The 2023 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo

Another year, another 24 hours in the Old Pueblo.

This year was one challenging year, finally made the time to get out there early to secure a great spot, although the weather leading up to the race really made me debate if it was worth getting out there early. We set up after the sun had already gone down Thursday before the race, and at first it wasn't so cold, but then remembering that just a few days earlier it had snowed. You could still see some snow collected in the shadows around camp.

The cold while camping, while uncomfortable, you can prepare for it. The wind, that's what made the 1st night and whole next day truly miserable. The whole night it was gusty, eventually leading up to 50mph wind gusts. Which is fine if you're out of the elements, but camping in a roof top tent, there was no where to run. The wind would whip the tent throughout the night which made it impossible to sleep. Then in the early morning hours our gazebo we had set up the night before had tried taking off in the wind.

After having saved the gazebo and taken down some of camp so it wouldn't blow away, we proceeded to power through the rough weather of Friday where during the day it started reaching max gusts of around 50mph. By the late afternoon the wind had finally died down so we could get our camp set back up again. Although because of this I didn't get to pre-ride the course because I really didn't want to be fighting the headwinds the day before the actual race.

This year we had a full team, no one had to drop out because of work or sickness. Well at least to start. I started the race this year as usual because I'm the only one on the team that enjoys running in cycling cleats through the desert with a couple hundred other people.

I got off to a great start, not counting the run I came in of a lap time of 1:22:06, which is definitely my fastest lap ever. Counting the run I came in right at 1:26:49, which is impressive because two weeks before this event I ran my first marathon, so I completley stopped biking because the marathon training schedule was so intensive.

This is where our team's plans slowly fell apart because one of my teammates had a bit of a spill, still managed to finish their lap, but it was the only one they would complete because they really needed to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Then by morning that teammates condition went downhill so another one of my teammates dropped out to go check in on him, so that left two of us to finish off the race.

By Sunday morning I was already 3 laps in, I had gone out for two night laps, and since no one else was riding at that point I went for two back to back laps. I then was the first up, and decided to go out for one more, and then let my teammate round out the end since the main rule to remember is to finish your last lap after noon on Sunday. Otherwise you log a DNF, and I have yet to allow that to happen in my 5 years of doing the 24 hour.

Overall I completed 4 laps this year, not my highest amount, but since everyone else on my team rode more this year, I didn't have enough time to crank more out. Which is fine because I was totally satisfied with this amount and was thrilled that I shaved off a few more minutes off my fastest time from last year.

If there was one thing I learned this year, well maybe two. Taking it slower is always ok, it's not worth an injury pushing yourself. And the other, invest in some great lights. I went the cheap route with lights and used the Amazon special brand, Bright Eyes. Which to be fair, are very bright and solid lights, but when compared against to what most everyone out there was running they stood no chance. That is why I forsee myself buying some Outbound Lights because I didn't even need to see their sales pitch, just following someone using those lights out on the course I was sold.

Excited to see what next year holds for the event, and if I'll be able to keep improving upon my times.