Haute Route Alps Stage 7 - The finale!

 

STAGE 7 

August 27th, 2022

Start: Megeve, France

Finish: Megeve, France

62 miles

4:21 riding time

14.2 mph average

7628 feet

Climbs: Epine (6.9K), Croix Fry (11.3K), Aravis (4.4K)

After 6 days, we didn't think we would make it this far. The final day. All that was between us and becoming an official Haute Route finisher was 62 miles. On any day in Greenville, riding 7600 feet would be a big climbing day but for stage 7, it was a "light" day. Besides the time trial, every stage involed over 10,000 feet of climbing. I was really looking forward to completing this event and I wore my Haute Route jersey (included in our race packet) as a celebration for making it to the last stage. 
At breakfast, I looked at the results and I was safely sitting in 2nd place in my age group. Unless something extreme happened (ex. mechanical or crash), I felt like I could remain 2nd in my age group (40-44). I felt like that was a big accomplishment and I brought that motivation to the stage. I wanted to remain competitive but also enjoy this last day. Karel was very tired and was still a bit worried about not having the energy to get through the stage but he knew he would finish, he just didn't know how much he would suffer. 

With the majority of this stage being timed, I knew it wouldn't be like the previous stages. This would be much more like a group ride with quick stops to refill bottles. Planning for a little over 4 hours of riding, I planned to refill two bottles somewhere half way. Karel didn't refill his bottles throughout the stage. The weather was a bit cool (60) so I started off with my arm warmers but took them off before the start as I knew I would warm up quickly. 

After 14.4k of neutralized riding, we made our way passed the timing system and that was it. From that point until 99k, this would be our last timed segment of the Haute Route Alps. 

Aside from the lead riders, there was a big pack of riders and I was able to stay in the group. But then the road picked up and I could feel myself struggling. I was ok with getting dropped but then Karel rode up to me and said "Marni, don't give up. Just push until the top of the hill and then there is a downhill." I was so thankful that he told me that because all I needed was to make a few hard pedal strokes to get back to the group and even though my legs were burning and my heart was beating out of my chest, I was able to stay with the big group to the top of the climb and recover on the downhill. 

One of the early climbs was a bit rough with loose gravel. I wanted to be extra careful as I didn't want to crash or have a mechanical but I also trusted my skills. I was able to descend safely and made my way to a strong group, with a few strong females. It was a lot of fun to feel like I was finally riding to my potential on the last two stages. I really enjoyed being able to stay with bigger groups and sit on the wheel of strong riders. The middle climb took an hour so I still needed to pace myself. 

Although the climbs were not as long as previous days (thank goodness we didn't have to climb 3+ hours again!), they were still punchy and the legs felt the accumulation of climbing over the past 7 days. Even though the finish line was near, I didn't focus on the finish but instead, just stayed focused on the kilometer that I was in. 

Once again, the scenery was incredible and I really tried to take it all in. My favorite part was the last hour. It reminded me of one of my favorite climbs in our area (Saluda Grade) and I was behind a guy from Canada who was riding really strong. He was not as comfortable descending but super strong on the climbs and flats so we made a good team. I stayed on his wheel for the climbs (he really made me push) and then he told me that he trusted my wheel on the downhills so I would take the lead. I made one pull to give him a break so I was glad that I could contribute. The final 10K was windy and a gradual incline into Megeve but we stayed strong. It was just me and this guy from Canada and we worked really well to get each other to the finish line. 

Once we saw the 1K to go, I felt such relief. We gave each other a fist bump before making the final turn toward the finish line chute. 

When I crossed the finish line, I saw Karel and I couldn't believe we did it. By far, this was the hardest athletic feat that we have ever attempted. 

After 7 days of riding, we were so happy to not have to ride our bikes on Sunday. Although, I was very sad to return my Pinarello as I had fallen in love with my bike over 7 days and I was sad to let it go. Karel took off my crank, saddle and pedals and we returned our bikes back to Jeremey with France Bike Rentals. 

We picked up our finisher polo shirt and then walked back to our hotel (a few minutes away). After taking a shower, we relaxed in bed for an hour - just enoying the moment of knowing that we didn't have to ride our bikes on Sunday. I turned on the TV and could pick from watching cycling, UTMB and Mountain biking - all in French. It was nice to feel like we could finally relax. 

Shortly after, we walked through the cute town of Megeve (which was my favorite town that we visited throughout the Haute Route) and had an amazing meal in the afternoon. It ended up pouring outside during our meal and we couldn't help but think how great weather we had throughout the event. After we ate, we walked around and then back to our hotel to collapse in bed before heading to the athlete award ceremony at 7pm. 

Prior to the awards, we received a notification on our Haute Route app that the top three in each age group would be recognized. That came as a big surprise to us so I was so honored to get on the stage to celebrate. Since the overall winner of the female division was also in my age group, she received a different prize so her prize rolled down to me, which was unexpected. 

Dinner was amazing, especially dessert. After the ceremony, went back to our hotel, ready for bed. 
Even though we were so tired, it was hard to sleep as our bodies were completely empty and sore. But being able to go to sleep knowing that we had nothing to do the next day was a great feeling. 

We ended up going for an easy swim the next day at the swim center (behind our hotel) and it felt really good to float a few laps in the long course pool. We were both extremely tired (and it had been over a week since we swam) so it wasn't a productive swim for fitness but very productive to move some blood. 

We had a great lunch (burgers - veggie for me, it was amazing!!) and then around 3pm we checked out of our hotel and walked next door to the bus stop to board our shuttle bus to take us to the Geneva Airport in Switzerland. 

Although we struggled throughout this event and found it very humbling, we do feel that our long distance triathlon training contributed to a great amount of endurance needed for this event. However, having been through this 7-day experience, we now know how to prepare better and what is needed mentally and physically, to be a bit more competitive throughout this event. 

Thank you for following us along. We really appreciate it. We hope that we have inspired you to step out of your comfort zone to challenge yourself as you explore your capabilities. 

Results

Haute Route Alps Stage 6

 

STAGE 6

August 26th, 2022

Start: Meribel, France

Finish: Megeve, France

85.45 miles

6:10 riding time

11.0 mph average

12,086 feet

Climbs: TRA (9.7K), Cormet de Roselend (19.2K), Saisies (16.3K)

By this point in the event, we had our morning routine nailed down and we started to become a bit more relaxed in the morning. Whereas we had stuck to a strict 2-hour before the event wake-up, we gave ourselves a bit more time to sleep in and woke up at 5:45am instead of 5:30am. We walked across the street to get breakfast and then packed up our room. At this point I was out of Skratch Super Fuel (which I used for the first 4 stages in my first two bottles). I used 2 heaping scoops C30 from Never Second and 1 packet of EFS Salty Watermelon (which was really good) in my other bottle. I also had some chews to give me a bit more calories since my other bottle only had 110 calories. 

Since we didn't have far to go for the staging area (it was right next to our hotel), we made our way to the starting area around 7:15am. Although this stage was our 4th stage of climbing over 10,000 feet, it was also our second to last stage - and our last stage of climbing over 10,000 feet. Certainly knowing that we only had one day left made it a lot easier to look forward to this stage. In looking at the weather on the Epic Ride Weather app, it looked like we may get some rain later on the in the stage but overall, it would be a cool and cloudy day. 

I wore my jacket to start because we had 21.7K neutralized with most of it downhill. After we started, we had a short climb out of the village of Meribel before starting our long descend down the Col de la Loze that we climbed to finish stage 4. After a few minutes of riding, I noticed that my computer wasn't picking up speed, mileage or cadence. The night prior my Garmin froze so I am not sure what happened but it was trouble picking up the satellite. I restarted the computer and still nothing. After a few minutes, Karel and I stopped on the side of the road to try to fix it up but after trying a few things, it was still not picking up the metrics. While I wasn't using power for pacing, it was extremely helpful to know what kilometer I was on as that helped with pacing. Plus, for this epic event, I wanted to make sure every mile was accounted for. Once we got started again, we were at the very back of the group (behind the last vehicle) but after a kilometer of descending, we were back up toward the front of the group. Eventually my computer started working (somewhere in the beginning of the first timed climb) so that was a relief that I finally knew where I was in the climb. 

