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.

After what was a long stint of driving....

March 22, 2010

After what was a long stint of driving in my faithful van from Ketchum to Carbondale, and then onwards to Park City, I jumped onto an airplane for a quick Red Bull jaunt to the Big Apple. The opening of the Red Bull Arena was quite an event, 25,000 people and a MLS soccer game to boot! All the North American Red Bull athletes were flown in and treated to a rock star weekend of parties, eating, and luxurious hotel accommodations. Upon arrival at my hotel, I was greeted to a magnificent view of the city and a custom soccer jersey with my name and the number 13 already printed on. 13 was my race number when I first won the World Championships!

We had a few athlete meetings and presentations, centered around the success of the team and it's really cool to be a part of such a successful program. There are only 83 North American athletes, so it is quite an honor. Meeting Lindsey Vonn was awesome! She is so down to earth, and considering her dominance in ski racing, it's nice to see someone who is a great person both on and off the slopes.

Trying to fit in some sort of training was difficult with the late night parties and events they had planned for us, but like usual the W Hotels had a pretty decent gym for us to use. Luckily nothing really happens early in the morning at Red Bull events so I could stay on track a bit.

One of my favorite things about this weekend, besides meeting all the athletes finally and watching a MLS game live, was riding around in the custom tour bus. Complete with flat screens and drinks this thing was the party wagon all weekend! There were always athlete movies playing, whiched help keep the whole vibe of the weekend going for sure.

I flew home on Sunday night, back to Salt Lake City where I left my van full of swag, and where I will continue to drive on the Race Across the Sky Tour. Jackson Hole is a sweet place, and I can't wait to see some old friends there and do some riding. Even a few days off the bike feels like years for me, and makes my legs feel sluggish. Thankfully, between the cases of Pabst and Red Bull I could cram my Ruby in for training miles. All the essential items are in that photo that I need to train, especially the iPod!

Stats for Rebecca Rusch are coming soon.
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