 mph. Basically, I got hammered. At mile 62.3 I had reached the top of Salsberry Pass. Now for some fast downhill all the way into Shoshone at the 74.3 mile.

At Shoshone I took a rest, refilled water (by this point I went through about 12 bottles, 6 water, 2 Heed, 4 PowerBar Endurance) and ate some chips. By this point I had also went through about 5 gels. Coming into Shoshone there was also a strong headwind for about a mile.

Next it was back up the hill to conquer Salsberry Pass again. I was feeling good and was able to keep my cadence in the 60-70 range until about mile 82. I made it over the pass for one big down hill. For me, this downhill portion demanded my full mental concentration. I reached seeds up to 40 mph. There was a little uphill at Jubilee Pass at mile 96. I actually got of my bike and walked it up about the last 25 meters as it got steep and I was moving at about 3 mph.


About a mile or two after Jubilee Pass I ran into a bad head wind. It was the same one from earlier in the day but blowing the other way. I had to be very careful on this section of the ride as there was sand blowing across the road. Eventually, I made back to Ashford Mills which was check point #4 and mile 103.2. At this point I had been on my bike for about 10 hours. I knew there was only a slim chance that I would finish the double century within the 17 hour limit. At the check point I ate a sandwich and had some pretzels and filled up my water bottles again.

Next it was into the headwind and onto Checkpoint #5 Badwater. My lights, family, and some food would be waiting for me there. It was something to look forward to. At about mile 115 my right knee was not feeing that good. There were a few riders being picked up by the SAG. I made it to Badwater at mile 130.9. I made the cut off and could of continued on to Furnace Creek but decided not to. I had been on my bike for 12 hours and was done for the day. I called it quits.

My decision to end the ride was because the way my right knee felt. I really got damaged on cranking it up those passes. Additionally, I had in the back of my mind the California 70.3 Ironman at the end of March. No sense in getting an injury. So, I got in the truck and went back to Furnace Creek to check in. They were nice enough to give me credit for the century.

Would I do this event again? You bet. I can't wait until next year. This event was a valuable learning experience. The reason that I choose to do this event was because I was looking for something longer (in time) than a 70.3 distance triathlon to prepare myself for Oceanside later in the month. I accomplished that goal.

As for what I am going to do for next year to improve my chances of finishing. The biggest thing will be to fix the gearing on my bike. A triple or compact crank set would have made the difference between going 5 mph or 9-10 mph over the passes. One thing that I did correctly was the nutrition and hydration. I did not bonk or have other such energy problems. In all I think I went through about 12 waters, 12 sports drinks, 10 gels, two sandwiches, and a small assortment of aid station snacks.

When I got home the next day that right knee did not feel well. I iced it up over night and it felt much better on Monday and I was back in the pool and by Wednesday I was running again.

How was the event run? Those guys at Adventure Corps put on a fantastic show. My fellow riders were also fantastic and to all of you that actually finished this thing you are awesome. Finally, I would like to thank Joe my brother in law, Susie my wife, and Sadie my daughter for coming all the way out to Death Valley so I could attempt this craze thing. Again, I can not wait until next year! Now on to Oceanside and the California 70.3 where the bike will be much shorter!