Rebecca Rusch

Recent Rebecca Rusch Videos:

Rebecca Rusch has no videos available.

Rebecca Rusch's Gear:
  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=64178

    S-Works MTB Helmet

    The lightest certified helmet in the world, worn by 2008 UCI World XC Champion Christoph Sauser...

    Learn More at Specialized.com

  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqSelectSection.jsp?scid=1128&pscid=1009

    Specialized Gloves

    Made to keep your grip sweat-free and your bike control precise ...

    Learn More at Specialized.com

  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqSelectSection.jsp?scid=1137&pscid=1009

    MTB Shoes

    Get the maximum potential out of your power transfer.....

    Learn More at Specialized.com

  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqSCLander.jsp?scid=1008

    Tires

    The product that started it all.....

    Learn More at Specialized.com

S-Works MTB Helmet

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.

USA Cycling Ultra Endurance series race #2

March 10, 2009

I just got home from the Spa City Marathon and my second race in the USA Cycling Ultra Endurance series. The race was in Hot Springs, AR and their claim to fame in that area of the country is being the “boyhood home of former President Bill Clinton.” That’s what the huge sign says as you drive into town. This was my first trip to Arkansas and I learned that Hot Springs and the nearby Little Rock area have a lot more going for them than past presidents. Hot Springs is home to a beautiful, wooded National Park, natural hot springs, a sweet looking roller coaster, a strip karaoke club and some really amazing single track riding. I didn’t hit all of those hot spots. I mostly focused on the riding part.

This race was my second stop in the USA Cycling Ultra Endurance series and part of my early season quest to find warm places to ride outside. I traveled down alone, but shared a house with Danielle Musto and Fuzzy John Mylne, two other pro racers. I spent a big chunk of my time in Little Rock hanging out at the Specialized shop, Arkansas Cycling and Fitness. They took great care of me by buffing out my bike and taking me to their local favorite restaurant. They even made some bets about how many laps I would be able to complete in the race.

The race was a 6-hour marathon on a 10-mile single track course. The riding was really fun and fast through the woods. The weather was humid, but overcast, so the heat didn’t get to me too much. Danielle had driven to the race, so she had all the race supplies with her: tent, chairs, and Ted the mechanic! She was totally willing to share them all, so the three of us used her tent and Ted was kind enough to provide support and time splits for everyone.

After my metabolic testing at G Fit performance studio in Boise last week, I was armed with some new heart rate zone numbers and a bit more knowledge. I opted not to use an odometer on my bike and just start up my Suunto T6c to record all of the data from the race. This was my last hard effort before heading to South Africa in a week, so my coach Matthew had asked me to try to go as hard as possible and “empty the tank.”

I took the lead from the start, but not by much. After the first lap, Ted reported that I had a one-minute lead over 2nd and 3rd. Part of the fun of coming to a race in a new place is that I have no idea who the competition will be. I had raced against Danielle before, but all of the other women were unknown. After about 2 hours, I still only had a 5-minute lead and was not content with that close of a margin. I always think about possible scenarios that would eat up my advantage such as a flat tire, a crash or another mechanical. It was easy to keep the race intensity high because the course was so much fun and required my full attention. I avoided flat tires and crashes and finished 7 laps on the course in 6:10:50, set a female course record and finished 7th in the men’s field. Danielle moved into 2nd place on the last lap and finished 6 laps in 5:41:10. Fuzzy won the overall with a course record of 8 laps in 6:20:20.

The win keeps me in a solid lead for the overall points for the USA Cycling endurance series. Most importantly, it was a great time riding my bike and the perfect brutally hard training day that I needed before heading to South Africa.

Thanks to Dan and Richard at Arkansas Cycling and Fitness Specialized dealer for all the great support. Thanks to Red Bull for supplying most of the racers with energy drinks for the day. Thanks to Danielle, Ted and Fuzzy for a fun time in Hot Springs!

Stats for Rebecca Rusch are coming soon.
All content © copyright 2012 Specialized Bicycle Components. All Rights reserved.