Once we got a few kilometers away from the first timed section, I stopped to go pee on the side of the road and stuffed my jacket in my jersey pocket. I picked back up with a group just before the first timed section. 

The TRA climb was a great first climb of the day. The road condition, grade and switchbacks reminded me of home and I felt really strong. I was able to stay in a small group and I found myself ahead of a few girls that were always ahead of me in the previous stages. Karel was feeling a bit stronger than in the past few stages thanks to the rest day. It really helped him to have the afternoon off where he could rest and refuel and get a good night of sleep. Karel ended up in a group near the front (not the front front but near the front) and he was really surprised to be in the company of some of the top GC (general classification) riders. 

This stage was a bit different than the first four stages in that much more of the stage was timed, including the downhills. From 21.7 until 75, we made our way up the TRA climb, down the TRA climb, along a rolling/flat section before starting the Roselend climb. Finally at the top of the Roselend climb, the timing stopped and I regrouped with Karel. I decided to refill one bottle at the top of TRA just to ensure that I had enough for the next 45 kilometers. 

The 25K Roseland descend was not timed and Karel went ahead. We didn't spend too much time at the top of Roseland as it was a bit cool and cloudy and we wanted to try to beat the rain. We went through a lot of villages and tunnels on this route and the scenery was amazing. It was becoming much more green and the blue color of the lake took my breathe away - it was incredibly beautiful. 

Although I was tired, I felt like I rode really well on this stage and I was able to stay with groups much more than in the past few stages. I could tell that many of the riders were getting tired and probably went out too hard for the first few stages. It was fun to ride with some new people in the group. 

My favorite part of the day was being so close to the cows and enjoying their company as they enjoyed their grassy field. 

The last climb was Saisies and it was challenging. It was a lot more pitchy than Roselend without much relief. We started off on a super steep incline just after the timing section, before it eventually settled into a 7-12% grade for the next 12K. There was a short drop in the grade (~3%) for a few kilometers before the grade picked up aagain to the top of the climb. 

Karel rode the Saisies climb with our Australian friend Clay (who had nice music jamming from his phone) and while I tried to stay with them for a few kilometers, eventually I needed to drop back. However, I was able to link up with a few other solo riders to keep myself riding strong. I made a quick stop at the last aid station on top of Saisies  before making my way down the descend and into Megeve. 

For this stage, we went through a lot more towns and the roads were a bit more busy at times but there was plenty of support staff keeping us safe. The final 10K was a gradual climb into Megeve and I was thankful to be around a few other riders to finish off strong. I have no idea how we missed the rain but I never got wet. Karel said he got a little rained on but it didn't last long. It felt like we were chasing the rain all day. The cooler weather felt great. It was a much more windy day, which made it tough on the top of the climbs. 

After I finished, Karel and I dropped our bikes off with Jeremy at France Bike Rentals to give them a charge (electronic shifting) before the final day. Karel got a massage while I showered and then we went to get some food. The post event meal was the best meal that we had had all week. It was sooo good. It was so great knowing that we only had one more stage and we would be staying in the same hotel for the next two nights.

We rode a few minutes to our hotel and I instantly fell in love with it. I could not have asked for a better accomodation for our final stay in Megeve. The hotel was super cute and since we had a little more time in the afternoon (with it being just around 3pm), Karel enjoyed a cappuccino at the hotel while I editted my Go Pro footage. We then walked to the nearby grocery store for some food for dinner. 

The rain helped to cool things off which made for a comfortable evening in our room. Although I felt like we had already finished the event and tomorrow was a bonus stage, Karel was exhausted and continued to question how he would finish the last stage. We both slept great in the evening and looked forward to one last ride. Only 62 miles and 7500+ feet between us and the finish line! 

One more day to go!! 

Lessons Learned 
There's something about not giving up. You never know what you are capable of doing unless you try. In a 7-day event, there are going to be bad days. There are going to be tough moments. But if you give up, you don't put yourself in a position to experience the good moments and good days. We never thought we would feel good in any stage but we both had good days throughout this event. Stage 6 was a good stage for us (for the most part) and we rode stronger than we had in the days past. This stage also involved a lot of self-talk. At any point we could have just eased up but we both wanted to give our best, in every stage. That's all you can ask for from your body. Just give your best. 

Haute Route Alps - Stage 5 (Time Trial)

STAGE 5 - 10K Time Trial 

August 25th, 2022

Start: Meribel, France

Finish: Meribel, France

6.2 miles

59:33 riding time

6.27 mph average

2657 feet

Climb: Col de la Loze. 

For our "rest" day, all we had to do was ride 10K. Up the Col de la Loze. 2657+ feet to climb in 6 miles. Pitches above 20%. Over 9% gradient for the majority of the climb. Summit at ~7500 feet. At this point in the event, we have covered 390 miles and 52,000 feet of elevation gain in five days. 

Yeah, a lot to accomplish before we could full enjoy our rest day. 

The overall vibe was a bit lighter in the morning as every rider had a set start time range for the time trial. Mine was 9:45-10am and Karel had 10am - 10:15am. They seeded everyone based on overall times so that the top seeded athletes were at the end.

We woke up around 7am (yay for sleeping in!) and had breakfast at the hotel. Although I felt a bit more in my element with the concept of a time trial (my own effort), the course had me worried. I wasn't sure if I had the energy to get up some of the steep pitches and I was worried about having to walk (or fall over). 

After we ate, we took some time to foam roll and do some mobility before heading out on the bike for a warm-up. There were many riders out warming up which it was really important to go into the time trial with a good warm-up in the legs. We wore our triathlon one piece race kits because why not, it's a time trial! 

It was hard to find anywhere flat around the village so there was a lot of back and forth riding. Every pedal stroke was hard, especially going uphill. I found myself extremely nervous. 

When I rolled up the staging area, they called my name right away. After a 37 min warm-up, it was nearing 9:45am and I was about to go. I didn't even have time to think about the start so I just rolled up to the starting stage and within 60 seconds, I was off. I think this was actually a good thing as I didn't have any time to think about what was about to come. 

Once I started, I found myself a bit less nervous. I mean, there's no turning back now so I may as well make the most of the next hour. My goal was to finish but I also gave myself a bonus goal of trying to get under 1 hour. 

The first 1.5 miles were not too bad. It was a gentle 7% grade, weaving through the streets. Eventually the road turned into a golf path type of road (very narrow) and then I hit the first kicker. Ouch, that was steep. There was no way to control my heart or take it easy. I had to give every ounce of power to get up the climb. Then the road settled back down again to 7% (which felt like I was going downhill compared to the kicker) so I was able to relax. I knew I wasn't going to gain any time or places for this time trial so I tried to be really strategic with my energy. I didn't want to overdo it on the "easier" sections as I knew I would need the energy, muscle power and heart beats for the last 5K - the "hard" stuff. 

With other riders already on the course, it was easy to get a glimpse of what was coming - seeing athletes rock their bikes side to side to power up the climb helped me prepare myself. And then there were the riders who were descending down from having already completing the climb - which gave me some reassurance that I would die getting to the top. 

The switchbacks were a blessing as it gave a tiny bit of relief before the road kicked up. 
With every steep pitch, it took everything I had. I questioned if I would be able to get up the next steep climb but then when the gradient dropped to 9 or 10%, I had a bit of relief. There was a short 30 second moment of downhill riding which was grately enjoyed. Looking ahead at the finish, I could see the road ad it went straight up. 

But thankfully the end was in sight. 1K to go. 1K until I get to rest and fully enjoy my rest day. 

There were a few riders on the sidelines cheering and an announcer on the top. I soaked it all in. The hardest climb of my life. 

When I got to the top, I couldn't believe the view.  also beat my goal of breaking an hour and went 59:33. After enjoying a few apricots and a cookie, I walked over to the finish line to wait for Karel. 

