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.

Since I've written last

May 10, 2010

Since I've written last, there have been a number of happenings. First, I made it through another frigid Idaho winter, thanks to the great month long break I was able to take in Argentina! It was the first time I've been able to ride that early in the winter season. I am now at the point where I'm hoping to see those early season miles pay off. Only time and race results will tell! It's still variable spring weather at home where it's 70 degrees one day with flowers popping up in my garden, then 45 and sleeting rain the next day. All my ski gear is officially put away, but the cold weather riding gear is not.

The good news is that I have escaped once again and am in sunny Alice Springs Australia for the Red Centre Enduro, a 5 day mountain bike stage race in the middle of the sandy, isolated Outback. I just got here yesterday and already had my first kangaroo siting! I have been to Australia many times, including a semester of college here a long time ago. I still remember my wonderment on that first trip as a college student. I was blown away to find that I could go 1/2 a world away and still find that people are generally the same, enjoy similar things and I assimilated easily into this place. I love the laid back nature, the friendly, funny accent and the fact that most people here seem to absolutely love the outdoors and thrive on physical activity. It seems no different this time. I just landed last night after 30 hours of door to door travel. I'm in the center of nowhere, Alice Springs. I unpacked my gear and dragged my tired butt out for a spin to loosen up the travel in my legs. I ended up exploring for 2 hours until sunset on the bike and it got me really excited about the race. This place reminds me of Utah and Arizona with sandy red rock everywhere and desert type riding. The race starts tomorrow and I'll be posting blogs as much as possible during the event on my website.

Other news to tell you about is the successful conclusion of the Mountain Town Movie Tour that I hosted this Spring. Specialized, Ergon, Hammer Nutrition, Adventure Medical Kits and Buff agreed to support this project and helped me bring the Race Across the Sky, Leadville Trail 100 movie to the Rocky Mountain West. I did five shows with this inspirational mountain bike film. I chose to hit Carbondale CO, Missoula MT, Sun Valley ID, Park City UT and Jackson WY. I chose these five places because they are all places I love to ride and I wanted to support their cycling community and bring the film to their towns. The whole tour was 100% a fundraising effort for the International Mountain Bike Association and the local affiliates in each of those towns. All the ticket and raffle sales went directly to help keep mountain biking open and accessible. With all of our efforts and much group collaboration, we were able to raise about $20,000! The tour was a ton of work, but a great experience for me to connect with other passionate riders and be able to hand checks over to those people who really make a difference. Thanks to all the sponsors and volunteers who made the tour possible!

I also have started a monthly give-a-way on my website called ASK REBA! All you have to do is ask me a question to enter yourself to win free gear! This month's initial give away will feature a Hydrapak Morro hydration pack!

Still want more, then come ride with me in Idaho. I also have another give away happening simultaneously for a trip to Sun Valley Idaho to ride with me!

Thanks for reading! Happy Spring!

Stats for Rebecca Rusch are coming soon.
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