Today's Quench'd writer is an amazing cyclist who completes feats we can barely fathom. Cynthia Carson is an Ultra Endurance Cyclist who started road racing in College but she's since found her love of off-road riding. She began her journey into Ultra Cycling with a first place at Rockstar Gravel 250 followed by fourth place at Unbound XL.Cynthia is currently in Chile for the Across Andes Ultra, an unsupported 970km gravel race with 14,000m of vertical. Wish her luck as she starts the race tomorrow, and follow along on her Instagram, @watt_wagon!
If you asked me what the hardest thing I’ve ever done is, I would say it’s hard to pick! As an ultra cyclist I could imagine so many instances where I thought I couldn’t continue during an ultra cycling event, but I did. The same could go for so many folks in so many instances in our day to day lives.
Ultra-distance cycling is a test of endurance that pushes the limits of both body and mind, with races spanning anywhere from 24 hours to weeks! I thrive on the thrill of competition, yet I also cherish the sheer joy of riding my bike, whether racing or exploring new trails. These grueling events bring forth a myriad of challenges—physical fatigue, mental hurdles, and unpredictable environments. Yet, in many ways, these experiences echo the struggles faced by anyone pursuing a daunting goal, be it in sport, work, or daily life.
Have you ever experienced sleep deprivation? Maybe while traveling, up late with your newborn, or in my case riding through the night or multiple nights during an ultra race. The fatigue may be from different sources, but the outcome is the same. You might start to doze off, or even hallucinate. When I am racing and I’ve gotten 50+ hours into an event without any significant sleep, I hallucinate to the image of a life-sized nutcracker. The more tired you become, the more challenging it is to keep your pace up. There is a battle between how much to sleep and how far to push it without snoozing. It’s a fine line on the bike and in life!
Today's Quench'd writer is an amazing cyclist who completes feats we can barely fathom. Cynthia Carson is an Ultra Endurance Cyclist who started road racing in College but she's since found her love of off-road riding. She began her journey into Ultra Cycling with a first place at Rockstar Gravel 250 followed by fourth place at Unbound XL.Cynthia is currently in Chile for the Across Andes Ultra, an unsupported 970km gravel race with 14,000m of vertical. Wish her luck as she starts the race tomorrow, and follow along on her Instagram, @watt_wagon!
If you asked me what the hardest thing I’ve ever done is, I would say it’s hard to pick! As an ultra cyclist I could imagine so many instances where I thought I couldn’t continue during an ultra cycling event, but I did. The same could go for so many folks in so many instances in our day to day lives.
Ultra-distance cycling is a test of endurance that pushes the limits of both body and mind, with races spanning anywhere from 24 hours to weeks! I thrive on the thrill of competition, yet I also cherish the sheer joy of riding my bike, whether racing or exploring new trails. These grueling events bring forth a myriad of challenges—physical fatigue, mental hurdles, and unpredictable environments. Yet, in many ways, these experiences echo the struggles faced by anyone pursuing a daunting goal, be it in sport, work, or daily life.
Have you ever experienced sleep deprivation? Maybe while traveling, up late with your newborn, or in my case riding through the night or multiple nights during an ultra race. The fatigue may be from different sources, but the outcome is the same. You might start to doze off, or even hallucinate. When I am racing and I’ve gotten 50+ hours into an event without any significant sleep, I hallucinate to the image of a life-sized nutcracker. The more tired you become, the more challenging it is to keep your pace up. There is a battle between how much to sleep and how far to push it without snoozing. It’s a fine line on the bike and in life!
Mark
December 01, 2024
Crossing a river in Irian Jaya on a bridge of three narrow logs and a loose rope. Bouncy and terrifying. With death looming below. Not the physically hardest thing I’ve done but emotionally…whew. What can I say, I was young.