There he was, muscling his way on the 20+ gradient to get to the finish line. 50:44 to get to the top. After he crossed, he made it a few more pedal strokes until he hobbled off his bike and collapsed. 

With no rush to get back (except getting a little cool at the top), we spent the next 35 minutes really taking it all in. 

The descend was even more amazing as we could really take in all the sights that we missed while suffering and making sure that our next pedal stroke was not our last. During our 22 minute descend, we stopped to take a few more pics and made sure to give way to the riders who were climbing. It was motivating and inspiring to see the top seeded riders (especially the females) riding so strong up the climb. 

After we finished, we changed and had a snack and then walked across the street to the Olympic center for lunch. After lunch, we caught up on some work for our athletes as we had a bit more time and energy. Later in the afternoon we walked around the town and got a few things for dinner. I was craving cereal and chips so that was my dinner. It totally hit the spot and I felt so good going to bed. 

Although Karel found the stage very hard, the day itself was very much needed. It's amazing what a few extra hours of rest and food can do for the mind and body. 

While we were sad to pack up and leave Meribel, we were really excited for our next stop - Megeve. Our final destination for the event and where we would be spending the next two nights. 

Lessons Learned 
In the afternoon of the stage, we watched the Col de la Loze stage from the 2020 Tour de France. After riding this climb, Karel's entire perspective of professional cycling changed. He no longer understands how these riders can ride so fast, with such a high cadence and attack on these climbs. Watching this video left us with our mouth wide open, in disbelief of what these riders can do. 
There's something incredibly special about this experience of riding on these legendary climbs. Although we ride these climbs 2-3x longer than the TdF riders, we are on the same climbs. 
This stage taught me a lot about comparison. There was no way I could get to the top of this climb trying to race another athletes race. The only way was to focus on myself and my own effort. It's so easy to compare yourself to other athletes or even a past version of yourself. It's so easy to feel defeated when being passed by another athlete. But knowing that I was giving my absolute best with each and every pedal stroke, I was so proud of myself - on this day, with the fitness, health and ability that I brought to the stage. Watching the tour and other cycling events is one of our favorite things to do but we now have a whole new perspective of what these riders are capable of doing with their bodies and minds. 

Haute Route Alps - Stage 4

STAGE 4

August 24th, 2022

Start: Les Deux Alps, France
Finish: Meribel, France

95.5 miles

8:09 riding time

11.7 mph average

14,339 ft elevation gain (Karel's computer had 16,211 feet!)

Climbs: Glandon (25K), Madeleine (19K) and Meribel/part of the Col de la Loze - 16K)

Stage 4 had us worried. It was our "Queen" stage which means it was the most difficult stage of our 7-day event, involving several difficult climbs and accumulating the most elevation. We were so worried about this stage that we didn't even familiarize ourselve with the climbs or stats until that morning. As if the first 3 stages were not hard enough, we were carrying around a massive amount of fatigue and soreness going into this stage. 

But there were positives on this day. First off, if when we finish the stage we will officially be over half way through the event. Wahoo! Secondly, we will be staying in the famous ski town of Meribel, France. And even better, we would have the same accomodations, in the same location for two nights! And even better, our hotel had a pool! Not that I was interested in actual swimming but I was missing the water. Lastly, we "only" had a 10K time trial for stage 5 which gave us most of the afternoon to catch up on food, rest and sleep. 

So while there was a lot to look forward to after the stage was complete, we first needed to complete this massive stage. 

With another early start of 7am, we woke up around 5am and you, guessed it, ate breakfast, packed up our stuff, pinned our numbers on our jerseys, etc. etc. We had gotten into a routine and since we were so exhausted, we were a bit on autopilot. It was a little chilly outside, which was nice in that we slept ok without AC but it was a chilly start to the morning in the low 50's. It was getting harder to eat in the morning but my appetite would really pick up in time for the post event meal. 

The start of the stage was downhill and for 30.8K it was neutralized. I had a jacket and gloves on to keep me warm and I really enjoyed the almost 70 minutes of neutralized riding. Although I made sure to be careful as riding with 400 riders down switchbacks, on narrow roads and in tunnels can be a bit sketchy, especially when everyone is tired. 

Before the timed segment, I stopped to remove my jacket and gloves and also went pee. With a rest stop in the middle of both of the climbs, I was planning to quickly top off my bottles to get me through the climbs but then fully refill at the very top when the timing section was complete. 

The Glandon climb was incredible. The scenery was a bit more green than what I had seen the past few stages and it often felt like I was on another plant. The water and architecture in nature was incredible. Although I was tired as I made my way up the 17.6 mile, 4453 foot climb for 1 hour and 57 minutes (8.96 mph), I was really soaking in the scenery. 

By this point in the stage, we found ourselves around similar people so we began to know people by names (and with hours of climbing, there was also time to get to know people). Karel enjoyed riding with Clay - who had his music jamming from his phone. I found myself around the same Canadians and British guys and also rode with a Brazilian lady for some of the climbs. She was very strong but her knees were bothering her so we were encouraging one another not to give up. That pretty much sums up the vibe of this event - people are really encouraging and supportive. 

After enjoying the views at the top, it was time for a very long, fast decend of 14 miles (40 minutes). I didn't care too much for this descend as the road surface was more bumpy and there were more long and straight sections where I would pick up quick speed. Karel took advantage of the downhills as it's where he felt the happiest. 

Next was the Madeline climb. This climb had us extremely worried. Per the profile, it was a constant climb of 12 miles (4777 feet) and the grade was a constant 8-11% without any opportunity to coast. The only place I could "ease up" was on a switchback. I found myself out of the saddle a lot on this climb as I could get a bit out of each pedal stroke to move me forward out of the saddle. My friend Bryan warned me about this climb and told me to expect around 2 hours of climbing. 

At the top of the climb, it wasn't as horrible as we thought it would be but we were still really glad that it was overwith. Just one more climb until we reached Meribel. 

After another fast decend of 15.8 miles, it was time for the last segment of the stage. 16 miles and 3400 feet of elevation. I felt strong starting this climb and I could tell that other riders were starting to fade from the stage itself and the accumulation of the multiple stages. I linked up with a few guys and tried to stay on their wheel as long as I could until I hit my breaking point and needed to settle into my own effort. 

It started to get really warm (upper 80's) and I could feel it. I also felt really bonky and needed to stop at the final aid station (with 5K to go) as I was so hot. The helpers at the feed zone were handing out coke so I took in a cup and filled up one of my water bottles to help get me to the top. I absolutely hit the wall for the last few miles of this climb and it was a very slow and uncomfortable grind to get to the top of the climb. 

When I finally reached the finish line, I was so relieved. Karel was there waiting for me - with ice cream in hand and I told him that I needed something quick to bring me back to life. I had the most delicious cup of fruity gelato which totally hit the spot! After 10 minutes of resting and getting some sugar into my system, we then rolled into the super cute town of Meribel to the sights of adorable chalets, ski homes, shops and live music. The Haute Route Village was set up near the Olympic center and our hotel was right in the center of the town. I ended up getting my second massage after this stage (which was really good!) and Karel got some food. I snacked on salty crackers and my recovery drink and passed on the post event meal as Karel said it wasn't the greatest. 

I was so excited to check out our hotel and it was even cuter than I could have imagined. We had a balcony overlooking the pool and the shops and our room was big with plenty of room for our luggage to explode (it was nice to not have to repack our bags the next morning - we could enjoy our room for two days!).

Even though I was so empty and wanted to lay in bed, the pool was calling my name so I put on my two piece suit and went down to the pool. I met a new friend James and his wife Cassandre who were both very strong and nice. James used to do triathlons and Cassandre won her age group at Ironman Nice and will be racing in Kona next month. Karel eventually joined us in the pool - after he enjoyed an overpriced cappachino that he had been craving. 

