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.

No sleep and an all night flight,

March 25, 2011

No sleep and an all night flight, but I was welcomed to sunny skies and 70 degree F weather in San Martin de los Andes.  Cary Smith, my US teammate for the 24 hrs of Argentina and I met up with Jimena Florit and Martin Santos for a nice ride up to Chapelco ski area with some great single track to descend.  Jimena is a 2x Olympian and Argentina's most successful mountain biker.  I invited her here as motivation for other Argentine women to get involved with racing and riding.  Jimena's also a mom of twins and a great example of how fast women can ride.  Yesterday was my first time meeting her and riding with her.  It's inspiring to see how great she is on a bike.  She and Martin are racing as Team Cannondale and Cary and I are racing as Team Specialized.  We are expecting a really tight, friendly competition in the mixed duo category this weekend.  Our ride up to the ski area was a gentle spin up a dirt road that we were sharing with the regular commuters in the area, like this guy.



After the ride, we were treated to another traditional asado (bbq, Argentine style) and some great Malbec and good friends.

This is Flavio, the local shop owner and president of the mtb trail association here.  He's with Benito (little Ben) who's a ripping rider as well. You can see from Flavio's t-shirt why Jimena and I are needed here to promote women's cycling and encouraging more women to get out on their bikes!
Today's another spin around town to get the bike and legs ready to go.  Cary and I will also begin the pre-race ritual of going through equipment, bike lights, clothing and food for the 24 Hour race this weekend.

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