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.

A Glimpse of My Usual Self

June 2, 2010

After stage 2 where I thought the medics might have to pull me off the course, I felt much more like myself in stage 3. The weather gods smiled on me and gave us 15 degree cooler temperatures and rain. It settled the dust and pollen that have been wreaking havoc on my lungs and made the temperature much more bearable for me. I started conservatively on this 45 mile long stage because I was fearful of more asthma attacks. After about 30 minutes, I started to feel like I could put a bit more pressure on the pedals, so I amped up the speed a bit. I was also unsure of what a whole day of oxygen debt had done to my muscles. Most of today's stage was fire road riding, so it was much easier for me to meter my efforts and ride consistently instead of the punchy, aggressive style of riding from stage 2. I was able to catch Karen, the race leader about 45 minutes into the stage. I was really happy to see her and felt like I was at least racing a bit today instead of just surviving. I was absolutely not 100%, but I also never considered lying down in the dirt in the fetal position. So that's a big step up! I ended up pulling away from Karen, but never did catch up to Selene. I finished the stage in 2nd for the women. Despite a better effort today, I am still in 3rd position due to all the time I lost yesterday. I'm about 15 minutes out of 2nd and 25 minutes out of 1st. It's a huge gap, but hopefully consistency will pay off. Mostly, I am really thankful for the rain, the cooler temps and being able to see a glimpse of my racing self again.

Today's stage is 38 miles of fast, flowing single track. They told us to wear hydration packs because the trail is so fast and fun that it's hard to find a place to reach down and grab a water bottle. Greg had an awesome day yesterday and took back the single speed category lead. He also loved the rain and cooler temps and did not have any of the cramping he suffered from yesterday. I will keep you posted on today's event when I get done! Thanks to CyclingDirt.org for the interview as well.

Stats for Rebecca Rusch are coming soon.
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