After the dip in the water, we got some food. There were very few restaurants open in the town (which surprised us) so we didn't have many options. We settled for a pizza place (I think I lost count of how many pizzas I've eaten in Europe this month) and Karel had this potato and meat dish which he didn't care for, it was really fatty and didn't digest well. 

After we ate, we were ready for bed. It kinda felt like we had a day off the next day so I was tempted to stay up a bit later than normal but I knew it would be good to get as much sleep as I could before our 10K time trial in the morning.  

Lessons Learned 
Having something to look forward to really helps during tough moments. Knowing all the great things that we would experience after the stage was complete was good motivation to help me start and finish the stage. Also, going into this event, I thought we would be missing out by leaving Nice and riding to Megeve, instead of the other way around. There was something cool about riding to the water and I thought I would have preferred that route. But as the ride went on, I loved entering new villages and towns and making our way up in the country of France. This was a good lesson about making assumptions and how you may expect something to be good or bad but it can be the opposite of what you had hoped for (or imagined). Sometimes the best mindset is a neutral one and to just let things be how they are supposed to be. 

Haute Route Alps - Stage 3

STAGE 3

August 23rd, 2022

Start: Serre Chevalier Briancon, France
Finish: Les Deux Alps

70 miles

5:48 riding time

12 mph average

10,612 ft elevation gain

Climbs: Lautaret (26K), Sareene (13K), Les 2 Alpes (9K) and descending Alpe d'Huez.

With our latest start time thus far, we were happy that we could get a little extra sleep with a 6am alarm. The daily routine didn't change from the last two days and we tried to eat as much as we could, prepared our gear, repacked our luggage and dropped off in the hotel lobby, prepared our post-race backpack and questioned how we would be able to ride another stage. Even at "only" 70 miles, we still had 10,000+ feet to climb. Although I didn't look at any of the time off times, Karel was really worried that he wouldn't make the times for this stage. The cut off times are pretty strict and while you can continue ride the next day if you don't make a cut off time, you aren't consider an official finisher unless you make all cut off times and complete every stage. Thus the less than 50% finisher rate. Additionally, there are some stages that if you don't make the cut off time, you can't continue on the route and you will be picked up by the "broom wagon." In looking back at this stage, we made the cut off times by around 50-minutes (factoring in rest-stop times) so it's not just physical fitness that is required for this event but also a lot of good luck (mechanics, crashes) and being strategic with your stops. 

The hardest part of each morning was the hour before the start of the stage. It was really hard to quiet the mind of worries, what ifs and soreness. It was such a battle to not go back to sleep as we woke up so exhausted. 

Around 7:36, we made our way to the start venue and lined up in the corral to begin stage 3. We only had 8.2K of neutralized riding and it was all on a gradual uphill. It was not an easy start to the stage but I found my legs responding really well from the first few pedal strokes. I felt like today was going to be a great day. As for Karel, his legs hurt from the first pedal stroke and he found it difficult to turn the pedals over. He got dropped from the group in the neutralized section and really struggled from the start. 

After looking at the stage for the day and the grades of the climb, I felt like this stage would suit me well. Once we reached the first timing section, I really worked hard to stay with the group that I was in (which was a big group of around 30 riders) and I worked really hard for the next 17 miles. I was feeling really competitive and really gave my best effort to the top of the climb. Once I reached the rest stop, my legs were super shaky like I had just done intense intervals for 80-minutes. We were also climbed up to 6000 feet so I'm sure the thin air didn't help. I thought Karel was also in the group but it was a few minutes later when he rolled up looking completely destroyed. Karel was having a really rough day. His muscles were extremely sore (even to touch), he felt broken inside and he was really tired. I felt really bad for him but he didn't want my day to be affected since I was feeling strong so he told me to go ahead and to give my best for both of us. 

I enjoyed the fast 12 mile descend before approaching the next time segment. I was looking forward to the Sareene segment as it also included some descending, which I was hopeful that that would help me move up in the overall rankings. I was sitting in 2nd age group (40-49) with no chance of catching first place who was leading the race (and ended up placing in the top 20 overall) and around 11th overall female. I thought maybe today I could get into the top 10. For the next 12 miles and almost 90 minutes, I climbed 3500 feet. The views were incredible and it only got better as I reached the town of Alpe d'Huez. Karel ended up passing me in the last climb so I was really happy that he was feeling better. It was a bit windy (and cool) at the top so we didn't spend much time at the feed station (~10 minutes). 

For the next ~9 miles, we enjoyed the 21 legendary switchbacks of Alpe d'Huez and felt like we were riding into history seeing the names of famous TdF riders painted on the ground. 

To finish the stage, "only" 14 miles to Les 2 Alpes. "Only" 3000+ feet of climbing left. 

I really dug deep and gave everything I had on this day. While I felt strong throughout the ride, I certainly had to battle some mental demons to keep fighting until the finish line. Once I reached the finish line, I was done. Like sit in a chair, I don't want to move I just want to fall asleep done. We spent an hour in the athlete village (including eating our post event meal) before finally making our way to our hotel. 

To be honest, Karel and I really struggled this evening. We were both exhausted, it was hard to communicate well and we were both extremely nervous about our "Queen" stage the next day. We took a short walk in the evening in the town to find some food (options were slim) and that helped a bit to move the legs but it was also exhausting to move the body. 

Lessons Learned 

Mentally this was my toughest stage. Physically this was my best stage. I really felt pressure for this stage as Karel wasn't having a good day and I also felt like I could move up in the overall standings - which I did not. Trying to keep everything in perspective - this opportunity, the experiences, the views, our health, etc. - I realized that something needed to change with my mindset for me to really make the most out of this experience. I recognized that I was giving my best and the "disappointment" that I felt was from the pressure that I felt from trying to achieve a certain outcome. I didn't need to change my execution as I was going to continue to give my best every day but by changing my mindset, I could enjoy the experience a lot more without feeling like I needed to prove something every day. It's like running in an Ironman - you could be running your best but then glance at your watch and see a time slower than what you think you should be running and even though you can't do any better in the moment, you feel like a failure. With us not even being half way through the event and approaching our biggest stage the next day, I was able to feel a bit less pressure when I woke up in the morning as I reminded myself that the only person I need to compete against is myself. 

Haute Route Alps - Stage 2

Haute Route Alps Day 2

August 22nd, 2022

Start: Cuneo, Italy

Finish: Serre Chevalier Briancon, France

90.2 miles

6:57 riding time

13 mph average

11,835 ft elevation gain

Climbs: Col d’Agnel (20K). Featured in both the Giro and TdF, the third-highest paved road in the Alps. Col d’Izoard (14K). Featured in 36 TdF.

We woke up aroud 5:30am and made our way to the hotel breakfast. We started to recognize familiar faces as similar people would stay in the same accomodations (based on our package - we purchased 3-star hotels, middle package). I found myself pretty hungry for breakfast and there were a lot of great options to choose from. The coffee machine was always the first priority for Karel (and everyone else). Every morning I would review the athlete briefing (online on our app) from the night prior and also review the course. This helped prepare us mentally for what's to come. If I would look too much into the stage the night before, I wouldn't be able to sleep due to fear as to what's to come. Sometimes I would look up the climbs online (pictures) to get excited for the views. 

After we ate, we made our way back to our room, packed up our stuff, dropped off our luggage downstairs to be picked up by the Haute Route stafff to take to our next accomodation and got everything ready for another long day in the saddle. Although less miles than on stage 1, it was another day of riding over 12,000 feet. I think we have only ridden over 10,000 feet about three times in our life and here we were, conquering classic cols and well over 10,000 feet, 4 days in a row. 

Our bodies were exhausted and we were tired. A lot of mental games are played before and during the stage. For example, on stage 2, I just told myself "only two climbs." And it was nice knowing that the finish of stage 2 was at the top of the second climb. The other nice thing about stage 2 is that we had 20K of descending that was not included in the stage to take us to the town of Serre Chevalier Briacon (where we were staying). Also, we had 20K of neutralized to start the stage, which was a really nice way to get things started. 

