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.

Home Sweet Home

June 25, 2010

After a month filled with a five day stage race in Australia, a seven day stage race in Pennsylvania, a week long product launch, riding camp and race in Oregon with SRAM, I am finally home in Idaho to regroup and recover. It was an intense training block, with some important work thrown in and some of the most amazing riding I've done, but I was so ready to get home to my own bed and some down time. I've only been home 10 days but I already feel rejuvenated.

Lately, I've spent my time at the bike shop getting my rigs back in top shape, gardening at home, baking bread and riding on my favorite local trails with friends. Summer is officially here after a cold, wet spring. The flowers are starting to bloom and the dirt on the trails is in perfect condition. I never get tired of the 360 degrees of breathtaking scenery. This is my favorite time of year because there is still snow on the high peaks, the mornings are cool and the afternoons are warm. Flip flops and shorts are coming out of storage and I can ride without shell gloves and knee warmers now! Everyone in town seems to be in a happy summer mood. Being a pro cyclist living in a ski resort town is often a challenge. I cannot ride outside year round and there are many really cold spring and fall days where I'm cursing the weather and it takes a healthy dose of motivation just to get out the door. However, by the time summer really arrives, I am so motivated to ride and so inspired that the memories of the sacrifices I made in the winter melt away.

The two long stage races this month have taken a toll on me physically and I'm pretty tired right now. That was the plan though. My coach, Matthew designed the early part of the season this way on purpose. It's always mentally a struggle to do the building up and breaking down to gain peak fitness later in the season. I know from experience that this process works, but it still always smacks me in the spring and self doubt hovers around this time of year. I have done four long stage races already this season and they have been incredible experiences. The plan now is to focus on some shorter events, stay in the country and ramp it up for the Leadville Trail 100 in August. The next race on the roster is the Firecracker 50 Miler USA Cycling Marathon Nationals on July 4th. Until then, I get to stay home and focus on training and recovery and enjoying Ketchum.

Don't forget I also host a monthly sponsor gear giveaway called "Ask Reba " on my website. All you have to do is ask me a great question and you will be entered into a chance to win a great item of gear each month.

Finally, this is your last chance to enter "Ride With Reba" mountain bike sweepstakes! Click here to enter to win free lodging, bikes, gear and rides with me on my hometown trails in Idaho! The lucky name will be drawn this Saturday.

Happy Trails

Stats for Rebecca Rusch are coming soon.
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