Wrap-up '06
Get there early to get front row seats to cheer on the finishers - Glenn Town (back), Jorge Alvarado (freezing), Chris Walker, Lindsay Blount (clapping), Thurlow Rogers (World Champion, Masters 45+, Time Trial '06, World Champion, Masters 45+, Road Race, '05), and Greg Leibert (finishing).
RECORDS - We have a few records - most number of riders completing, highest percentage of riders completing, and day two time and stage race time for Clydesdales - congrats to Phillip Naman. Despite the awesome weather and blistering pace Chris Walker's (who has finished all 6 EC's) stage race and day two time records still stand.
VOLUNTEERS - Thanks to all your family and friends who helped out at the aid stations. We only had a handful of volunteers for the first day one week before the event. But with your help both days were staffed incredibly well.
SPONSORS - Again in 2006, HammerNutrition and ClifBar/ClifShot came through in a big way to make the Everest Challenge possible. We had their products at all the aid stations, including HEED and those new, crazy, but lovable Clif Bloks! We are glad everybody liked the Recoverite in the goody bags. Next year we will have it at the finish line both days. Please give them a big thank you!! AND support them with your business!! Without them the event would not be possible. HammerNutrition has already committed to sponsor the event for 2007!
Steve Born at HammerNutrition - sborn@hammernutrition.com
Rick Wilson at ClifBar/ClifShot - rwilson@clifbar.com
Also a big thanks to Lindsay Blount who sponsored the Everest Challenge again. Awesome ride day one to beat Chris Walker and Thurlow Rogers and great chase day two!
2007 - We will probably be having the event 9/22-23 next year (or possibly 9/29-30, we have to avoid two other major local events).
JERSEYS -
Jerseys are in and hopefully out to everyone that ordered one. Please let us know if we missed sending any jerseys (or depositing any checks!).
The list of state champions have been submitted to Voler.
FEEDBACK - Thanks everyone for a great event! The positive feedback has motivated us to already start planning next year's event to be even better! The positive comparisons to NRC events and suggestions to join was much appreciated. We already looked into to getting it on the NRC, but it is more $ sponsorship and time commitment than we can come up with.
Emails - thanks!
I just wanted to chime in (hopefully along a bunch of others) and say
that I did the EC this year, and it was absolutely great.
I mean, it hurt like hell :-), but I've never been to a bicycle race
that was better supported, and you guys were even supported almost
exactly as well as the triathlons I've done (Wildflower, Treasure
Island), which is to say, very professionally and right where people
needed it. It seems like that's the sticking point for doing it or not,
so I just wanted you to know that you really do compare favorably with
huge top-notch promoters. Whatever you're doing, it's enough, and it's
working in my book.
One thing I'll single out is the ultra-marathon club that was cooking
things at the finish lines. Those guys and gals deserve positive karma
for the next entire year. They were the nicest folks - one of them even
lent me some full gloves for the descent without even knowing my name.
It's the little things like this, not just the competition, that give an
event heart.
Great stuff.
The only thing I could think of to make it better would be to have large
fan trucks following slower riders (like me) to cancel out the headwind.
Without raising the entry fee of course. ;-)
I'll see you again next year.
-Mike
Thanks again for a great experience. This year was my second year competing and I have to say the the event has just gotten better and better! Everyone involved deserves a huge round of applause for all the hard work that it takes to put everything together for us. The efforts did not go unnoticed, the support was fantastic, and the friendly, encouraging volunteers were fantastic! Eric
Keith