During the neutralized section, it was more or less a controlled group ride (unless we were climbing or descending to start, then it was a little more chaotic with varying levels of fitness and skills). During the start of every stage, there were plenty of people (guys) stopping on the side of the road to pee (which is totally normal and accepted in Europe) and also removing layers before the first timed section (depending on the weather). 

After around 12 miles 46 minutes of neutralized riding, it was time for our first timed section. And for the next 38 miles and 3 hours and 20 minutes, we would be climbing - a constant grind up the Agnel. The top of Agnel was at 9000 feet high and in 38 miles we climbed 7700 feet of elevation. This climb was unlike anything I've ever seen before and despite the suffering, I really tried to take in the sights. 

When I got to the top, I was happy to see Karel and we both had another moment of wow, this is really, really hard and also really really epic. 

After an 18 minute break to eat, refeul, layer up for the descend, pee in the bushes and take some pics, it was time for another glorious long descend on the tight, narrow and twisty roads of the alps. For the next 15 miles, I tried to let my legs recover before the next climb up the the Izoard (~7700 feet high). Although the Agnel was much more pitchy with the grades, with many segments over 12% in the last 7K, the Izoard was not any easier as we were exhausted, tired and mentally broken. But we made it to the top. 8.75 miles and 3200 feet in an hour and 18 minutes. I worked really hard for that 6.7 mph average up the climb. It was really neat seeing all the signs (going from Italy back into France) as well as going through the small villages and seeing so many people on bikes (either tackling the climbs or just casually riding). 

When we got to the top, it was a relief knowing that we were done for the day. We spent about 20 minutes at the top taking in the sights, grabbing a few snacks for the descend and then enjoying the next 12 miles of descending to arrive to our next village and accomodation. Karel and I both got massages after this stage and although only 20 minutes, it was nice to just lay down and try to get some of the soreness out. We then ate our post race meal, climbed a hill to get to our next accomodation, walked to the grocery store to get some more food for dinner. 

From 7am (start was 7:30am) to 4pm - it was another long day and we were both looking forward to a "shorter" day on day 3 (only 70 miles and 10,600 feet of elevation gain). The nightly routine was the same as day 1 - charge the gadgets, wash bottles, repin the bib number on a clean jersey, fill bottles with sport nutrition, try to eat as much as we could and question how we would get through another stage. 

Two stages done. 207 miles covered. 25,681 feet elevation climbed. 

Lessons Learned 
For some reason, I remember very little from stage 2, specifically post event. I don't remember the last 20K after the last climb, I can't really remember where we stayed (except it didn't have AC and it was a warm day) and I can't recall much from the evening. Not sure why - probably out of pure exhaustion from doing something that I have never done before. But I did learn that I am capable of so much more than I thought. These two epic climbs forced me to dig really deep and to rely on all my tricks and tips from long distance racing in order to keep my legs turning over (and not falling over or stopping). The Haute Route encouraged us to download a free app called Epic Ride Weather.  This app really came in handy throughout the event as we could look at the weather for our entire ride to help us plan how to dress. Although we would get really warm on the climbs, the weather was much cooler on the top of the climbs. And then it got really chilly descending. I downloaded all of our Haute Route Alps routes to my phone and then uploaded to the app. 

Haute Route Alps: Stage 1

Haute Route Day 1:

August 21st, 2022
Start: Nice, France.

Finish: Cuneo, Italy.

117 miles

8:10 riding time

14.3 mph average

13,947 ft elevation gain

Climbs: Col du Saint-Martin (7K), Col de la Lombarde (20K)

We woke up around 4:45am and ate as much as we could stomach around 5am. We were surrounded by other riders in the hotel breakfast room - and you could feel the nervous tension. I started my period that morning. Ugh, the worst timing. We packed up our gear, dropped our luggage off downstairs under the designated sign for our next accomodation (100+ miles away in Italy) and left our hotel around 6:10am. Because this was our first time at this event, we wanted to give ourselves extra time. We biked through the somewhat empty streets of Nice and arrived to the event venue a few minutes later. We dropped off our post race bags at the designated truck and lined ourselves up near the front of the corral around 6:20am. The energy was positive and the music was pumping. We ran into Matt Dixon from Purple Patch and it was nice to see a familiar face in the crowd. With over 400 riders ready to go, I was feeling extremely nervous. 

At 6:45am, it was time to roll out of Nice and start our long journey to Italy. The first few kilometers through the town were a bit sketchy as we navigated round abouts and other road furniture. It was so cool to have the Mavic cars, motorcycles and other staff support around us - giving us the right of way. The first 11K was neutralized but even with the lead Mavic vehicle keeping the pace "slow" we were climbing out of Nice and Karel and I felt like our hearts were going to pop out of our chest. We both felt nauseous and anaerobic. It was not a comfortable feeling. But we felt like we needed to stay with the group as that is what you do in group rides. Once we reached the first timed segment of the day (11.2K to 21.7K), the reality hit that this was going to be way harder than I ever imagined. I couldn't keep up with anyone and I found myself riding alone - dropped from group after group after group. The next timed segment was 29K to 67.9K and finished at the top of Saint-Martin. I enjoyed the quick descend and really needed it to bring my heart rate down. I didn't stop at the first feed station but aited until I reached the top of the climb. I started the ride with 2 bottles of Skratch SuperFuel. Karel had 2 bottles of Never Second C90. 

I was shocked how long the climbs were and how hard they were. Each kilometer marker would show the upcoming gradient, which was good and bad. Good to know what's coming next, bad to know what's coming next. After 20 miles and an hour and 40 minutes, I finally reached the top of the climb. Karel was there and we were both exhausted. We only covered 40 miles but accumulated over 6500 feet. I got my first taste of descending in the Alps and I loved it - 10 miles of descending on the narrow roads with switchbacks and incredible scenery. I have really improved my descending skills over the years so I welcomed the descend. Karel loved the descends as he has exceptional descending skills. 

Before starting the next timing segment, I noticed that several of the top riders were waiting just before the timing segment. I was confused why they were doing this as there were strict cut-off times to meet. But later I learned that cyclists would wait before the timing segments to ride together in a group - ah, that made total sense! Here I am trying to do everything on my own when I could have been much more strategic. I would still get dropped on the climbs but in the flat segments, you could go so much faster in a group. It was neat going through so many tunnels (thus the required lights) and passing through the small towns and villages. 

The next 23.7 miles were tough. Really really tough. For 2 hours and 36 minutes and 6000 feet, I climbed. Pedal stroke after pedal stroke, it was constant work. It was hard to control my heart rate, I was feeling yucky with the start of my menstrual cycle, I was getting into higher altitudes and I was tired. But I kept pedaling. When I finally got to the top and saw Karel, I was so relieved. This was hard. And it was only day 1. 

Thankfully, that was the last climb of the day. We really took in the views before another amazing descend. I've never descended for 15 miles before and even though it took over 40 minutes, it went by really quickly. 

Karel and I learned our lesson so we waited before the next timing segment for a group to gather. We joined a group of around 20 riders and the last 12 miles were fast and fun. I was the lone female in the group and we had our own motorcycle escort. The road we were on was rough and narrow so it was nice having a lead vehicle as the group was flying. We averaged 22 mph for for this last 30 min segment. After 7 hours and 18 minutes and 13,700 feet of elevation, we finally reached the finish line of stage 1. We couldn't believe what we just did. And it was only day 1. We just rode from France to Italy. 

We had 11 miles of riding to reach the village of Cuneo and although we were ready to be done, it was nice to spin the legs (active recovery) and enjoy some of the sights. We made our way to the athlete village in the town of Cuneo, got our backpacks (and recovery drink), dropped off our bikes, walked to get a delicious meal and then checked out the map to see where we were staying for the evening. We skipped the post race massage as we were so ready to get to our hotel to cool off and recover. 

