Everest Challenge — Race Notes 2011 — Power Output

For each major climb: time (HH:MM:SS), watts, heart rate (bpm).

Bishop Creek:       1:42:44, 273W @ 144 bpm
Pine Creek:           53:17, 252W @ 149 bpm (getting hot)
Rock Creek (lower): 1:06:38, 224W @ 142 bpm
Rock Creek (upper): 1:15:14, 216W @ 141 bpm (stomach and hamstring cramps)
Glacier Lodge:      1:10:42, 262W @ 137 bpm
Death Valley Rd:      47:31, 267W @ 138 bpm
Schulman Grove:     2:13:47, 241W @ 140 bpm

Times good to about a minute, since I did not always remember to hit the timer exactly at the summit, so I adjusted slightly with the downloaded data.

Discussion

Stage 1

The 272W effort on Stage 1 Bishop Creek / South Lake was perhaps 10-15W too high. Better to have aimed for 260W for all climbs, as I did for Stage 2.

For Stage 1, note the accelerating drop in power beginning with lower Rock Creek; this is where stomach cramps began, presumably from electrolyte deficiency. I estimate that I lost at least 15-25 minutes due to stomach and leg cramping during Stage 1.

That mistake (not taking electrolytes) appears to have cost me as much as 3 places— impossible to say what might have happened if feeling good with no cramps. Live and learn! A race is a combination of fitness and fuel/hydration/electrolyte management, so kudos to those finishers who got it right on all counts.

Stage 2

I am pleased with Stage 2. Except for a few minor mistakes which cost me a few minutes (water bottle fill, going “dry” a bit too long), I nailed Stage 2.

For Stage 2, note the 25W higher power output on the tough Schulman Grove climb versus the Stage 1 Rock Creek climb— stronger and more consistent results on the 2nd day, showing excellent recovery from Stage 1, but also better management of fuel and hydration and electrolytes.