Rebecca Rusch

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Rebecca Rusch wasn’t thinking about world championships when she joined the Downers Grove North High School cross-country team. “I just wanted the free track suit,” recalls Rusch, who, 28 years later, finds herself among the ranks of the world’s elite endurance athletes. In July of 2009, Rusch won her third straight mountain biking 24-hour Solo World Championship.

Since donning those gray cotton sweats and Lycra shorts, Rusch has outfitted herself in the kit of numerous other disciplines: racking up ascents of big walls from Yosemite to Zion, paddling on the world-famous Offshore Canoe Club’s women’s outrigger team in the brutal Molokai crossing and winning adventure races around the world.

When not training in one of the five mountain ranges surrounding her hometown of Ketchum, Idaho, the 41-year-old known as the “Queen of Pain” can be found chasing adrenaline from Tibet to New Zealand to Kyrgyzstan, constantly adding titles to her impressive and extensive resume.

In addition to those three 24-hour solo mountain bike World Champion rainbow jerseys, Rusch is a three-time national champion in 24-hour team mountain biking. She’s Idaho’s Short Track state championship (twice), and its Cyclocross state title. An accomplished Nordic skier, she’s won the Masters Cross Country Skiing World Championship, in addition to taking the top prize at Raid Gauloises Adventure Racing World Championships. And although that’s just cross-section of her palmares, it’s easy to see why Rusch has been profiled by Sports Illustrated, Outside Magazine and Adventure Sport Magazine.

Talking about age draws a laugh as she gestures at her surroundings. "People around here are all 10 years younger than they actually are. And I don’t mean they just look it; they are actually 10 years younger," she said. "Everyone’s out there constantly doing stuff, from biking to skiing to hiking. There’s a collective mentality that if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it."

This mentality, along with what she calls "perfect terrain for training," provides a home base for the typically itinerant Rusch. She is part of the community; for more than two years she has been a stalwart volunteer emergency medical technician and firefighter for the Ketchum Fire Department, and a homeowner. On breaks from her race schedule, she works on her condominium, though the domestic idea continues to bemuse her; the last home she owned was a 1975 Ford Bronco.

I'm just done packing all my gear

June 1, 2010

I'm just done packing all my gear and am flying to PA today to go to college. State College, PA, where the riding is rumored to be "typical" East Coast roots, slippery rocks, and tight trees. So I'm going to school to learn to ride that stuff. The Trans-Sylvania Epic is a brand new stage race in the US and it's 7 days in a row of hard racing, East Coast style.

I was packing my bike last night for the flight. Taking off the pedals, derailleur, handlebar and other bits and padding it up and arranging it like a jigsaw puzzle in the case. After 10 years of adventure racing and 5 years of bike racing, I have taken my bike apart far more than anyone else I know. Most people don't break their bikes down into pieces very often. Most pro road riders and many mtb pros have mechanics doing all of this for them. Me, I always do it myself and I've gotten pretty fast at it. In all the years of travel, I've rarely had a problem with bike damage or luggage loss. Hopefully I'm not jinxing myself by mentioning this, but it's a pretty remarkable track record. The travel and all of the logistics that go along with racing are an art form. It has taken me years to perfect the system and make it as seamless as possible. Of course, every race and every travel experience is different, but the equipment, nutrition and most of the personal items don't change much, so you can sort of mindlessly put it all into bags.

This race coming up will be a bit like going to summer camp. The race is staged out of the Seven Mountains Scout Camp near State College, PA. All the athletes are staying in boy scout bunk houses with shared kitchens and bathrooms. It is much better than sleeping on the ground, but not quite as posh as some of the race accommodations I've been exposed to. I've had to pack a sleeping bag, sheets, towel, my own cup and bowl and, of course, ear plugs! I'm going in with an open adventurous mind, but I am hoping it's comfortable and spacious enough for all the racers to recover and have a bit of peace and quiet in between stages. I am looking forward to this type of race and it is rumored there is a phone and possibly internet at camp, so stay tuned!

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