After 8 hours of riding (and 10 hours of total time outside), we finally reached our hotel after 5:30pm. We were thankful for the AC in our room - and a refreshing shower. It was a hot, long day. Because we were a few miles out of the town, we were too exhausted to search for more food so the receptionist at the hotel (who spoke a little English) helped us find a delivery service so we could enjoy pizza - when in Italy! Little did I realize, this would of been one of many pizzas that I consumed over the next 7 days.

Our new nightly routine involved me downloading my Go Pro footage, charging our lights, charging (and downloading) our computers, pining our bib numbers on our jersey for the next stage, preparing bottles, preparing our recovery drink (and post even bag), eating as much as we could (and rehydrating) and trying to get into a good headspace to prepare ourselves for another day. We went to bed around 9:30pm, although it wasn't the most restful night of sleep. 

We were exhausted, sore, tired and depleted. And we were about to do it all again tomorrow. 

Lessons Learned
We quickly learned that we went out way too hard to try to keep up with a group. We also learned that it's important to find a group that is your fitness level as you will overcook yourself trying to stay with a group that is way too fast. Our bike handling skills allowed us to ride safely and confidently on the descends, as well as in a group. We also learned to be more strategic with the timing sections and to really take it easy in the neutralized sections. We enjoyed the feed stations, especially the food and the scenery. It was really cool to meet new people from all over the world. Having your name on your bib number and front bike plate was so nice as you got cheers and encouragement from so many people. Also having the American flag on our bib numbers let other people know what language we spoke. I needed to be more prepared with our post event food. Perhaps stocking up the stage prior for the next stage as we were just so exhausted to try to find food and eat. 

2022 Haute Route Alps - post event reflection

 

It was 2019 when I came across a YouTube video discussing the Haute Route Alps. Despite not having the best bike handling skills, having little understanding of what it's like to cycle in the French Alps (besides watching the Tour de France) and training exclusively for long distance triathlons, I was captivated by this event and I knew it was something we had to experience. Somehow I sold Karel on the idea of combining our love of cycling and traveling to Europe and we registered for the 2020 event. Fast forward two years later, after living through a worlwide pandemic, the reality hit that we were finally checking this 7-day, 500-mile, 70,000+ feet elevation gain event off our bucket list. 

We knew this event would challenge us physically and mentally but we had no idea what we were truly in for when we registered for this 7-day event. Known as the toughest amateur cycling race in the world, for the past 10+ years, the Haute Route Alps combines top-notch services with legendary climbs for an unforgettable, life changing experience. Although our long distance triathlon training and racing provided us with great endurance and resiliency for this event and we became an official Haute Route finisher, we learned so much from this adventure and we would have done several things differently in the preparation and execution of this event. 

The distances, the elevation, the altitude, the time limits, the relentless climbs that go on for hours, the uncomfortable gradients, the long descends, the mental games, the weather, the effort, the tactics and the organization - every day we questioned how we would finish the upcoming stage. What was conceptualized as a bucket-list event, the Haute Route Alps has been etched in our minds and we will be forever changed because of this physical and mental test of discipline and endurance. 

While riding your bike all day is the main focus of this event, it's only one part of the challenge. Riding from one location to the next, locating your next hotel, unpacking and re-packing gear, charging gadgets, trying to find food in a country where you don't speak the language, struggling to sleep because your legs are throbbing, analyzing the next day's stage and statistics in fear of what's to come and waking up between 5:30-6:30am every morning to attempt to eat as much as your body can handle all catches up on the body.

The time cuts are strict, there are crashes and mechanicals, the weather is unpredictable, the climbs are gruelling and the descends are long. Sure, it's a race with a start and finish line. But there's no gaurantee that you will finish the entire event. To be counted in the official results, you must finish all seven stages - and meet all time cuts. You need great physical fitness and a lot of good luck. Everyday would wake up each morning nervous, anxious and fearful, wondering if it was physically possible to climb yet another 10,000 feet. 

Although there is a lot of suffering, strangely there is comfort knowing that you are not alone. Throughout the event, you find yourself riding the same people/groups and you begin to know one another one a first-name basis. Depending on the level of exhaustion of each rider, it's not uncommon to get to know personal details about your "teammates" while grinding at 40-50 rpms for 2+ hours. The sights of horses, goals, cows and sheeps brought us joy and the scenery reminded us how lucky we are to see this part of Europe on two wheels. With all kinds of mental and physical challenges to overcome each day, you form strong bonds with the other riders. Although there was plenty of competition on the course, it was a friendly and supportive environment. By the end of the week we made so many great friends. Even if we were from different parts of the world, the cycling language is universal. And with less than 35 women in the event, it was something special to be one of the females who completed the entire event. 

The Haute Route organization excels on route guidance and safety. There were arrow signs at every turn, vigilant course marshals giving us the right of way, well-stocked aid stations, regular updates on the app, daily briefings, newsletters, videos and photos and attention to every detail from the pre and post stage food, staffed feed stations, and daily massages.

The Mavic support, cheers from onlookers in each village, motorcycle escorts, SAG vehicles and supporitve staff made this event unlike anything else. Everyone involved made this event all about us - the riders - so that we could do what we love - ride our bikes. The stress-free accomodation package was worth every euro. The Haute Route took care of all of our accomodations so that all we had to do was show up to the next hotel. At least 90 minutes before every stage, we had breakfast available every morning in the restaurant of our hotel.  Our luggage was always waiting for us at every next hotel. And as the event went on, our hotels got cuter and cuter. My favorite lodging was our last hotel in Megeve (picture below). 

The race directors are exceptional at planning each route. I can't imagine the work that goes into planning this event for 400+ riders over 7 days. Having a race village in a new location every day was a reminder of the magnitude of this event. 

The distinctive kilmeter markers on the side of the road were helpful (yet often painful) notifications of the name, length and gradient of each climb. After accomplishing an iconic climb, we could cherish the challenge of reaching the summit - only to think ahead to the next climb. Seeing the names of riders synonymous with the Tour de France painted on the ground was a constant reminder that we were riding on legendary, historic climbs. It would be a feat to ride up one famous mountain road in a day yet we would conquer 2-3 bucket list climbs, day after day after day. The excitement and mystery of the views at the top of each climb kept us pedaling through exhaustion, shortness of breathe and soreness. 

Because the descents were fast and somewhat dangerous, they were not often timed. So when we reached the end of a timed section, we could stop and soak it all in. For a moment in time, we could relish in our accomplishment of what we conquered over the past 2+ hours and push aside the agony of what was about to come. We learned tactics throughout the event, like waiting for a group to form before the next timed section as a grupetto will get you to the next climb a lot faster than riding solo. 

The front of the Haute Route is a race - it's very competitive with very strong and skilled riders. At the back of the race you can find gritty riders hoping to finish a stage. In the middle are riders who are competitive, mostly against themselves. But no matter where you are in the field, you are bound to have good and bad days. No matter how hard you trained, you will struggle. You can't fake this event. The Haute Route knows how to find your weaknesses. You will have to dig really deep. You will question if your next pedal stroke will your last. Empty, sore and exhausted, you will have more moments of self-doubt than confidence. But despite the roller coaster of emotions felt within each kilometer, somehow you have to find a way to keep yourself moving. 

It's hard to grasp the absurdity of what we accomplished. Riding for 5-8 hours every day, covering no less than 10,000 feet of elevation on most stages. Attempting a time trial on day 5 with pitches over 18% that require all your strength to power up so that you don't fall over. Having no concept of the time of the day, how many miles ridden or how much elevation accumulated, the enormity of each stage is something we still can't seem to comprehend. It's going to take some time for this accomplishment to sink in. 

The only way to get through this event was to focus on one kilomenter at a time, one day at a time. This event taught me a lot about staying in the moment and removing pressure on expectations - two vital tools that are needed with long distance training and racing. 

Pressure. It's a word that most endurance athletes can relate to. Anytime you feel "pressure" to perform, it's more than likely that you perceive there are expectations placed on you. But the truth is that pressure is nothing more than a self-imposed, product of the imagination that we create for ourselves. 

With so much uncertainty as to how the body will perform in training or on race day, the best way to not feel pressure is to not create it in the first place. There's a big difference between what we believe we are capable of achieving versus what we think we must achieve. It's within this gap that the worry, stress, anxiety and doubts occurs. 

The Haute Route taught me so much about managing expectations. After getting dropped from group after group in the first stage, within the first 60 minutes of the ride, I was being taught a valuable lesson that in order for me to finish this event, I needed to race my own race. I constantly reminded myself that I don't have to be good at something that I've never done before. It was when I started to stay present in the moment and attack each climb with a more task-oriented, learning persepctive that I began to improve and to gain confidence in my abilities. Even though I had a lot of struggles during this event, I had my own set of internal motivators to keep me going.

The next time you find yourself drowning in negative self-talk or feeling a tremendous amount of pressure to perform, remind yourself that the training session or race outcome is not the most important thing in life. The pressure you feel is more than likely a fear of failure. Relax. Enjoy the training session. Enjoy the event. It's just another day in your life. 

From Vienna to Nice

A blog post I wrote before the Haute Route.....

International travel can be very unpredictable and stressful so I've been mindful to give ourselves plenty of time whenever traveling to somewhere new. With a 7:25am flight in Vienna Austria on Friday 19th, we decided it would be best to spend the night at the airport hotel on Thursday 18th. The airport is only around 60 miles from where Karel lives in Znojmo (he lived just a few kilometers from the Austrian border) but it takes a little over 90 minutes to travel there. I wanted to get to the airport at least two hours before our boarding time of 6:45am so the hotel sounded like a much better option. Plus, we would be able to sleep in an AC room (for the first time in 15 days, since arriving to Europe) and we were craving a good night of sleep since we haven't slept restfully since arriving. 

After arriving to the airport, we parked our car in the P4 parking garage. I booked our parking online so that we would save a bit of money by doing it in advance. We received a QR code to get into the parking garage and that went very smoothly. I did the same thing when we flew to St. George in May in Charlotte, NC and we were able to park in the hourly parking lot across from the terminal for about the same price as long-term parking. We then walked a few minutes across the street to the NH Vienna Airport hotel, we checked into our room. It was so nice to feel the AC. 

At 6pm we had dinner in the hotel buffet (which was way overpriced but we were so hungry). It's been really nice in Czech because the Czech crown (currency) is in our favor as the US dollar goes a long way. Especially in Karel's town of Znojmo, it's very affordable for us to eat/sleep/travel. 

After we ate, we watched the Collins Cup documentary online and then went to sleep around 9:30pm. The night wasn't too restful as I was nervous about the airport experience the next day but it still felt good to sleep in AC. The alarm went off at 4:10am and we walked across the street to the terminal at 4:30am. Austrian Airlines is strict with luggage weight and the size/weight of carry-on's so we made sure to meet all regulations. We carried on as much as we could of our Haute Route gear in the case of lost luggage. 

The check-in process was very smooth. There was no counter to report to but instead, we checked in ourselves, printed our boarding passes and our luggage tags, fixed our luggage tags on our suitcases and then dropped off our bags at the counter. I purchased a "fast track" security ticket with our parking pass for 10 euros each as I was worried about going through security and while it did expedite the process, we would have been fine without one. After going through security, we had around 1:45 until we boarded our flight. 

Karel and I did some work on Training Peaks for our athletes from 5am until 6:30am and then around 6:45pm, we boarded a bus that took us to our plane. We then boarded our Austrian Airlines flight and around 7:30am we were off to Nice, France. I slept most of the flight and Karel read a Czech cycling magazine that he brought with him. 

With this being our first time to France and first time to Nice, it was beautiful to see the sea and all the mountains. I couldn't help but think that we would be biking over many of those mountain passes. 

We arrived shortly after 9am and I felt the stress lift off me after we received our luggage. I was a little nervous about taking the tram to the city to get to our hotel but I used the Rome2rio app to understand the tram and I also found another blog to understand how to buy tickets, etc. We bought our tram tickets for 1.50 euros each and when we were about to board, we weren't pushy enough and the doors closed on us so we had to wait another 10 minutes. The tram took about 30 minutes to get to our destination (which was Garibaldi square) and then we had a 0.4 mile walk (plus a little extra until we found the right way to go) to our hotel. 

The Haute Route booked all of our accomodations as part of our package so we added on an extra night to our Nice hotel - Aparthotel Adagio Nice Centre. Although we arrived around 11am (well before our check in at 3pm), our room was ready and they let us check in early. 

The room had AC (yippee) and a small kitchenette which was nice to have. After unloading our stuff, we were hungry for a meal so I found a brunch restaurant called Les Clay. We sat outside and I enjoyed pancakes and eggs and Karel had a bagel bread sandwich. 

After we ate, I was so exhausted that I napped for about an hour. I wanted to sleep all day but Karel wanted to go to the sea and I couldn't resist the opportunity to swim in the Mediterranean for the first time. 

We walked to the Port of Nice and checked out the beautiful yachts before heading to the rocky beach. The water was incredible blue and refreshing and super salty. It was amazing to just float on our backs in the water. We enjoyed swimming in the ocean and laying in the warm sun. 

Around 3pm we left the beach and had lunch at a restaurant (not sure of the name) as Karel was really wanting some fish. There wasn't much on the menu for me so I enjoyed pizza and salad (I can always opt for Pizza ;) Karel learned how to "eat" his fish from the waiter and he really enjoyed his meal. Mine was also delicious and I finished it all but two pieces (Karel finished those slices for me). 

We then walked around the city, I got us lost again as we tried to find the LIDL grocery store and we arrived back to our room around 7pm for a light snack (yogurt, fruit and muesli). 

We slept amazingly well and woke up a little after 7am on Saturday morning. Only one more sleep until we start the toughest amateur cycling event, the Haute Route Alps! 

Our next (epic) adventure - Haute Route Alps!

 

After three years of waiting, the time has finally come for us to participate in our hardest, most difficult and extreme endurance event that we have ever attempted. On Friday morning we will fly from Vienna, Austria to Nice, France and on August 21st (Sunday) at 6:45am, we will start stage 1 of the 7-day Haute Route Alps. For seven continuous days, we will cover almost 500 miles, climb almost 70,000 feet and travel to 6 different locations in France (and one in Italy).

If you are curious on pricing for this incredible experience, the registration fee was $1899 Euros per person, we bought one accomodation package (comfort double) for $1339 and airport transportation to the Geneva airport after the event is complete ($59 euros) for a total of $3297 Euros (or around $3300 US dollars). Total for both of us was ~$5255 Euros. While an expensive event, we work hard so we can play hard and we love finding epic ways to turn our vacations into race-cations. 

As for what is included in our registration and a typical day at the Haute Route, here is what I know so far......

As part of our registration package, our accomodations from Saturday until the following Sunday are taken care of by the Haute Route staff. I booked an extra night in Nice at the same hotel for Saturday so that we could arrive on Friday. Although we planned on bringing our road bikes for this trip (and renting mountain bikes), the recent issues with lost luggage concerned us and because of our within-Europe flights to two different airports, we didn't want to take the chance that our bikes wouldn't arrive to Nice (or return back to Vienna with us after the event). Instead, we decided the best option was to rent road bikes from France Bike Rentals - a partner of Haute Route. Karel decided on package 3 for us (Pinarello Prince Disc Ultegra Di2) and he will make sure that we are both set up well for the event. Karel also brought my crank (Rotor aldhu w/ 155 crank length) to swap out from the rental bike (which will have 170 crank). We will pick up our bikes at registration on Saturday and we will be able to ride the bikes on Saturday afteernoon as part of the kick-off ride. 

We will be given a backpack and duffle bag and at the end of every stage, we receive our backpack (with items that we want to have immediately after each stage) and our duffle bag will be taken to the hotel where we will stay that evening (between stages). We receive breakfast and a post race meal, massages and full tech support (similar to the Tour de France). There will also be cut-off times for each stage. In the evening, we have a mandatory athlete briefing for the next stage. We heard there are between 450-600 riders at this event. 

We have the course maps loaded into our bike computers. Here's a summary of each stage:

• August 21st: Nice, France to Cuneo, Italy -
  114 miles/184km, 13,450 feet/4100+ meters
• August 22nd: Cuneo, Italy to Serre Chevalier Briancon, France -
  88 miles/141km, 11,811 feet/3600+ meters
• August 23rd: Serre Chevalier Briancon, France to Les Deux Alpes, France -
  68 miles/109km, 9842 feet/3,000+ meters
• August 24th: Les Deux Alps to Meribel, France -
  95 miles/153km, 13779 feet/4200+ meters
• August 25th: Meribel, France -
  6.2 miles/10km, 2788 feet/850+ meters (time trial)
• August 26th: Meribel, France to Megeve, France -
  86 miles/138km, 11,482 feet/3500+ meters
• August 27th: Megeve, France -
  62 miles/99km, 7874 feet/2400+ meters

We were instructed to download the Ride with GPS app (with a special code to connect us with the Haute Route Alps official app). Within this app, we have everything we need for throughout the event. There's a link for our accomodations, the routes, weather report, latest news, start times and locations and so much more. This is what we see for each stage of the event:

All the information for the upcoming stage with important times and locations. 

As you can see from the bottom graph (above), certain segements (red line between the timer icon) are timed, which is what is included in the results. There are also several feed zones throughout each stage (which I heard are well stocked with a lot of great food and sport nutrition varieties). For this specific stage, after we finish the actual stage, we have another 16k to ride to get to the town of Cuneo, to reach our accomodations. I've already looked up places for Pizza in Italy - there are a lot! 

We also have a description of the climbs. For Stage 1 we have two big climbs. As you can see from this picture, our climb is 12 miles or 20K (although we are climbing well before we actually start the official climb) and goes up to almost 8000 feet elevation. We can also see the gradient/inclines for each part of the climb. Stage 1 is 104 miles and 13,450 feet of elevation gain. 

Karel and I are nervous and excited. This event will test us mentally and physically, in ways that we have never experienced before. We are hoping that our years of long distance triathlon training and racing, as well training on our technical and challenging terrain in Greenville, will have prepared us for this event. I don't think it's possible to feel fully prepared so I know there will be many struggles along the way. If you are familiar with the documentary ICARUS, the initial focus for the production was to race the 2015 Haute Route Alps while taking part in a doping procedure. I mention this because the Haute Route Alps is only open to amateurs (not professionals) and to win the overall title is a prestigous accomplishment. Karel and I are not expecting to be competive at the top but we will still try to complete the event while also feeling like we are "racing" - whatever that looks like on each day. I'm thinking some stages, it'll be all about trying to complete the stage and not compete on the stage. Karel and I will not stay together throughout each stage so that we can each get the most out of the event. 

I'll be sharing updates throughout the week on social media (Facebook and Instagram) if you'd like to follow our journey. 

Tracking and Results can be found HERE.

Stretch your comfort zone

In six months, I will be doing something that I've never done before. From August 22-28th, I'll be riding my bike for seven consecutive days, covering over 500 miles and 65,000+ feet elevation gain. My bike will take me from Megeve, France to Nice, France as part of the Haute Route. Oh yeah, and Karel will be joining me for this "fun".

Although I love the sport of triathlon and I still feel challenged by training and racing, there is a sense of familiarity and certainity after 14 consecutive years of long-distance triathlon racing. When I started the sport, I was stepping outside of my comfort zone by doing things with my body that I have never done before. Today, triathlon is where I feel most at home. Psychologically, triathlon is my comfort zone.

Although staying within my comfort zone has resulted in consistent training and performance improvements, I feel it's necessary to find ways to step outside of the comfort zone with a new challenge. I'm captivated by endurance events and challenging myself mentally and physically. So when I heard about the Haute Route, I thought there was no better way than to combine my love of cycling, mountains and traveling.

While I will do my best to prepare for the Haute Route Alps (alongside training/racing triathlon), I know this event will bring stress, anxiety, self-doubt and worry. But when we challenge ourselves, that is where growth happens. That is when we can rise to the occassion.

While there's nothing wrong with staying in a comfort zone, you don't want to get too comfortable that you are afraid to challenge yourself, try new things, grow and learn. Have you ever noticed the adventure-like mindset of a child - who is a natural risk-taker? Sadly, as adults, we learn to fear failure and hold ourselves back from trying new things.

How will you stretch your comfort zone this year? 

The ultimate cycling experience: Haute Route Alps!!

Pic Source

We are registered for the 20202 Haute Route Alps!! 

For the past 8 years, we have been traveling to Europe every other year to visit Karel's family in his hometown of Znojmo, Czech Republic. For the past 3 visits (2014, 2016, 2018) we combined our trip with racing Ironman Austria - which is now one of our favorite race venues.

For the past few years, I've been wowing over this event called the Haute Route Alps (pronounced "oat" "root". The more videos I watched and more I learned about the event, the more excited we got for a new challenge (Karel and I like to share our crazy adventure ideas together). Although we are not removing ourselves from the sport of triathlon (we are already registered for two Ironmans and 5+ half IM's between us), we are constantly seeking different/new events to keep our spark alive for endurance training and racing. Through long distance training and racing, we have both developed great endurance, strength and mental toughness and we can use this fitness to test our physical and mental boundaries.

From August 22-28th, 2020, our endurance, strength and mental toughness will be challnged more than it's ever been tested before. And this excites us....and makes us a bit nervous too!

Here are some quick facts from the event: 

• 7 consecutive days of cycling
• ~500 miles
• ~65,000 ft total elevation gain

"The Haute Route Alps features bucket list climbs made famous by the Tour de France including six cols culminating over 2,000 metres (6,500 ft) above sea level and gives you the rare opportunity to pin on a number and test yourself on long point-to-point stages."


2020 stages:

• Stage 1: Megève – Megève (Côte 2000): ~68 miles / ~9842 feet
• Stage 2: Megève – Tignes: ~67 miles / ~11,320 feet
• Stage 3: Tignes – Serre Chevalier Briançon (Col du Galibier): ~86 miles / ~11,320 feet
• Stage 4: Serre Chevalier Briançon – Risoul: ~45 miles / ~7700 feet
• Stage 5: Risoul – Auron: ~71 miles / 10,660 feet
• Stage 6: Auron – Nice (Col de Vence): 106 miles/ ~10,826 feet
• Stage 7: ITT Nice – Col d’Èze: ~7.5 miles / ~1640 feet

Although this event costs a lot more than what we would pay for an Ironman, we also get a lot more than what we would receive in a one-day event. More so, it's the challenge, memories and experience that excites us the most as we train for something that we have never done before.

"The Haute Route’s objective is to deliver an unparalleled 'professional' experience for amateur cyclists. This means not only delivering first class hospitality and event management, but all the key ingredients that make up the culture and experience of professional road racing."

What's included in our registration fee:

• Rider's Pack - cycling apparel, backpack
• Welcome dinner
• Live timing
• Detailed road book
• Road mobile mechanics, safety vehicles, course marshals, feed stations, medical team
• Breakfast and post-stage meal
• Post-stage massage
• Post-race bike wash
• Professional photos
• Daily stage highlight video
• Daily rankings and awards
• Closing cermony
• Finisher apparel
• Medal
• Accomodations (for all 7-nights)
• Airport pick-up
• Daily travel of race bag
• Mid week laundry service

"Relax between stages with a post-ride meal, daily massage, and stress-free accommodation packages. On the road, enjoy the support of professional mechanics, French Gendarme moto escorts, staffed feed stations, and sag vehicles. A seven-day event is a major undertaking. You focus on riding; we’ll handle the rest."

Over the next 8 months, I'll be sharing more about our training (how we are preparing for this event while still training for long-distance triathlons), sport nutrition (fueling/hydration), gear, travel and anything else that related to this extreme endurance challenge.

Note to self: make room on your phone for lots and lots of pictures during the Haute Route Alps!